American History Chapter 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

How were the American colonies more like each other than England?

They had to deal with a wild physical environment, Indian tribes as neighbors, and an ethnically and racially diverse population.

During the seventeenth century, at least three-fourths of the immigrants who came to the Chesapeake colonies came as?

indentured servants

The high mortality rate in the southern colonies had the effect of?

weakening the traditional patriarchal family structure

In the Puritan colonies, the principal economic and religious unit in the community was the?

family Signup and view all the answers

The mid-1690s marked a turning point in the history of the black population in America because?

the Royal Africa Company lost its monopoly Signup and view all the answers

The one factor which determined whether a person was subject to the slave codes in the British American colonies was?

color Signup and view all the answers

Historian Edmund S. Morgan argued that the institutionalization of African slavery in America reflected?

economic and social needs for an easily recruited and controlled labor force Signup and view all the answers

The most numerous of the non-English immigrants were the?

Scotch-Irish Signup and view all the answers

Why were Africans so valuable to planters along the Carolina and Georgia coasts?

They could be forced to do work that white laborers refused to do, they often came from rice-producing regions of Africa, and they were more accustomed to the hot and humid climate. Signup and view all the answers

Conditions for agriculture were better in the middle colonies than in most of New England because of?

more temperate weather Signup and view all the answers

The industrial activities of the northern colonies were primarily limited to?

local businesses and goods made for the home Signup and view all the answers

A common problem in American commerce in the seventeenth century was?

the lack of a commonly accepted currency Signup and view all the answers

The maze of highly diverse trade routes involving rum, slaves, and sugar was known as the?

triangular trade Signup and view all the answers

During the seventeenth century, colonial plantations were?

rough and relatively small Signup and view all the answers

African slaves in the colonial South began to develop a?

society and culture of their own Signup and view all the answers

The characteristic social unit in New England was the?

town Signup and view all the answers

In colonial New England, tensions between expectations of a cohesive community and the reality of diversity led to?

the witch trials Signup and view all the answers

What were the functions of a colonial American city?

They were trading centers, centers of industry, intellectual centers, and centers of political activity. Signup and view all the answers

In matters of religion, Americans were?

more tolerant than their English counterparts Signup and view all the answers

What caused the decline of piety in colonial America?

westward migration, rise of towns, and the importation of Enlightenment ideas Signup and view all the answers

The Great Awakening was?

the first great religious revival in America Signup and view all the answers

Before the Revolution, American education created a white male population more literate than those of?

European nations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following offers the best historical source of information about humor in the American colonies?

almanacs Signup and view all the answers

The influence of science in the colonies led to?

controversial and dangerous programs of inoculation against smallpox Signup and view all the answers

During the first half of the eighteenth century, colonial legislatures were generally?

a reflection of democracy in their respective colonies Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast the economy of the northern colonies with that of the southern colonies. What made the two regions develop as they did?

In the North, society was dominated by relatively small family farms and by towns and cities of growing size. In the South, there were many family farms as well, but there were also large plantations cultivating tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton for export. The colonies did, however, have much in common. Signup and view all the answers

What role did religion play in the advance of education in America?

In colonial days, many small towns had only the local churches to educate and teach basic skills. Signup and view all the answers

What impact did technology have on the development of the British American colonies?

The wide availability of reading material in colonial America by the eighteenth century was a result of the spread of printing technology. Signup and view all the answers

What were the reasons for the colonists to enjoy their membership in the British Empire in the 1750s?

military protection from the Indians and the French, political stability, and opportunity for trade Signup and view all the answers

During the fifty years after the Glorious Revolution, the British policy of neglect of the colonial economy was sustained by?

some Parliamentary leaders who believed relaxation of restrictions would spur commerce Signup and view all the answers

By the 1750s colonial legislatures had come to see themselves as?

little parliaments Signup and view all the answers

A conference of colonial leaders gathered in Albany, New York, in 1754 to discuss a proposal by Benjamin Franklin to?

establish 'one general government' for all of the colonies Signup and view all the answers

Both the French and the English were well aware that the battle for control of North America would be determined in part by?

which group could win the allegiance of native tribes Signup and view all the answers

The British victory in the Great War for the empire gave England control of?

most of the settled regions of North America Signup and view all the answers

Prior to the Great War for the empire, the Iroquois Confederacy maintained their?

autonomy by avoiding a close relationship with both French and the English Signup and view all the answers

What occurred during the prime ministry of William Pitt?

