Survey of American History notes Fall 2016 - Survey of...

Survey of American History notes
8/17/16
European and English Traditions
1. Intro: European traditions come to North America; they are the renaissance traditions and
special English traditions.
2. Medieval Europe
a. Fractured land after fall of Rome; Manors; Lord of the Manors; Roman Catholic Church;
Great Chain of Being
i. Great chain of being - God-Jesus-Pope-Kings-Bishops-Lords-serfs
3. Forces of Change: cities and capitalism; Renaissance, the birth of modern science; protestant
revolt- Martin Luther, individualism; Rise of the Nation State- England, France, Spain- ability to
get funds for exploration
a. Renaissance created the scientific revolution
b. Protestant reformation: Destroyed the unity of Europe
i. Martin Luther-1517-95 Theses
ii. Protest ant Reform ation
iii. How do you earn salvation?
1. Catholic belief- community activity; people will intercede on your behalf
2. Protestant- individualism- it is up to the individual to find their own
salvation
iv. This reformation began the splitting of denominations. Tension doesn’t end until
the end of WWII
c. Nation State- important because it can afford to pay for exploration
i. England, France, Spain, Portugal
Important!!! *Beliefs of Medieval Europe: Unity, Stability, Hierarchy
The Case of England
1. England different in political traditions
2. English society, English Renaissance, the economy; Protestantism (Church of England or the
Anglican Church). Mass poverty, the aristocracy, brutality
3. Political life. England different from continent
a. English government: Parliament, monarch, House of Lords, House of Commons. Idea of
Representative Government
i. House of Lords- aristocracy
ii. House of Commons- no titles- elected representative government
1. Must own property (40 acres in order to vote- about 20% of the pop.)
b. Rule by property-holders; 40-acre freehold
c. King could not tax; English liberties
i. Only Parliament could tax- some power taken away from the King/Queen
d. Bureaucracy
i. How does the King rule a country? - through bureaucracy & church
1. Bureaucracy- County Government-county of commissioners-clerks- etc.
4. Henry IIIV broke free of the Church of England in
a. He made the Anglican church

i. Same as catholic church except King in charge instead of Pope
5. The Puritan Revolt
a. Wanted to get rid of saints in church and fancy things
i. Aimed their forces against the king. Believed theologians should lead the
church, not politicians
b. Summary- Europeans to North America were first English; Brought
8/19/16
Political Traditions-1600
 Few rule
o Many are ruled
 England- Representative government idea of the House of Commons
 From military Outposts to Societies
 English Events; Civil War 1640-1660; Restoration 1660; Charles II 1660-1685; James II 1685-

Note : Gold and silver don’t lose value
Economic Traditions
 The state and government comes first
 Government dictates econ activity
Social Traditions
 1 nation=1 people;1 church
 No diversity
Virginia Company
 Came from Joint Stock Companies
 Created the settlement of Jamestown
Settlement 1: Virginia and Massachusetts Bay
1.