Wednesday, January 18 th Add/drop deadline is TODAY! Draft of essay #1 due: Thursday or Friday, February 2 or 3 Post electronic version online at Turn-It-In on Blackboard prior to lab. Submit two hard copies at the beginning of lab. Late penalties: Up to 24 hours late: 10% deduction Between 24 and 48 hours late: 25% deduction More than 48 hours late: no credit
COLONIAL INFLUENCES
Colonial Influences 3 Outline for Today Early English settlements Jamestown Plymouth Massachusetts Bay Puritans and John Winthrop Early colonial constitutions Development of democratic institutions in the colonies
Colonial Influences 4 Jamestown: Corporate Community Mostly Self-Interest Business venture intended to make a profit. 1607: (John Smith) Harsh conditions, barely survived Saved by tobacco
Jamestown: Corporate Community Mostly Self-interest Interest Jamestown: Corporate Community Lots of labor needed. Indentured servants. Slaves. Immigrants spread out throughout Virginia to seek profits individually. Key political institutions emerged. Colonial Influences 5
Colonial Influences 6 Legacy of Jamestown Individualism Representative government Royal governor but local House of Burgesses. Slavery A good deal of local autonomy. Distance from rulers in England. Perceived insignificance
Plymouth: Covenant Community Mostly Public Virtue 1620: Separatists (Pilgrims), led by William Bradford. Motivated by desire for religious freedom and to create kingdom of God on earth. Harsh conditions, barely survived. Colonial Influences 7
Plymouth: Covenant Community Mostly Public Virtue Established a social compact (covenant) while still at sea; a move toward democracy and self-government. Colonial Influences 8
Colonial Influences 9 Video: Mayflower Compact Out of potential anarchy comes a conscious effort to lay the groundwork for a Good Society
Colonial Influences 10 Agreement Between the Settlers at New Plymouth : 1620 IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.
Plymouth: Covenant Community Mostly Public Virtue Established a social compact (covenant) while still at sea; a move toward democracy and self-government. Established a two-fold covenant community. Covenant with God: His chosen do His work. Covenant with each other: self-government.
Video: Native American Corn Note the self-interest/public virtue battle that happens within all of us.
Colonial Influences 13 Massachusetts Bay Colony: Covenant Community Mostly Public Virtue 1630: Puritans, led by John Winthrop For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us (John Winthrop). Calvinists [John Calvin (1509-64)]
Colonial Influences 14 iclicker Question Which of the following best captures the idea of the Christian Calling? A. Workers should choose only those occupations allowed in scripture. B. One should do work that helps the congregation be successful in their Sabbath worship. C. People should work together in the community to help each other, as in a collective barn raising. D. It can include many different kinds of occupations, but the important point is to work hard and be successful in order to glorify God.
Colonial Influences 15 Calvinism and the Christian Calling Man is depraved but God as elected to save certain chosen individuals. Man should glorify God by showing forth His works. God rewards the faithful with material as well as spiritual blessings. Prosperity is a sign of God s pleasure. Consequently, one can live a virtuous life while pursuing self-interest if done for the glory of God. The Christian Calling, thus, is to pursue any honorable occupation but for the glory of God.
Video: Tim Tebow He believes in the idea of a Christian calling.
Colonial Influences 17 John Winthrop First American A founder and governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Harsh and authoritarian. Little speech Natural liberty is corrupt Civil and lawful liberty is moral self-governance. 1588-1649
Winthrop: City upon a Hill [W]e shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. Society built on holy principles. An example for the rest of the world. As close to perfection as is possible in a sinful world.
Colonial Influences 19 Puritan Legacy Religious sensibility Distrust of secular power Chosenness American exceptionalism
Colonial Influences 20 Video: American Exceptionalism
Colonial Influences 21 Puritan Legacy Religious sensibility Distrust of secular power Chosenness American exceptionalism City upon a hill
Colonial Influences 22 Early Colonial Constitutions There was general movement toward constitutional democracy in the colonies. The Fundamental Agreement, or Original Constitution of the Colony of New Haven (1639) Resolution passed by the colony of Rhode Island (1641)
Colonial Influences 23 Colony of Rhode Island The following resolution was passed in 1641: It is ordered and unanimously agreed upon, that the Government which this Bodie Politick doth attend unto in this Island, and the Jurisdiction thereof, in favour of our Prince is a DEMOCRACIE, or Popular Government; that is to say, It is in the Powre of the Body of Freemen orderly assembled, or the major part of them, to make or constitute Just Lawes, by which they will be regulated, and to depute from among themselves such Ministers as shall see them faithfully executed between Man and Man.
Colonial Influences 24 Development of democratic institutions in the colonies Legislative assemblies locally elected. Most governors appointed by the crown but some elected. In general, all freeholders of land were eligible to vote. [Land abundant and cheap.] Benign neglect by Britain allowed more freedom and local autonomy.