Americans were reimbursed for supplies requisitioned in their British colonies, colonial assemblies were in charge of recruitment in their respective colonies, and the French lost the city of Quebec. Signup and view all the answers

For which group was the result of the Great War for the empire a disaster?

The Iroquois Confederacy Signup and view all the answers

The English decision to reorganize the British Empire after 1763 was the result of?

enormous war debts and large increases in territory Signup and view all the answers

George III influenced the growing strain between the colonies and Great Britain through?

his insecure personality, which contributed to the instability of the British government during these years Signup and view all the answers

In an effort to keep peace between frontiersmen and Indians, the British government forbade settlers from crossing?

the mountains that divided the Atlantic coast from the interior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a consequence of the policies of the Grenville ministry?

British tax revenues in the colonies increased ten times Signup and view all the answers

The Indian empire that dominated modern Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest was the __________.

Aztec Signup and view all the answers

At the time of the Spanish conquest, the economies of most of the Native Americans in South and Central America and Mexico were based on __________.

agriculture Signup and view all the answers

The eastern third of what is now the United States was inhabited by the __________.

woodland Indians Signup and view all the answers

Indian religions were tied closely to the natural world.

True Signup and view all the answers

Indian societies in North America tended to divide tasks according to gender.

True Signup and view all the answers

Europe during the Middle Ages was too divided and decentralized to inspire great ventures.

True Signup and view all the answers

Paralleling the rise of commerce in Europe, and in part responsible for it, was __________.

the rise of united and powerful nation states Signup and view all the answers

The first nation to fund exploratory journeys beyond the boundaries of Europe was __________.

Portugal Signup and view all the answers

As a result of Columbus's voyages, Spain __________.

replaced Portugal as the foremost seafaring nation Signup and view all the answers

Through a combination of daring, brutality, and greed, the conquistadors __________.

made possible the creation of a Spanish empire in America Signup and view all the answers

With the Indians' conversion to Catholicism, most natives continued to practice their own religious rituals.

True Signup and view all the answers

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 allowed the Pueblos to regain __________ of their communities.

temporary political control Signup and view all the answers

The first and perhaps most profound result of the meeting of native and European cultures was the __________.

European adoption of native customs Signup and view all the answers

Ultimately more important to Europe than the gold and silver found in the New World was the __________.

importation of new crops that could feed larger numbers of people Signup and view all the answers

In matrilineal Indian and African societies, __________.

women play a major, often dominant, role Signup and view all the answers

The African slave trade began __________.

as early as the eighth century Signup and view all the answers

In the sixteenth century, the market for slaves grew dramatically as a result of __________.

the rising European demand for sugar cane Signup and view all the answers

What were the English incentives for colonization?

To escape religious strife at home, to escape the economic transformation of the countryside, to find new markets for English products, and to defeat the Spanish Armada. Signup and view all the answers

Members of the Church of England who claimed that the church had not given up Rome's offensive beliefs and practices were the __________.

Puritans Signup and view all the answers

As a result of their experiences in Ireland, the English believed that __________.

they must retain a rigid separation from the native population Signup and view all the answers

The country that produced the most successful fur traders and trappers was __________.

France Signup and view all the answers

The first permanent English settlement was __________.

Jamestown, Virginia Signup and view all the answers

The man to whom Queen Elizabeth granted the land on which the 'lost colony' was planted was __________.

Walter Raleigh Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Indian societies and their geographic distribution before the coming of the European explorers.

The natives were dispersed over the continent with societies based on land use rather than ownership, matrilineal structures, and varied food resources. Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast the Spanish and the English motives for colonization.

Spanish motives were focused on acquiring wealth and expanding their power, while English motives were about escaping troubles at home and seeking religious freedom. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the relationship between Spanish colonists and the Indians.

Spanish colonists were often brutal toward Indians, leading to significant population loss among Native Americans due to disease and conflict. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the social and cultural backgrounds of the Africans brought to America.

Africans had established societies with political systems and valuable agricultural skills. Their backgrounds differed from those of Indians and Europeans due to cultural practices like family-centered village life. Signup and view all the answers

How did the New World develop within the context of what has become known as the Atlantic World?

The Atlantic World emerged from the interactions between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, driven by trade, migration, and cultural exchange. Signup and view all the answers

What shaped the character of English settlements in America?

