(9/19) Diversification of British North America Flashcards
Key Questions
When did British colonists start to think of themselves as “American”?
Was there no “American Identity”?
Main Lesson Focus
The Restoration Colonies: finding different experiences and thinking about how diversification helped shape the American Identity. Also, how they changed the dynamic and what it meant to be British subjects in North America.
What does “restoration” refer to?
The restoring of the British empire
What was New York before it was New York? What was its central area?
New Netherland, it was established in 1609 by the Dutch, and the central area was New Amsterdam (NYC, Manhattan).
What were the Dutch primarily interested in? What was the difference between them and the British?
The Dutch were interested in establishing market outpost and trading hubs, essentially making commerce and trade their biggest goal. The British, however, were interested in the collection/extraction of wealth and seizure of land.
How many people did New Amsterdam have in the 1660s?
About 9,000 people
Where did the British send warships to? What were they doing?
The British sent worships to North America, which turned out to be headed towards the Dutch (Massachusetts feared it was for them). They seized control over New Amsterdam in 1664, which was also a display of strength against other powers.
What trait is associated with New York? Where does it come from?
People associate the city and a highly diverse population with New York. Those roots go back to the original Dutch colony, which was very diverse in itself.
What did a French visitor experience when he was walking through the coast of New Amsterdam in 1643?
He proclaimed to have heard 18 different languages spoken.
It’s been said that “Victors write history”, so how did the British dictate how their time was remembered? What did they do with the diversity?
They integrated it into their colony and allowed people to continue to own their previous property and practice their own religions, as long as they were loyal to the British crown and consented to taxation.
Was the integration of NY into the British empire a good thing for people?
Yes, it was both a projection of the monarch’s power, and it continually brought in diversity.
What regions does Carolina encompass?
North/South Carolina and Georgia.
Was it hard to recruit people to Carolina? What did they do about this?
Yes, they couldn’t persuade people to go somewhere that’s not a particularly pleasant place. 8 “proprietors” were sent by the King to the Carolina Charter, which they realized would be a challenge.
What did the proprietors offer to get people to come to Carolina? When was this?
In 1663, they offered “Concessions and Agreements” which emphasized freedom of religion, colonial legislature/assembly, and handed out land like candy.
How did the proprietors “hand out land like candy”?
They offered that the head of the household would receive 150 acres if he moved and would also receive another 150 acres for each immediate family member he brought with him.
