History 163 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Swampy, Northwest Passage, Navigation Acts
Document Summary
Paradox of foundation of america: american freedom could not have developed without slavery. Slavery was essential to development of american economy. Especially cotton without cotton, wouldn"t have had industrial revolution. Could argue american capitalism is rooted in slavery. Slave systems functions to solve conflict between ideals of english migrants and harsh reality of actually settling america. Settling the chesapeake: aims virginia company. Investors in england invested in company with hope of profit return from profit in the new world . Hoping to find precious metal, minerals, plants, and northwest passage. Also looking for glass, iron, tar, etc. to import back to england: settlers & slaves. Many settlers were landless men from england looking for fortune. In contrast to new england, most people coming to chesapeake were single men. Control depended on connection to british banks and royalty. Deeply in debt, and deeply dependent of british creditors: williamsburg, annapolis, climate & disease. Native americans had already vastly changed natural landscape before.