The colonies were business enterprises that adopted native agricultural techniques, transplanted societal structures from Europe, and developed their own institutions. Signup and view all the answers

One of the biggest problems during the first years of the Jamestown settlements was __________.

the unwillingness of colonists to grow food. Signup and view all the answers

Captain John Smith helped Jamestown survive when he __________.

imposed work and order on the colony. Signup and view all the answers

The Englishman who first cultivated tobacco in Virginia was __________.

John Rolfe. Signup and view all the answers

The year 1619 was important in the history of Virginia because that year the colony __________.

elected its first House of Burgesses. Signup and view all the answers

To entice new laborers to their colony, the Virginia Company established the 'headright' system to __________.

grant land to current and prospective settlers. Signup and view all the answers

In 1619, another crucial element was introduced into the Virginia social order. It was __________.

Africans. Signup and view all the answers

Which colony allowed freedom of religion to all Christians?

Maryland. Signup and view all the answers

Which problem occurred during the early years of the Maryland colony?

Disease. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributed to the outbreak of Bacon's Rebellion?

The autocratic rule of Governor Berkeley. Signup and view all the answers

Bacon's Rebellion was significant because __________.

it revealed the bitterness of competition among rival elites in Virginia. Signup and view all the answers

The majority of colonists who first settled in Plymouth were __________.

members of a Puritan Separatist congregation. Signup and view all the answers

The Plymouth colony's relationship with its Indian neighbors was __________.

an integral part of its survival during the formative years of the colony. Signup and view all the answers

The first governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony was __________.

John Winthrop. Signup and view all the answers

The colony in Hartford __________.

gave more white men the right to vote than the Massachusetts Bay colony. Signup and view all the answers

Anne Hutchinson's teaching threatened to undermine the spiritual authority of the established clergy because she __________.

claimed believers could communicate directly with God. Signup and view all the answers

Regarding the Indians, Puritan settlers were LEAST likely to advocate a policy of tolerance and respect.

True Signup and view all the answers

The Restoration colonies had in common that they were all __________.

proprietary ventures. Signup and view all the answers

Slavery in Carolina was greatly influenced by slavery in __________.

Barbados. Signup and view all the answers

Caribbean colonies built their economies on __________.

export crops. Signup and view all the answers

Under the Caribbean slave code, masters could kill slaves with impunity.

True Signup and view all the answers

The Navigation Acts were designed to __________.

regulate commerce according to the theory of mercantilism. Signup and view all the answers

The overthrow of James II in the Glorious Revolution was well received in New England.

True Signup and view all the answers

In America, the Glorious Revolution of 1688 led to changes which revealed __________.

that local issues were more important than questions over the nature of the empire. Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast Virginia and Plymouth—their origins, their goals, and their early social, political, and economic development.

Virginia was established for profit and focused on cash crops, whereas Plymouth was founded for religious freedom and community solidarity. Signup and view all the answers

Between 1660 and 1700, the American colonies were shaken by a series of 'revolts' that were the result of tensions in colonial society. Examine the protests that took place in Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York.

Virginia's revolt stemmed from underrepresentation in government amid Indian raids, Maryland's from religious disputes, Massachusetts from Indian conflicts, and New York was due to neglect of common citizen grievances. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the way in which England applied the principles of mercantilism to its North American colonies.

England's mercantilistic approach involved regulating trade to benefit the mother country, leveraging colonies for raw materials and markets for exports. Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast the institution of slavery in England's mainland colonies with the institution as it existed in the Caribbean.

Slavery in England's mainland colonies involved labor for agriculture but with comparatively less brutality than the Caribbean, where slaves were more frequently treated harshly due to high rebellion fears. Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast the way the English and Spanish dealt with Native Americans.

The Spanish were often aggressive and exploitative, while the English adopted a more segmented approach that included negotiations and conflict, though both groups ultimately sought land and resources. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Native American Societies Pre-Conquest

The Aztec Empire was dominant in modern Mexico at the time of Spanish conquest.
Most Native American economies in this region were agriculturally based.
The eastern United States was inhabited by Woodland Indians, who divided tasks by gender.
Indian religions were closely tied to nature and land.

European Context and Exploration

Europe during the Middle Ages lacked unity, hindering exploration efforts.
The rise of powerful nation-states in Europe fueled exploration and commerce.
Portugal was the first country to fund exploratory journeys beyond Europe.
Columbus’s voyages resulted in Spain becoming the leading maritime power.
Conquistadors utilized brutality and greed to establish the Spanish Empire in the Americas.

