APUSH Unit 2 Study Guide: 1607-1754
This comprehensive guide explores European colonization, British colonial regions, transatlantic trade, and interactions with Native Americans during 1607-1754.
Overview of Period 2
Period 2, spanning 1607-1754, marks the establishment and development of British colonies in North America. This era witnessed diverse colonial societies, evolving economies fueled by mercantilism, and complex relationships with Indigenous populations. Significant events like Bacon’s Rebellion and the Great Awakening shaped colonial identity and laid the groundwork for future conflicts and independence.
European Colonization (Topic 2.1)
European powers—Spain, France, and the Netherlands—established colonies in the Americas driven by economic gain, religious zeal, and imperial competition. Spanish colonization focused on extracting wealth, while French efforts centered on fur trade. Dutch settlements prioritized commerce, impacting the development of distinct colonial societies and sparking conflicts.
Motives for European Exploration and Colonization
Motives propelling European exploration included the desire for new trade routes to Asia, spreading Christianity, and acquiring resources like gold and silver. National rivalry and the pursuit of power fueled colonization, alongside a belief in European cultural superiority, ultimately reshaping the Americas.
Spanish, French, and Dutch Colonial Efforts
Spain focused on extracting wealth from Central and South America, establishing a rigid social hierarchy. France prioritized fur trade in North America, fostering relationships with Native Americans. The Dutch established New Netherland, centered on commerce, but faced English takeover, demonstrating varied colonial approaches.
Regions of British Colonies (Topic 2.2)
British colonies developed distinct characteristics: New England focused on commerce and Puritan values, the Middle Colonies boasted agricultural diversity and religious tolerance, while the Southern Colonies relied heavily on plantation agriculture and enslaved labor. These regional differences shaped colonial society and economies.
New England Colonies: Characteristics and Development
New England’s economy centered on shipbuilding, fishing, and trade, fueled by a strong work ethic and religious convictions. Towns were closely knit, with education valued for religious literacy. Puritan society emphasized community and moral conduct, shaping political and social structures.
Middle Colonies: Characteristics and Development
The Middle Colonies boasted a diverse economy, blending agriculture with commerce and skilled trades. Fertile lands supported wheat and grain production, earning them the “breadbasket” moniker. Religious tolerance attracted various groups, fostering a more pluralistic society than New England or the South.
Southern Colonies: Characteristics and Development
The Southern Colonies centered on an agricultural economy, heavily reliant on staple crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo. This system fueled a demand for labor, leading to the widespread use of enslaved Africans. Society was hierarchical, with wealthy planters dominating politics and economics.
Transatlantic Trade (Topic 2.3)
Transatlantic trade connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas in a complex exchange of goods and people. Mercantilism drove British colonial policy, aiming to enrich the mother country. The infamous triangular trade routes facilitated the exchange of slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods, profoundly shaping colonial life.
The Columbian Exchange: Impacts and Consequences
The Columbian Exchange dramatically altered ecosystems and populations globally. New crops from the Americas, like potatoes and maize, boosted European diets. Conversely, European diseases decimated Native American communities, causing immense suffering and societal disruption. This exchange reshaped agriculture, trade, and demographics.
Mercantilism and its Application in British Colonies
British mercantilist policies aimed to enrich the mother country. Colonies provided raw materials, while Britain manufactured finished goods. Navigation Acts restricted colonial trade to benefit British merchants, fostering economic dependence. This system generated wealth for Britain but created resentment among colonists seeking economic freedom and autonomy.
The Triangular Trade: Routes and Commodities
The Triangular Trade involved complex routes connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. New England goods went to Africa, enslaved Africans to the Americas, and colonial raw materials to Europe. This system fueled the slave trade, enriching merchants and plantation owners, while devastating African societies and perpetuating racial injustice.
Interactions Between Colonists and Native Americans (Topic 2.4)
Early colonial relationships shifted from cooperation to conflict, driven by land disputes and cultural clashes. Disease decimated Native populations, weakening their resistance. Wars like the Pequot and King Philip’s Wars demonstrated escalating tensions and colonial dominance, reshaping the demographic and political landscape of early America.
