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English Colonial Development
Specifically tracing major events as outlined in the Virginia Standards of Learning -
Virginia Company of London receives a charter from King James I (VUS.2)
This was a business venture where private investors would pool their money to finance exploration and colonization. The Virginia Company and the Plymouth Company were to split the land claimed in the “New World” by England.
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Arrival in Jamestown (VUS.2)
Jamestown becomes the first permanent English settlement in the “New World” – they selected the site because of its defensive advantages, and the belief they had clean water and harbor characteristics.
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The House of Burgesses Meets for the First Time (VUS.2)
This was the first elected assembly in the “New World”, and by the 1640’s it had established the authority to pass laws for Virginia. Like society in Virginia, the House of Burgesses was dominated by the cavaliers and other members of the wealthy planter-class. It has operated continuously since, and today is known as the Virginia General Assembly!
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Slaves arrive in Jamestown (VUS.2)
While unsure of the exact date in August, records indicate that during this month approximately 20 African Slaves arrived in Jamestown, perhaps by accident, on a Dutch slave ship. Records also indicate that these first African Slaves were more like "indentured servants", and eventually held their own property. This event would lead to the dominant use of slave labor in the tobacco plantation system which would soon develop!
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The “Pilgrims” land at Plymouth Rock (VUS.2)
This marks the beginning of the New England Colonies; settled primarily by Puritans seeking freedom from religious persecution in Europe. They were often intolerant of those not sharing their religion.- established a society based on strict Puritan beliefs.
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The Mayflower Compact (VUS.2)
This document was signed aboard the ship, The Mayflower. It is considered to be the first written agreement in the “New World” that was based on a democracy. They formed a “covenant community” based on strict Puritan beliefs and a direct democracy through town meetings (Athenian style).
This will serve as the model of government in the New England Colonies.
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Rhode Island is founded by Puritan Dissenters (VUS.2)
Unsure of the exact date, by the spring of 1636 Roger Williams and his followers had left Massachusetts in opposition to the strict guidelines of the Puritans, especially protesting the combination of Church and the government. This is an example of the intolerance of the Puritans in Massachusetts.
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New York becomes an English Colony (VUS.2)
By the end of September, 1664 New York (part of the colony "New Netherland") was in the hands of the British after a brief war with the Netherlands.
Dutch had settled in New York earlier; Huguenots and Jews – both persecuted religious minorities in Europe – also found safety. New York symbolized the Mid-Atlantic region as a place of diversity, both religiously and ethnically, leading to greater tolerance and a more flexible society.
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British take over New Jersey (VUS.2)
This territory was part of “New Netherland”, a Dutch settlement. But after a brief war and disputes were settled, the Presbyterians found a safe place in New Jersey. New Jersey came to symbolize diversity and tolerance, as well as a flexible social structure associated with the Mid Atlantic Colonies.
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Quakers find a safe place in Pennsylvania (VUS.2)
William Penn received a large land grant to establish the colony of Pennsylvania – he advocated free religion and peaceful dealings with the American Indians. Like New York, the middle colonies would exemplify greater tolerance on social flexibility than New England and the South.
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