🇺🇸AP US History Unit 2 – Colonial Society, 1607–1754

Key Events and Timeline

• Jamestown, Virginia established as the first permanent English settlement in North America (1607)
• Mayflower Compact signed by Pilgrims before disembarking in Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620)
  • Established a rudimentary form of self-government and laid the foundation for future colonial governance
• Massachusetts Bay Colony founded by Puritans seeking religious freedom (1630)
• Maryland Toleration Act passed, promoting religious tolerance (1649)
• Navigation Acts imposed by England to regulate colonial trade (1651, 1660, 1663)
• King Philip's War between Native Americans and New England colonists (1675-1678)
• Glorious Revolution in England leads to the overthrow of King James II and the establishment of a new colonial administration (1688-1689)
• Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts (1692-1693)

Colonial Foundations and Early Settlements

• Spanish settlements in Florida (St. Augustine, 1565) and the Southwest (Santa Fe, 1610)
• English settlements in Jamestown (1607) and Plymouth (1620)
  • Jamestown initially struggled with harsh conditions, disease, and conflict with Native Americans
  • Plymouth founded by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom and governed by the Mayflower Compact
• Dutch settlement of New Netherland, including New Amsterdam (later New York City) (1624)
• French settlements in Quebec (1608) and Montreal (1642)
• Diverse motivations for colonization, including economic opportunity, religious freedom, and the desire to establish a "New World" society
• Interactions and conflicts with Native American populations, including trade, cultural exchange, and warfare

Political Structures and Governance

• Early colonial governments were primarily charter governments or proprietary governments
  • Charter governments were granted charters by the English monarch, outlining the colony's rights and responsibilities (Massachusetts Bay Colony)
  • Proprietary governments were owned and governed by individuals or groups granted land by the English Crown (Maryland, Pennsylvania)
• Development of representative assemblies in the colonies, such as the Virginia House of Burgesses (1619) and the Maryland Assembly (1635)
• Increasing self-governance and autonomy in the colonies, while still maintaining ties to England
• Emergence of colonial legislatures and the concept of "no taxation without representation"
• The Glorious Revolution's impact on colonial governance, including the overthrow of the Dominion of New England and the establishment of royal colonies

Economic Systems and Trade

• Mercantilism as the dominant economic theory, emphasizing the accumulation of wealth through exports and the control of trade
• The Triangle Trade, connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas through the exchange of goods, raw materials, and enslaved people
• Growth of cash crops, such as tobacco in the Chesapeake colonies and rice and indigo in the Carolinas
• Development of the plantation system, relying heavily on enslaved African labor
• The role of the Navigation Acts in regulating colonial trade and promoting British economic interests
• The emergence of port cities, such as Boston, Philadelphia, and New York, as centers of commerce and trade
• The impact of the Great Awakening on colonial society, emphasizing individual spirituality and challenging traditional religious authority

Social Hierarchy and Demographics

• Colonial society characterized by a rigid social hierarchy based on wealth, land ownership, and family connections
• At the top of the hierarchy were the wealthy planters, merchants, and religious and political leaders
• The middle class consisted of small farmers, artisans, and professionals
• Indentured servants and enslaved Africans formed the lowest rungs of the social ladder
• Growth of slavery in the colonies, particularly in the South, as a result of the increasing demand for labor on plantations
• Diverse population in the colonies, including English, Dutch, French, German, Irish, and African immigrants
• Gender roles in colonial society, with women primarily responsible for domestic duties and men dominating public life

Religious Influences and Movements

• The role of religion in motivating colonization, particularly for groups seeking religious freedom (Puritans, Quakers)
• The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s), a religious revival movement that emphasized individual spirituality and challenged traditional religious authority
  • Key figures in the Great Awakening, such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield
• Religious diversity in the colonies, including Puritans, Anglicans, Quakers, Catholics, and Jews
• The concept of religious tolerance, as exemplified by the Maryland Toleration Act (1649) and the founding of Pennsylvania by William Penn (1681)
• The Salem Witch Trials (1692-1693) as an example of religious hysteria and the dangers of superstition

Cultural Developments and Daily Life

• The development of a distinct colonial culture, blending European, Native American, and African influences
• The importance of family and community in colonial life, with the family serving as the primary social and economic unit
• Education in the colonies, including the establishment of schools and colleges (Harvard, 1636; William and Mary, 1693)
• The role of religion in daily life, with church attendance and religious observances being central to colonial society
• Leisure activities and entertainment, such as hunting, fishing, and social gatherings
• The influence of Enlightenment ideas on colonial intellectual life, emphasizing reason, individualism, and natural rights
• The growth of colonial newspapers and the spread of information and ideas

Conflicts and Challenges

• Conflicts with Native American populations, including King Philip's War (1675-1678) and the Pequot War (1636-1638)
  • These conflicts often stemmed from disputes over land, trade, and cultural differences
• Tensions between the colonies and the British government, particularly regarding issues of taxation and representation
• The French and Indian War (1754-1763), a conflict between British and French colonies and their respective Native American allies
  • The war resulted in significant territorial gains for the British but also increased tensions between the colonies and the British government
• Challenges posed by the growing enslaved population, including fears of slave rebellions and the moral and economic debates surrounding slavery
• Economic challenges, such as fluctuations in tobacco prices and the impact of British trade regulations
• Political challenges, including disputes between colonial legislatures and royal governors and the increasing desire for self-governance