Early Colonial Relationships and Conflicts
Initial interactions involved trade and alliances, but quickly deteriorated as colonists demanded land. Competition for resources fueled conflicts like the Pequot War, showcasing brutal colonial tactics. King Philip’s War (Metacom’s War) represented a major uprising, ultimately solidifying colonial control and drastically altering Native American life.
Pequot War and King Philip’s War
The Pequot War (1636-1638) demonstrated colonial willingness to use extreme violence, effectively eliminating the Pequot tribe. King Philip’s War (1675-1676), led by Metacom, was a last major attempt to resist English encroachment, resulting in devastating losses for both sides and increased colonial dominance.
Impact of Disease on Native American Populations
European diseases, like smallpox and measles, decimated Native American populations lacking immunity. This demographic catastrophe significantly weakened Indigenous resistance to colonization, facilitating European land acquisition and control. The resulting labor shortages also contributed to the rise of African slavery in the colonies.
Slavery in the British Colonies (Topic 2.6)
Slavery’s development, particularly in the Southern colonies, was driven by labor demands for cash crops like tobacco and rice. The horrific Middle Passage brought enslaved Africans, facing brutal conditions and resistance. Forms of resistance included subtle work slowdowns and, tragically, rebellions like the Stono Rebellion.
The Development of Slavery in the Southern Colonies
Southern economies heavily relied on enslaved labor for profitable cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo. Initially, indentured servitude was prevalent, but racial slavery gradually became dominant due to economic incentives and legal codifications. This system created a rigid social hierarchy and profoundly shaped Southern society.
The Middle Passage and Slave Life
The horrific Middle Passage represented the forced transportation of Africans to the Americas under brutal conditions. Upon arrival, enslaved people faced dehumanizing labor, family separation, and limited rights. Resistance took various forms, from subtle acts of defiance to organized rebellions, demonstrating resilience.
Forms of Resistance to Slavery
Enslaved Africans actively resisted their bondage through diverse methods. These included subtle work slowdowns, maintaining cultural traditions, running away to establish maroon communities, and outright rebellion, like the Stono Rebellion. These acts demonstrated a refusal to accept enslavement and a fight for autonomy.
Colonial Foundations and Early Settlements
Early English settlements faced immense challenges. Jamestown, established in 1607, struggled with disease and starvation before tobacco cultivation ensured its survival. Plymouth, founded by Pilgrims in 1620, utilized the Mayflower Compact for self-governance; Massachusetts Bay, a Puritan colony, prioritized religious conformity and community.
Jamestown: Founding and Early Struggles
Established in 1607 by the Virginia Company, Jamestown represented England’s first permanent North American settlement. Early years were marked by disease, famine, and conflict with Powhatan Indians. John Smith’s leadership proved crucial, but tobacco cultivation, initiated by John Rolfe, ultimately secured Jamestown’s economic viability and survival.
Plymouth: Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact
Founded in 1620 by Separatist Pilgrims seeking religious freedom, Plymouth Colony established a self-governing community. Before disembarking, the Pilgrims drafted the Mayflower Compact, a foundational document establishing rules for majority rule and cooperation. Their early survival relied heavily on assistance from Native Americans, particularly Squanto and Samoset.
Massachusetts Bay Colony: Puritan Society
Established in 1630 by Puritans aiming to create a “city upon a hill,” Massachusetts Bay Colony prioritized religious conformity and community. John Winthrop led the colony, emphasizing collective responsibility. Strict social hierarchies and religious rules governed daily life, with dissenters like Anne Hutchinson facing expulsion for challenging established norms.
Political Structures and Governance
Colonial governance evolved with assemblies like the Virginia House of Burgesses demonstrating representative government beginnings. Royal governors, appointed by the Crown, held significant power, often clashing with colonial assemblies over control. Early self-governance traditions fostered a sense of independence, laying groundwork for future revolutionary ideals and disputes with Britain.
Colonial Assemblies and Representative Government
Colonial assemblies, such as the Virginia House of Burgesses, marked early steps toward representative government. These bodies, composed of elected colonists, debated and enacted laws, managing local affairs. Though limited by royal authority, they provided colonists with political experience and a platform for voicing grievances, fostering self-governance ideals.
Royal Governors and Colonial Administration
Royal governors, appointed by the British Crown, served as the executive authority in each colony. They enforced British laws, commanded colonial militias, and often clashed with colonial assemblies over budgetary and policy matters. This system represented direct British control, yet colonial administration also involved local officials and varying degrees of autonomy.
