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Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
Migration
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Oct 1, 1492
Columbus
Coumbus made his first voyage to America while he was trying to find a route to India for Queen Isabella of Spain. He made the journey partially for economic reasons, but also because he believed that he was destined by God to discover 'the new heaven and the new earth'. -
Jan 1, 1497
Reasons for English Migration
Many English people came to America for religious reasons, like the Puritans, who were persecuted by the Church of England. Others came because certain laws, like the Enclosure Movement were stifiling economic opportunities in England. People believed that chartered companies could help bring new opportunities through profitable trade. The ideas of Mercantisilm also encouraged the English to harness the resources of America for the good of English people. -
Jan 1, 1518
Conquistadores
Cortes came to America in an effort to find gold for Spain, and possibly to enslave the native peoples. He defeated the Aztecs under Montezuma, and decimated the native population with smallpox. Similar conquistadors, like Coronado and Pizarro, made the journey to America for similar reasons. They wanted wealth, and they wanted to establish Spanish authority in the Americas before other European nations arrived. -
Jan 1, 1570
Spanish America
After the Conquistadors came to America, they paved the way for many other Spainards to make the journey. These Spanish immigrants came to America in the hopes of starting a new life with new opportunities. Often, they hoped to start successful agricultural industires. Some came to establish missions, which were created to convert native peoples, and also to educate them. -
Jan 1, 1570
Summary of Change to Spanish Migration
Native American peoples saw the Spanish as intruders becasue the Europeans brought so many diseases with them that destroyed native populations. They also often were extremely brutal to the Indians, setting up racial hierarchies that put white people far above the native peoples. The cultures collided, and the Native Americans were often forced to abandon their traditional way of life. -
Jamestown Founded
English people migrated to America in the Jamestown colony to avoid religious persecution. They were not recieved well by native peoples. The new diseases of the region, like Malaria, killed many colonists. -
The Headright System
Colonies were in need of workers, so they established the Headright System, which brought many migrants to America. These workers were tempted by the grants of land that they recieved upon arriving. This migration was different from the migration of the first English settlers, who came mainly for religious reasons. It is also similar in that both groups sought new opportunites and freedoms for their families. -
Winthrop and the Massachusetts Bay Company
Due to religious persecution at the hands of Charles I in England, a group of Puritan merchants decided to migrate to America. John Winthrop led the expedition under the charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company. They established a theocratic society. The group differed from migrants in Jamestown, because entire family units had made the journey, as opposed to individual people traveling alone. -
Changing Ideas About Native Americans
At first, the colonists admired the native American because of their ability to survive the harsh conditions they faced. They always thought themselves slightly superior to the natives. After becoming more established as colonies, the colonists decided that the only thing to be done with native Americans was either civilizing them, or exterminating them. In this case, the immigrants were deciding the fate of established peoples, not the other way around. -
Migration to Maryland
Migration to Maryland was also for religious reasons, like earlier Puritans to Jamestown, however, the migrants were mainly Catholics. -
Establishment of the Carolinas
Migrants from Enlgand were attracted to the Carolinas because they were guaranteed religious freedom, small tracts of land similar to the headright system, and a representative assembly. -
Increasing German Immigration
The wars with France and the unstable German ecomony prompted many Germans to come to America. They often worked as farmers farther West because many were single men. Others moved west of the big cities on the coast because they were not welcomed by the colonists there. -
Increased Slave MIgration
After the monopoly on slave trade was broken, merchants from many countries could import slaves to America much more cheaply than ever before. This immigration differed from previous migration because it was forced migration. The slaves were 'shipped' to America by boat. This would continue throughout the late 1700's. -
Overview of Increase in Colonial Population
The non- Indian population of America increased greatly starting in 1700. Migration was mainly from Europe. Many of the immigrants came to America as indentured servants. This differed from the headright system because servants were not guaranteed land upon arriving. They had to work a certain number of years in America, and in exchange, they woud be given room and board and their passage would be paid by their employer. -
Expansion Into Native American Territory
During the 1780's and continuing into the 1800's, farmers along the Western borders of settled land began pushing out into Indian territory. There were many conflicts with both the Indians and the US government during the expansion. The general pattern was that the US would promise certain areas of land for the Indians, and then consistently encroach on this land. -
Tecumseh
Tecumseh is an example of the Native American response to increased migration to their land. He united all Indians in the Mississippi valley to move against the United States. This lead to further conflicts with Native Americans in the War of 1812. -
Lewis and Clark
The Lewis and Clark expedition was extremely important to the increase in Western migration. They mapped much of the land West of the Mississipi, and gathered information on the the Native American groups living in these areas. The knowledge of the general geography of the region helped farmers to feel a little more security in moving farther West. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears describes the forced removal of The Cherokee Nation from their traditional land to a reservation. This migration of over 1,000 people was due in part to the movement of farmers farther into their territory. The US government found it easier to get them out of the way than negotiate with them. -
Reactions to Immigration of the 1840s
Many Americans were not pleased with the increased immigration. They reacted by forming certain political parties, like the Native American Party, which protested against immigration, and the Know-Nothings, who banned certain immigrant groups from participating in politics. Support for Nativism also increased. -
Surge of Immigration 1840-60
There was a huge increase in immigration from European countires around 1840. This was because of the poverty in these nations. It was not incredibly difficult to get to America by boat, and many Irish and German immigrants could afford to make the journey. Conditions in their own countries, due to famine, were so bad that America offered priceless opportunities for families. -
California Goldrush
After gold was found in California around 1850, many single men migrated to the West in search of wealth. Most were very young, and there were a substatial number of African American and Chinese men mining for gold. -
Transcontinental Railroad and Migration
The transcontinental railroad brought many people farther West. It also brought increasing numbers of Chinese immigrants to the West Coast becasue many of them helped to build the railroad. People who migrated from the Eastern United States often came to become ranchers, farmers, or traders. The Homestead Act gave settlers pieces of land in exchange for a small amount of money, and the promise to cultivate the land for a certain period of time. -
Movement to Cities
During this time period and continuing through the 1900's, there was a mass migration into cities in America. Farms were becoming more mechanized, and there were not enough jobs to support every person living in rural areas. Many of these farm workers moved to cities, and the population of cities exploded. Unique ethnic neighborhoods also emerged in some of America's biggest cities.