Cultural Interactions

Native conversion to Catholicism occurred, but many retained traditional beliefs.
The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 allowed Pueblos to regain political control temporarily.
The cultural exchange led to European adoption of Native customs.
Importation of new crops from the Americas ultimately proved more beneficial to Europe than the gold and silver found.

Slavery and Economic Systems

African slave trade commenced as early as the 8th century, leading to increased demand due to European sugar plantations.
The Virginia Company implemented the headright system to attract labor by granting land to settlers.
Slavery in Carolina was heavily influenced by practices from Barbados.

English Colonization Motives and Strategies

English motives for colonization included escaping religious strife, economic changes, finding new markets, and defeating the Spanish Armada.
The Puritans, claiming Rome's practices persisted in the Church of England, sought to reform their faith.
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement established in Virginia.

Relationship Between Colonists and Native Americans

Relations between Spanish colonists and Native Americans were marked by brutality; many natives died from disease and conflict.
English settlers established family-focused colonies, leading to less intermarriage with natives compared to Spanish practices.

Bacon's Rebellion highlighted competition among Virginia elites and landless men's instability.
The social unrest was rooted in government underrepresentation and religious conflicts, particularly in Virginia and Maryland.
In Plymouth, the relationship with Native Americans was crucial for settlement survival.

Colonial Governance and Economic Foundations

The Navigation Acts aimed to regulate commerce based on mercantilist principles.
Local governance revolutions in New England indicated the significance of local issues over imperial concerns after the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

Comparative Analysis of Regions

Virginia was economically driven by profit, while Plymouth sought religious solitude and community.
Social and political frameworks demonstrated a contrast in family dynamics and relations with Native populations across colonies.

Reflection on Slavery and Mercantilism

The utilization of slave labor differed significantly between the Caribbean and mainland colonies, with Caribbean planters often neglecting the well-being of slaves to minimize costs.
The connection of American colonies to the Atlantic World was characterized by the exchange of ideas, commerce, and migration.### Immigration and Labor in Colonial America
The Chesapeake colonies saw at least three-fourths of their immigrants arriving as indentured servants during the seventeenth century.
High mortality rates in the southern colonies weakened traditional patriarchal family structures.
The Royal Africa Company lost its monopoly in the mid-1690s, marking a significant shift in the black population's history in America.
In colonial society, color was the determining factor for whether individuals were subject to slave codes, highlighting racial divisions.

In Puritan colonies, family served as the principal economic and religious unit, emphasizing the importance of kinship and community.
Economic conditions in the middle colonies benefited from more temperate weather, improving agricultural prospects compared to New England.
The northern colonies focused on local businesses and goods created for home consumption, limiting industrial development.
The triangular trade involved complex trade routes exchanging rum, slaves, and sugar, significantly impacting colonial economies.

Cultural and Ideological Context

African slaves in the South began to cultivate their own unique society and culture, indicating resilience and adaptation.
Social units in New England were characterized by towns, fostering a sense of community but also leading to tensions regarding diversity, as seen in the witch trials.
Religious beliefs played a significant role in education, with early public schools established to enable reading of the Bible; however, religious narrow-mindedness hindered scientific education.

Influence of the Enlightenment and Education

The Enlightenment inspired a growing interest in scientific knowledge, impacting educational practices in colonial America.
By the 1750s, colonial legislatures had evolved into entities resembling "little parliaments," reflecting burgeoning democratic ideals.
The spread of printing technology in the eighteenth century allowed for increased literacy and the rise of newspapers, fostering informed communities.

Relations with Native Tribes and the British Empire

Colonists valued their membership in the British Empire around the 1750s for military protection, political stability, and economic opportunity.
The Iroquois Confederacy skillfully maintained autonomy before the Great War for Empire, avoiding close ties with either the French or English.
British victory in the conflict led to control over most settled regions in North America, reshaping colonial dynamics.

Aftermath of the Great War for Empire

The British government's reorganization post-1763 was driven by significant war debts and territorial expansion.
George III's insecure personality contributed to tensions between the colonies and Great Britain, illustrating the influence of leadership on governance.
New policies aimed at regulating colonial expansion included restricting settlers from crossing the Appalachian Mountains, aiming to reduce conflicts with Native Americans.

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