Early Examples of Self-Governance
Colonial assemblies, like the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Massachusetts General Court, demonstrated early instances of self-governance. These bodies, composed of elected representatives, levied taxes, passed laws, and voiced colonial concerns. Though subject to royal approval, they fostered a tradition of representative government and local control.
Economic Systems and Trade
Colonial economies largely revolved around agriculture, particularly in the South with cash crops like tobacco and rice. New England developed industries like shipbuilding and fishing, while the Middle Colonies boasted diverse farming. Currency issues and British trade regulations, like the Navigation Acts, shaped colonial commerce.
Agricultural Economies in the Colonies
Southern colonies thrived on plantation agriculture, cultivating crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo using enslaved labor. The Middle Colonies featured a mix of farms producing wheat, barley, and oats. New England’s rocky soil favored smaller, diversified farms focused on subsistence and local trade, impacting regional development.
Development of Colonial Industries
Colonial industries emerged beyond agriculture, including shipbuilding in New England, utilizing abundant forests and skilled labor. The Middle Colonies fostered milling and manufacturing, processing agricultural goods. Southern colonies saw limited industrial growth, heavily reliant on exporting raw materials to Britain, shaping economic specialization.
Currency and Trade Regulations
British mercantilism dictated colonial trade, prioritizing benefits for the mother country through acts like the Navigation Acts. These laws restricted colonial trade to British ships and markets, creating economic dependencies. Colonial currency was often scarce, leading to barter systems and resentment towards British monetary policies and control.
Social and Cultural Development
Colonial society experienced significant shifts, notably the Great Awakening, a religious revival emphasizing personal piety. Education flourished with institutions like Harvard and William & Mary, though access remained limited. Family life centered on patriarchal structures, with defined gender roles shaping colonial social dynamics and community values.
The Great Awakening: Religious Revivalism
This religious movement swept through the colonies in the 1730s and 1740s, challenging established authority and emphasizing emotional, personal experiences of faith. Preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield ignited fervor, leading to new denominations and questioning traditional religious norms, impacting colonial society.
Education in the Colonies: Harvard and William & Mary
Colonial education focused on training ministers, with Harvard (1636) and William & Mary (1693) as early institutions. These colleges emphasized classical studies, preparing elites for leadership roles. While access remained limited, education expanded gradually, reflecting growing societal needs and religious values.
Family Life and Gender Roles
Colonial families were typically patriarchal, with men dominating public life and women managing households. Women faced legal and economic limitations, though their roles varied by region. Family size was often large, driven by economic needs and high mortality rates, shaping colonial society’s structure.
Key Events and Timeline
Significant events include the establishment of Jamestown (1607) and Plymouth (1620), Bacon’s Rebellion (1676), and the Stono Rebellion (1739). The Headright System and indentured servitude fueled colonial growth, while these uprisings revealed social tensions and colonial unrest during this formative period.
Headright System and Indentured Servitude
The Headright System incentivized colonial settlement by granting land to those who financed their passage or others’. Indentured servitude offered a labor solution; individuals contracted service for a fixed period, often facing harsh conditions, in exchange for transportation and eventual freedom;
Bacon’s Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) in Virginia stemmed from discontent among former indentured servants facing land scarcity and perceived lack of government protection from Native American attacks. Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion against Governor Berkeley, highlighting class tensions and prompting a shift towards African slavery.
Stono Rebellion
The Stono Rebellion (1739), in South Carolina, was a significant slave uprising. Enslaved Africans, aiming for Florida (Spanish territory offering freedom), killed white colonists and sought to establish their own community. Though suppressed, it led to stricter slave codes and heightened fears among white colonists.
Practice Multiple-Choice Questions
Sharpen your understanding of Period 2 with targeted practice questions! The Gilder Lehrman Institute offers assessments focusing on domestic and global challenges faced by the pluralistic United States. These questions test knowledge of government activism and the evolving international role of the colonies.
Unit 2 Review
Consolidate your learning of Period 2 (1607-1754) by reviewing key themes: European colonization, regional colonial development, transatlantic trade dynamics, and colonial-Native American interactions. Focus on political structures, economic systems, and social/cultural shifts to prepare for assessments and deeper historical analysis.