The Coming of the English

2.1

Land = Freedom

• Control own labor & right to vote

• Lured settlers– Access – Freedom dues

• Political favors– King grants land to companies or proprietor

• Source of wealth & power– Labor shortage

Dangers

• Diseases

• Dependent on mother country

Immigration

• Colonies would collapse w/o it

• England had families go to New World

• Conditions at home so bad– 1607-1700 1/2 M people leave England– Ireland, West Indies, North Am.

• Chesapeake – VA, MD– Tobacco production– Demand for cheap labor– 120,000 (1660)

• New England – 21,000 (1640)

• Middle Colonies – 23,000 (1650)

• Families in NE & Mid.

• Young landless men

Indentured Servants

• 2/3 of settlers

• 5-7 yrs

• Like slavery– Bought & sold– Marriage restrictions– Physical punishment– Pregnancy adds time

Freedom

• Freedom Dues

• Free member of society

• Many die

• Freedom dues too little

• Many run away or cause trouble

English & Indians

• Displacement– Indians greatest crisis – Not taking them over or assimilation

• Separate accept for trade

• Recurring warfare– Superiority & separateness

Impact on Indians

• English trade goods– Woven cloth, kettles, iron axes, fishhooks,

hoes, guns, glass beads, copper ornaments

• Hunting & cooking changes

• Beaver & deer overhunted– More Indian wars

• Devastating epidemics

Settlers Change Landscape

• Pigs & cattle – ruin Indian corn & gardens

• Forests depleted

• Fur trade diminishes beaver & other animals

• Indian ones who had to change