Colonial Foundations and Early Government

Colonial Foundations and Early Government

• New England's economy relied on shipping and fishing, aided by its coastal geography.
• Middle Colonies had a diverse economy, with trade, agriculture, and commerce.
• Southern Colonies focused heavily on cash crops (tobacco, rice, indigo), supported by enslaved labor.
• Geography shaped colonial economies; New England's rocky terrain limited agriculture, while the South's fertile land supported large-scale farming.
• Middle Colonies' relative peace and diversity attracted numerous ethnic groups.

Colonial Government Structures

• The Mayflower Compact was the first written framework of self-governance in the New World.
• The House of Burgesses was the first legislative assembly, modeled after the English Parliament.
• New England Town Meetings were a form of direct democracy, where local citizens made decisions.

Influences on American Government

• John Locke's philosophy of natural rights (life, liberty, and property) influenced American founding principles.
• Magna Carta established the precedent of limited government, restricting monarchical power.
• The social contract theory emphasized government authority derived from popular consent.

Revolutionary Era and Formation of Government

• The French and Indian War was a conflict between British colonists and French forces over North American territory.

• The Albany Plan of Union, proposed by Benjamin Franklin, advocated for colonial unity against France.

• Increased British debt after the war led to colonial taxation and tensions.

• Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" promoted independence from Britain.

• The Battle of Saratoga convinced France to ally with the colonists.

• The Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776, articulated colonial grievances and asserted inalienable rights.

Articles of Confederation and Its Challenges

• The Articles of Confederation established a weak federal government with limited powers.
• Shays' Rebellion exposed the weaknesses of the Articles, illustrating the federal government's inability to address civil unrest.
• Economic instability arose from the lack of a national currency and state-issued money.

Expansion and Social Change

• Manifest Destiny was the belief in America's right to continental expansion, impacting Native American policies.
• The Louisiana Purchase (1803) significantly increased U.S. territory.
• The Homestead Act encouraged westward migration, leading to demographic changes & conflicts with Native Americans.

Social Movements and Reform

• The Seneca Falls Convention (1848) launched the women's suffrage movement, advocating for equality.
• Abolitionist movements gained strength, with key figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.
• The Dred Scott decision intensified sectional tensions over slavery, contributing to the Civil War.

Civil War and Reconstruction

• The Civil War began with South Carolina's secession and the attack on Fort Sumter.

• Key battles (Antietam, Gettysburg) were pivotal, with Gettysburg marking a turning point for the Union.

• The Anaconda Plan was the Union's strategy to suffocate the Confederate economy through blockade and control of the Mississippi River.

• The Freedmen's Bureau aimed to assist former slaves.

• The Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction.

• The Ku Klux Klan sought to suppress African American rights through violence.

Key Figures and Movements in African American History

• W.E.B. Du Bois and the Niagara Movement: advocated for higher education, civil rights, and black professionals.
• Booker T. Washington and the Tuskegee Institute: promoted vocational training and economic self-reliance.

Progressive Era Reforms

• Theodore Roosevelt played a key role as a trustbuster, working to break up monopolies.
• Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" exposed food safety problems, leading to the Meat Inspection Act.
• Jacob Riis exposed urban poverty, prompting social reform.
• Jane Addams founded Hull House to assist immigrants.

Major Progressive Policies and Legislation

• The Sherman Antitrust Act aimed to reduce monopolies.
• Various reforms addressed labor conditions, women's rights, and public health.
• Muckrakers exposed corruption and injustices, fostering public demand for reforms.

Major Wars and Their Impact on America

• The Spanish-American War led to U.S. acquisition of territories (Guam, Philippines, Puerto Rico), marking a turn towards imperialism.

• The Teller Amendment promised Cuban independence; the Platt Amendment limited Cuban sovereignty.

• World War I involved trench warfare, new technologies, and U.S. entry following the Lusitania sinking and the Zimmerman Note.

• The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh penalties on Germany.

• The League of Nations, proposed by Wilson, was rejected by the U.S. Congress.

Civil Rights Movement and Social Change

• The Civil Rights Movement involved nonviolent protests led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr.
• Brown v. Board of Education declared racial segregation in schools unconstitutional.
• The 24th Amendment aimed to eliminate barriers to voting for African Americans.

Great Society and Its Impact

• President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.
• Medicare and Medicaid provided health insurance to the elderly and poor.
• VISTA assisted low-income communities, similar to the Peace Corps.

Modern America and Global Relations

• The Truman Doctrine provided U.S. support to countries resisting communism.
• The Marshall Plan rebuilt post-WWII Europe, preventing communist expansion.
• The Cuban Missile Crisis highlighted Cold War tensions.

Recent Developments in American History

• The 2000 election generated controversy and the Bush v. Gore Supreme Court decision.
• The 2008 recession impacted the U.S. economy.
• Barack Obama's election in 2008 marked a historic moment.

Explore the economic foundations and governance structures of the early American colonies. This quiz covers the diverse economies of New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies, along with significant documents like the Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses. Test your knowledge of how geography and philosophy shaped early American governance.