Colonial Ventures and Settlements Quiz

Colonial Ventures and Settlements

• London Company: Granted a tract from Cape Fear to Long Island; launched the Discovery, Godspeed, under Captain Newport, taking five months to reach North America.
• Plymouth Company: Aimed to establish a colony in Maine, capitalizing on nearby fishing grounds for trade and food with Native Americans.
• Jamestown: Notable for its failure due to high mortality, lack of resources, and abandonment of projects, contributing to its early struggles.
• Powhatan Confederation: Local native leader at Jamestown; composed of multiple tribes and frequently aggressive towards English settlers.

Health and Leadership Challenges

• Malaria: Devastated Jamestown inhabitants due to swampy conditions, leading to high death rates and workforce attrition.
• Captain John Smith: Essential leader in Jamestown's survival during its initial year; known for his skills in survival and leadership; captured by Powhatan but spared by Pocahontas.
• Thomas West (Baron de la Warr): Developed organizational systems including taxation and land distribution to support colony expansion.

Economy and Legislation

• Tobacco: Key crop that financially supported Virginia; while lucrative, it depleted soil and was unsustainable as a singular economic focus.
• House of Burgesses (1619): Originated as the first legislative assembly in colonial America, influencing governance in subsequent colonies.
• Headright System: Land distribution strategy giving 50 acres to colonists for each indentured servant they brought, incentivizing immigration.

Religious and Social Dynamics

• Act of Concerning Religion: Fostered religious tolerance in Maryland, safeguarding Christians regardless of denomination under Cecil Calvert's leadership.
• Anne Hutchinson: Advocated for individual revelation and was expelled from Massachusetts Bay; her teachings contributed to the establishment of New Hampshire.
• Puritan Separatists: Led by Oliver Cromwell, they established a more politically controlled England and spearheaded change in governance.

Conflict and Unity

• The Pequot War: Faced between English settlers and Pequot Indians, resulting in near-total destruction of the Pequot population and asserting colonial land claims.
• King Philip's War (1675): Significant conflict resulting from colonial expansion and jurisdictional disputes over local tribes; it dramatically reduced Native American populations in New England.
• Navigation Acts: Regulatory laws controlling colonial trade to benefit England, leading to colonial resentment and growing calls for independence.

Governance and Colony Formation

• Proprietary and Royal Colonies: Various types of colonial governance; proprietary colonies were established through land grants while royal colonies were directly controlled by the monarchy.
• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut: Recognized as the first written constitution in America, establishing limits on governmental power and extending voting rights beyond church members.
• William Penn: As a Quaker, founded Pennsylvania to promote peaceful coexistence and provide religious freedom.

Territorial Development and Encounter

• Carolinas and Georgia: Founded for economic gain and as a refuge for debtors; ultimately split into North and South Carolina due to differing economies and cultures.
• Francis Nicholson and Edmund Andros: Key figures in the administration of New York and the Dominion of New England, faced challenges due to unpopular law enforcement and governance.
• Spanish Missionary Activity: Aimed to spread culture and Christianity in the Southwest; success largely depended on the missionaries' effectiveness and relationship-building with Native populations.

Major Events and Figures

• Oglethorpe: Founder of Georgia, aimed to create a sanctuary for the poor and persecuted.
• Glorious Revolution: Marked the transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in England, influencing the governance of colonies.
• Jacob Leisler: German immigrant and interim governor of New York; executed for treason but later cleared of charges, highlighting political tensions in colonial governance.

These notes summarize the key entities, events, and social dynamics during the early years of colonization in America, reflecting the diverse motivations, conflicts, and governance structures that shaped early American society.