Colonial Beginnings

John Winthrop, Puritan leader of
Massachusetts Bay Colony

I. European Models for Colonizing America

A. Spain--colonization with conversion

 1. Earliest colonies in America (St. Augustine 1565, Santa Fe 1610), though most outposts were destroyed by Indian attacks
 2.  Spain turned to Franciscan missionaries to control Indians, placing land grants in the hands of encomenderos. Spanish rule was cruel, used slavery, and was limited, except for New Mexico. California was virtually ignored until the late 1700s.
 3. By 1560, the main goal of Spanish colonial policy was keeping other Europeans from establishing colonies.

B. France--fur-trading empire

1. Indian wars developed as tribes fought for the French fur trade.
2. French missionaries did not enslave Indians and attempted to limit trading of alcohol
3. Though few in number, French settlers brought diseases that wiped out up to 90% of the Indians in the Great Lakes region.

C. Netherlands--commerce and farming

1.  Colonization was slow and small-scale, with only one proprietor (Rensselaer) able to attract 50 tenants
2. Rejecting representative rule,  the Dutch lost the settlement of New Amsterdam (New York) to the British in 1664

D. The English model--tobacco and settlers

1. Causes for English Colonizing in America (See Colony Chart for quick-reference guide to colonies)

a. Fall of Spanish Armada in 1588 opened North Atlantic to English expansion
b. England infused with a spirit of self-confidence and enthusiasm for adventure.
c. England could plant, supply, and protect colonies easily.

II. Jamestown and Virginia

III. New England Colonies--settled by families

C. Puritans and Pequots--series of disastrous contacts

1. Smallpox epidemic of 1633 killed over 10,000 Pequots
2. 500 Pequots killed by Puritans in 1636
3. Disease, military force, and religion (praying towns) essentially pacified Indians of New England by 1670.

D. Metacom's Rebellion. Wampanoag leader organized neighboring tribes to attack settlements in 1675, resulting in 1000 white and 4500 Indian deaths.


Please cite this source when appropriate:

Feldmeth, Greg D., "Colonial Beginnings," U.S. History Resources
<http://www.polytechnic.org/faculty/gfeldmeth/USHistory.html/lec.col1.html>(Revised 21 June 2004).


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