Unit 1: Transformations of North America, 1450-1700
Chapter 2: American Experiments
1. Spain’s Tribute Colonies
A. A New American World
B. The Columbian Exchange
C. The Protestant Challenge to Spain
2. Plantation Colonies
A.
B.
C.
D.
Brazil’s Sugar Plantations
England’s Tobacco Colonies
The Caribbean Islands
Plantation Life
3. Neo-European Colonies
A.
B.
C.
D.
New France
New Netherland
The Rise of the Iroquois
New England
4. Instability, War, and Rebellion
A. New England’s Indian Wars
B. Bacon’s Rebellion
Part 1: Spain’s Tribute Colonies
1A: A New American World
• Aztec and Incan wealth were
plundered and native labor was
exploited under an encomienda
system of land grants
• New World wealth eventually
caused huge Spanish inflation
• Hundreds of thousands of Spanish
and Africans created a new
colonial society with a system of
racial hierarchy (caste)
Part 1: Spain’s Tribute Colonies
1B: The Columbian Exchange
• New and Old World both changed by the “Columbian Exchange”
• Population declined by 90% or more in New World due to disease
Part 1: Spain’s Tribute Colonies
1C: The Protestant Challenge to Spain
• Spain lost control of Holland and had its mighty armada defeated
as it wasted its vast wealth on religious wars
• Population growth, the outwork system and mercantilism fueled
England’s economy and might past the Spanish by 1600
Part 2: Plantation Colonies
2A: Brazil’s Sugar Plantations
• Portugal slowly built a massive set of sugarcane plantations in
Brazil using African slave labor after epidemics killed the natives
Part 2: Plantation Colonies
2B: England’s Tobacco Colonies
• After a hard start in 1607,
Jamestown thrived by growing
tobacco which led to
population growth and the
brutal Indian War of 1622
• In 1624, Jamestown became a
royal colony with an appointed
governor, legal system,
established church and
elected assembly
• Maryland was a haven for
Catholics (Act of Toleration,
1649)
Part 2: Plantation Colonies
2C: The Caribbean Islands
• After experimentation, sugar became the main Caribbean cash crop
Part 2: Plantation Colonies
2D: Plantation Life
• Despite harsh conditions, tobacco demand created a 40 year boom
• Headright system and profits led to importing of indentured servants
• The tobacco bust and Bacon’s Rebellion led to more African slavery
Indentured Servants in the Chesapeake Labor Force, 1640–1700
Part 3: Neo-European Colonies
3A: New France
• French settlers set up a lucrative fur trade and claimed a huge
swath of land in Canada and the Mississippi River Valley
• Population growth was limited by high taxes, a military draft,
harsh weather, land rights in France, and little religious freedom
Map of New France by
Samuel Champlain
Part 3: Neo-European Colonies
3B: New Netherland
• New Netherland had a thriving fur trade but very limited population
growth because of Holland’s size and more attractive options
• In 1664, the English easily seized New Netherland
• Dutch legacies: Santa Claus, Easter eggs, bowling, skating, golf
Part 3: Neo-European Colonies
3C: The Rise of the Iroquois
• The Five Nation Iroquois were the dominate Northeast Indian
power for decades despite brutal wars and defeat by the French
Part 3: Neo-European Colonies
3D: New England
• Pilgrims sailed the Mayflower and founded Plymouth in 1620 while
a much larger group of Puritans settled MBC a few years later
• MBC banished dissenters and tried to establish a “city upon a hill”
with a representative political system and rule by the godly
• Hard work, cold weather and widespread land ownership led to
greater political power for farmers and longer life expectancies
Part 4: Instability, War, and Rebellion
4A: New England’s Indian Wars
• Rival Indian tribes allied for trade and defense with Europeans
• Puritans brutally wiped out the Pequots in 1637
• Metacom launched an unsuccessful war in 1675 against colonists
destroying 20% of settlements but losing ¼ of the natives
Part 4: Instability, War, and Rebellion
4B: Bacon’s Rebellion
• Causes: tobacco bust of 1660s, inequality, Gov. Berkley’s
corruption and refusal to aggressively attack the Indians
• Bacon’s rebellion almost suceeded, but Bacon died of disease
• The rebellion led to reforms easing class tension and also
prompted a switch to African slavery