Borderlands+and Middle+grounds

Borderlands and Middle Grounds

__The Caribbean Islands__ The English Caribbean- a popular destination for English migrants that influenced the mainland colonies Imperial conflict- most of the natives on the islands were wiped out by the time Europeans began to settle. The Spanish took control of most of them. The English soon thereafter took control of these Islands, but they were never without conflict. Sugarcane was a huge profit. Sugar and slavery- sugarcane required intensive labor- too much for the natives- so the English had to rely on African slaves to cultivate on the West Indies __Masters and Slaves in the Caribbean__ slave revolts- the slaves greatly outnumbered the whites. The conditions were harsh, and many whites feared the slaves would revolt Unstable societies- with the harsh conditions, people were not permanent residents of these islands leading to little infrastructure and no society. In these conditions Africans bonded Connection to British North America- the islands were an important part of the trade industry. They were also the principal source for slaves. __The Southwestern Borderlands__ __The Southeastern Borderlands__ __The Founding of Georgia__ __Middle Grounds__
 * The Spanish Empire was doing much better than the English
 * Spain's Northern Colonies- Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California comprised of people fleeing imperial authority
 * New Mexico: the Spanish worked with the Natives to develop a flourishing agriculture
 * California: settlements begin in 1760s with the intent of creating a prosperous agricultural economy
 * Fearing Indian revolts and the French, the Spanish began establishing forts in Texas. In all of these Spanish regions, there were lots of Catholics converting the natives
 * Importance of Spanish Borderlands: unlike the English, instead of making Indians a problem they instead decided to utilize them
 * the Spanish was afraid the English would move into and threaten their existing Florida and Georgia settlements.
 * Hostilities in the Southeast: English pirates harassed Spanish colonies during this time. The English encouraged the Indians in Florida to rebel against the Spanish and the Spanish offered freedom to African slaves of the English if they converted to Catholicism. The English viewed this as the Spanish trying to wreck their economy, and the English eventually drove them out. The English acquired Florida in the Seven Years War
 * James Oglethorpe’s vision: Georgia was founded by unpaid trusteed led by him. Interested in economic success, but mainly driven by military and philanthropic motives. They wanted to establish a border for Southern English America and make a refuge for poor English men and women.
 * Georgia’s Military Rationale: King George II granted Oglethorpe the land between the Savannah and Althama rivers. They limited the size of landholdings, ran it very militaristically and didn’t allow slavery for fear of revolts and restricted trade with Indians for same reasons and Catholics for fear of them bonding with the Spanish
 * Transformation of Georgia: eventually Oglethorpe lightened up when the colony failed to improve and grow. People grew tired and the work load was too much without slaves
 * Conflict and Accommodations: the middle ground were where the Indians and British lived side by side because establishing boundaries was too hard and they worked together and adapted to each others custom. The Indians were hoping the French and British could help them improve
 * Mutually Beneficial Relations: before the English, the French had many mutually beneficial relations with the Indians. It took English a long time to realize they reacted better with gifts and ceremonies
 * The Shifting Balance: the new settlers had a harder time adapting to Indian customs.