8th Grade Social Studies: European Exploration and Colonization

Study Notes

Reasons for Exploration

Motivations for European exploration included wealth, religion, empire expansion, territory claim, and pursuit of new trade routes, particularly to Asia via the Northwest Passage.
Spain claimed Florida, Texas, and California, establishing missions.
France sought to profit from fur trading by claiming extensive land in the New World.

Colonization

New England colonies featured rocky soil, cold climates, and harbors; known for fishing, lumber, and shipbuilding, they were founded primarily for religious freedom.
Roger Williams, fleeing religious persecution, established Rhode Island emphasizing religious toleration.
Massachusetts was founded by Puritans/Pilgrims seeking freedom, with Boston emerging as a major port city.
Middle colonies boasted rich farmland and moderate climates, cultivating grains and raising livestock.
The Quakers in Pennsylvania were the first anti-slavery group.
Southern colonies had fertile soil and warm climates, focusing on cash crops; reliant on slave labor due to the Transatlantic Slave Trade, with Jamestown, Virginia, as a key settlement.
Maryland aimed to provide a refuge for Catholics seeking religious freedom.

Growth of Self-Government

Factors promoting representative government included distance from Britain and foundational documents like the Pilgrim’s Mayflower Compact, Virginia House of Burgesses, and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.
The First Great Awakening and ideas from John Locke also fueled growth in self-governance.
Mercantilism imposed by Britain controlled colonial trade, leading to colonial discontent.

American Revolution

The Proclamation of 1763 restricted westward colonization, causing resentment among colonists.
The consent of the governed became a critical principle, where colonists argued that Britain required permission to levy taxes, propelling revolutionary sentiments.
Intolerable Acts, a direct outcome of the Boston Tea Party, spurred the first Continental Congress to address grievances.
Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence, listing complaints against King George III and asserting the right to establish a new government.
The concept of unalienable rights emerged, emphasizing life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The Battle of Saratoga marked a turning point in the war, leading to French support for American forces.
The last significant conflict occurred at Yorktown, resulting in a British defeat and the Treaty of Paris acknowledging U.S. independence.

Constitution and Government Structure

The Constitution established the framework for the new government, emphasizing the rule of law and citizen responsibilities such as jury service and voting.
The 1st Amendment guarantees freedoms including religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
The 4th Amendment protects against unreasonable searches; the 6th Amendment ensures the right to a jury trial.
The 8th Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment; the 10th Amendment reserves powers not granted to the federal government to the states, reinforcing federalism.
Hamilton's Financial Plan aimed to stabilize the economy, advocating for a National Bank, war debt repayment, imposing a whiskey tax, and protective tariffs.
George Washington's farewell address warned against permanent foreign alliances and political party divisions.

Key Political Parties and Judicial Review

The Federalist Party, led by Alexander Hamilton, supported a strong federal government and an industrial economy.
The Democratic-Republican Party, led by Thomas Jefferson, favored less federal power and an agricultural economy.
The Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison established judicial review, allowing the Court to declare laws unconstitutional.
Gibbons v. Ogden affirmed federal authority over interstate trade.

Expansion and Conflict

The 1803 Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the U.S., providing fertile land and access to the Mississippi River.
Causes of the War of 1812 included the British impressment of American sailors.

Jacksonian Democracy and Federal Power

Jacksonian Democracy promoted increased voting and participation but was criticized for concentrating too much power in the executive branch.
The Nullification Crisis exemplified tensions between states' rights and federal authority.
The Indian Removal Act led to controversial policies forcing Native American relocation, with Worcester v. Georgia highlighting judicial resistance.
The Hudson River School represented a cultural movement focusing on American landscapes.

Government Structure and Compromises

The Articles of Confederation created a weak government fearing centralized power, lacking an executive branch and trade regulation powers.
The Northwest Ordinance established a method for admitting new states, requiring a population of 60,000.
The Great Compromise balanced representation in Congress between large and small states.
The Three-Fifths Compromise determined the counting of slaves for representation and tax purposes.
Federalists supported the Constitution for a tighter union, while Anti-Federalists sought more power for states and emphasized a bill of rights.
Checks and balances were established to prevent any government branch from becoming too powerful.

Description

Test your knowledge on the reasons for European exploration, including wealth, religion, and expansion, as well as the colonization of the New World. This quiz covers the roles of Spain and France, and the characteristics of the New England colonies.