UNIT OUTLINE Corporate Colonization
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1. Why did the English want to colonize
   1. Economic Reasons
      1. Believed America would be rich in commodities like Europe, Asia, and Africa
      2. English wanted to make money from the plantations
      3. Hope to find an easier route to the Northwest Passage to China
   2. Social Reasons
      1. Keep Spain out of the New World
         1. This would increase England's power as a country
         2. Solidify England as a world power
      2. Believed they could better themselves
         1. Free themselves from England's strict rules and laws
         2. Open new businesses
         3. Become landowners
   3. Religion
      1. Bring Christianity to the New World
      2. Convert Indians to Christianity
   4. England at the time of exploration
      1. Enclosure Movement
      2. Population Overload
2. Why did the English form corporations to colonize
   1. Government was skeptical about giving money to establish an unknown Territory
   2. Wealthy Englishmen supported colonization
   3. English government did not want to be responsible if colonization failed
3. Why did the English want to colonize the New World
   1. Keep other countries out of the New World
      1. Spain
      2. Germany
      3. France
   2. Increased power
      1. English would rule throughout much of the world
      2. Increased buying and selling power because of the products from the new World
4. Who were the colonists/investors
   1. Colonists
      1. Skilled tradesmen
      2. Planters
      3. Unskilled workers
      4. Convicts
   2. Investors
      1. Rich Englishmen
      2. Virginia Colonists
      3. Government Officials
      4. People in Parliament
      5. Merchants
5. First Charter (1606)
   1. General Purpose of the Expedition
      1. Commercial
         1. Explore and map new world
         2. Attempt to find new passage to China
         3. Build a fort for future endeavors
      2. Ideological
         1. Christianize and Europeanize Natives
         2. Fulfill nationalist, patriotic duty
   2. Responsibilities of the company
      1. Recruiting Settlers
      2. Transport and supply of settlers
      3. Conducting trade and financial matters
   3. Government and Laws
      1. Form of Government
         1. Royally Chartered colony-"King's government"
         2. Council of 13 in England and Virginia
         3. Provision for tow colonies
      2. Laws
         1. Settlers guaranteed rights of English
         2. Land held in common
         3. Right to mine-taxed by crown
         4. Right to make currency to facilitate trade
6. Struggles and Turmoil
   1. Starvation
      1. Reasons
         1. Crop failure
         2. Colonists lacked motivation and ability in agriculture
         3. Tobacco discovered
            1. Boom/Bust economy
            2. Complete dependence on one crop
            3. Over planting tobacco pushed prices down and ruined land
   2. Disease
      1. Hot, humid conditions bred diseases
      2. Unsanitary conditions allowed diseases to spread
      3. Major diseases
         1. Typhus
         2. Plaque
   3. Native American Relations
      1. Background
         Friendship with Pocahontas was a time of peace and mutual trading between settler and Native Americans
      2. Clashing of two cultures over land ownership
         1. Settlers decided upon complete separation and used forceful removal to secure land
         2. Indian Massacre of 1622
7. Land distribution
   1. Great Charter
      1. Detailed land distribution system
      2. Paid stockholder a dividend in units of 100 acres
   2. Particular Plantations
      1. A private plantation that consisted of individual stockholder's land dividends combined
      2. The stockholders were responsible for all expenses of the plantation including workers
      3. Examples
         1. Smith's Hundred
         2. Berkeley's Hundred
      Headright System
      1. Encouraged upper class Englishmen to settle in America
      2. Furthered indentured servitude
      3. Increased class distinctions within Jamestown
      4. Political participation dependent on land ownership
8. The dissolution of the London Company
   1. Reasons for Dissolution
      1. Lack of Profit
         1. Poor quality tobacco
         2. Lack of diversification
         3. Failure of Lottery
   2. Factional Strife
      1. Sir Edwin Sandys in control of Company
      2. Enemies opposed his management
         1. Appointment of salaried officers
         2. Member of Council charged with graft
      3. Appointment of Jones Commission
   3. Troubles in the Colony
      1. Famine and disease
      2. Indian Massacre
      3. Uncooperative settlers
         1. Resentment of martial law
         2. Personal property made cooperation difficult
9. Governmental changes
   1. Privy council offered to revise charter
   2. Return to royal colony status

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