Life in the American Colonies Vocabulary

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Questions and Answers

Who was primarily responsible for teaching their children how to read and write in the colonies?

Slaveholders

Mothers (correct)

Fathers

Teachers

What was the primary focus of education in colonial schoolhouses?

Reading, writing, simple math, and science (correct)

Reading, writing, simple math, and geography

Reading, writing, and religion

Fine arts and music

What is known today as Harvard College?

Princeton University

New College (correct)

Columbia University

Providence College

What were dissenters required to do in the colonies where attendance to the official church was mandated?

Pay a fine Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the religious revival movement in the colonies during the 1730s to 1750s?

The Great Awakening Signup and view all the answers

What significant period questioned traditional views in Europe from 1685 to 1815?

The Age of Enlightenment Signup and view all the answers

According to Enlightenment ideas, what are considered natural rights?

Life, liberty, and property Signup and view all the answers

Which Native American tribe was considered the most powerful in eastern North America?

Iroquois Confederacy Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of subsistence farming?

Producing just enough to meet immediate needs Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to a crop grown specifically for sale?

Cash Crop Signup and view all the answers

What does the term mercantilism emphasize?

Building wealth through exports and accumulation of precious metals Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the Iroquois Confederacy?

A federation of Native American nations under one government Signup and view all the answers

Which word describes the process of moving permanently from one country to another?

Immigration Signup and view all the answers

What does the term diversity refer to in the context of the American Colonies?

The variety of ethnic or national groups Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of a triangular trade route?

To exchange goods between three destinations Signup and view all the answers

What does the term civic virtue encapsulate?

The democratic practices and values essential to citizenship Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary crop that defined the economy of the Southern Colonies?

Rice Signup and view all the answers

What was the main restriction imposed by the Navigation Acts on colonial trade?

All trade had to be conducted with Great Britain. Signup and view all the answers

Which items did the colonies primarily export to Great Britain?

Tobacco and cotton Signup and view all the answers

What was an economic consequence of the Southern Colonies relying on slave labor?

Dependency on a single crop economy. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the trade route known as the Middle Passage?

The route for shipping slaves from Africa to the Americas. Signup and view all the answers

What did colonial merchants do in response to the Navigation Acts?

They smuggled goods to other countries. Signup and view all the answers

What products were sent from Great Britain to Africa in exchange for various goods?

Finished goods, slaves, gold, and ivory. Signup and view all the answers

What role did finished goods play in the colonial trade system?

They provided the necessary exchange for raw materials and money. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary economic focus of the New England Colonies?

Small business and industry Signup and view all the answers

Which crop was predominantly associated with the Middle Colonies?

Wheat Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of the Navigation Acts for the 13 colonies?

Forced exclusive trade with Great Britain Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason slaves were essential to the Southern Colonies' economy?

They were needed for large-scale farming Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the percentage of African slaves sent to the American Colonies?

5% Signup and view all the answers

Which raw material was NOT typically sent from the colonies to Great Britain?

Gold Signup and view all the answers

What was a key feature of the Middle Passage?

The transport of slaves from Africa to the Americas Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the three types of colonial government systems?

Royal Colonies Signup and view all the answers

How many economic regions were the 13 British colonies divided into?

Three Signup and view all the answers

Which economic region was known for diverse agricultural production and had a nickname of 'the Bread Basket'?

Middle Colonies Signup and view all the answers

What economic activities characterized the northernmost region of the 13 British colonies?

Fishing and furs Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the Navigation Acts?

Colonies could only sell raw materials to Great Britain, regardless of market price. Signup and view all the answers

What was the reaction of colonists towards the Navigation Acts?

They revolted and engaged in smuggling practices. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups could the 13 British colonies legally trade with?

Any country if profits returned to Great Britain Signup and view all the answers

Which economic region of the 13 British colonies primarily engaged in farming cash crops?

Southern Colonies Signup and view all the answers

In terms of economic activities, which region was primarily focused on small business and shipbuilding?

New England Colonies Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Life in the American Colonies: Key Vocabulary

Subsistence Farming: Cultivation aimed at meeting immediate needs rather than for sale.
Cash Crop: Specific crops grown for commercial sale, enhancing trade value.
Diversity: Presence of various ethnic or national groups within colonies.
Triangular Trade: Trade network connecting Britain, West Africa, and the West Indies, facilitating exchange of goods and enslaved people.
Mercantilism: Economic theory focused on maximizing exports and accumulating precious metals to enhance national power.
Export: Selling goods to foreign markets.
Import: Bringing goods from abroad into a country.
Immigration: Movement of individuals into a new country for permanent residence.
Civic Virtue: Core democratic values and practices foundational to citizenship in a free society.
Iroquois Confederacy: Alliance of Native American nations in eastern North America for mutual governance.
Adapt: Change in response to new conditions or environments.
Convert: Process of changing religious beliefs of individuals.

The 13 Colonies and Their Economic Regions

The 13 British Colonies include Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
Divided into three main geographic regions: New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies, each with distinct economic activities.

New England Colonies

Economy driven by subsistence farming, small businesses, fishing, logging, whaling, shipbuilding, and trade.
Challenging farming conditions due to rocky soil and cold climate limited large-scale agriculture.

Middle Colonies

Known as "the bread basket" for their production of grains and wheat.
Economy based on cash crops, trade, manufacturing, and small businesses.

Southern Colonies

Economy primarily focused on farming cash crops like rice, tobacco, and cotton.
Heavily reliant on slaves for labor, who worked on plantations without payment.

Colonies mandated to trade exclusively with Great Britain.
Navigation Acts were laws passed in the 1650s requiring colonial raw materials to be sold only to England.
Colonial resistance led to smuggling and trading materials with other countries to maximize profits.

Triangular Trade

Colonies exported raw materials such as tobacco, cotton, and indigo to Great Britain.
Great Britain utilized these raw materials to produce finished goods and exchanged them for money or sent them to Africa for gold, ivory, or slaves.
Notable for the Middle Passage, the journey of enslaved Africans destined for the Americas.

Education and Religion

Colonial children’s education, typically overseen by parents, included reading, writing, simple math, and religious instruction.
The first college in Colonial America was New College (now Harvard).
Eight colonies enforced attendance at established churches, with dissenters facing various penalties.
The Great Awakening (1730s-1750s) marked a significant religious revival in the colonies.

Enlightenment Ideas

The Enlightenment (1685-1815) challenged traditional views, emphasizing reason and individual rights, leading to concepts of government by consent and individual liberties.

Native American Relations

The Iroquois Confederacy was the most powerful Native American alliance, wielding significant influence in eastern North America.
The colonization efforts led to complex interactions and conflicts with various tribes.

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Description

Test your knowledge of key vocabulary related to life in the American Colonies. This quiz covers essential terms and definitions, such as subsistence farming, cash crops, diversity, and the triangular trade. Perfect for students studying American history.