The Chautauquan, Vol. 04, March 1884, No. 6Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
History
The Chautauquan, Vol. 04, March 1884, No. 6
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Chautauqua Institution -- Periodicals; Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle -- Periodicals
Other Governors succeeded, some of whom
did wisely. The lands first held in common were divided, and the owners
required to cultivate them.
In 1619 a Dutch trader brought some negroes from Africa, which were sold
to the richer planters. Thus slavery began, and its blighting influence
was long felt both there and in the other colonies. It was at first
found profitable, and the population increased so rapidly that in less
than forty years from the date of the first charter the little band in
Virginia had grown to over twenty thousand.
In the meantime some settlements were made in Carolina by Virginians, and
also by Puritans from New England, without chartered rights, and with
alternations of success and disaster.
In 1663 liberal grants were issued by Charles II., and colonization
advanced more rapidly. But the colonial government, adopted not by the
people but by the proprietors, was a kind of landed aristocracy, that was
distasteful, and the arrogant demands of the ruling class were met with
rebellion.
An attempt was made at self-government, which succeeded so far as to
show that aristocratic institutions and customs were not suited to the
wilderness; and the famous constitution, framed with much labor by Lord
Shaftsbury and the justly celebrated Dr. Locke, was abandoned, as its
provisions were found oppressive and impracticable. The Indians, once
numerous in the Carolinas, for a time gave much trouble, but through
pestilence, wars and drunkenness their power was broken, and they rapidly
faded away.
SETTLEMENT OF NEW ENGLAND.
In 1607 the Plymouth Company made an unsuccessful attempt on the
Kennebec; but, though baffled and hindered, the purpose of colonization
was not abandoned. In 1609 Captain Smith, injured by an accident, and
disheartened by the unhappy state of the colony at Jamestown, returned to
London to interest others in the settlement of America. Time was needed
to make the preparation; and in 1614 he came in command of two ships to
the coast of lower Maine, explored the country, and drew maps of the
whole coast line from the Penobscot to Cape Cod, and called the region
New England.
No colony was then planted. Months and years were consumed fruitlessly in
making and unmaking plans that proved impracticable, or at best failed
in the execution; till in 1617 the Plymouth Company was superseded by
the Council of Plymouth, consisting of forty of the most wealthy and
influential men of the kingdom. They planned magnificently, and made many
fair promises; but the spirit of the enterprise was intensely secular if
not selfish, and the hopes cherished were again disappointed. The actual
settlement of New England was begun by men of more earnest spirit and
loftier aim, to whom conscience and the love of liberty were a higher law.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account