Boom Country Flashcards
What was the main motivation of the colonization of America by Europe?
The quest for new and rare products to sell and make amazing profits.
Which are the main differences between indentured servants and slaves?
Indentured servants signed indentures agreeing to work for a period of 4 to 7 years, at their own will, for a master who then would pay their passages to America and expenses there, while slaves were forced to work everyday against their will, were severely punished whenever disobeyed their owners and only achieved their freedom by resisting against oppression.
Which types of crops were grown in Virginia and why they were so significant for the economy?
Coffee, Sugar Cane and Tobacco. Because the huge success of its sales and exports was rendering an amazing profit.
Jamestown was founded on a river flowing into Chesapeake Bay because…
The colonists sought “gold-showing mountains” there.
Who was Captain John Smith and what was his importance in the story of Jamestown?
He was a soldier of fortune who was once accused of the unlikely crime of plotting to “murder” the colony’s leaders, but talked his way out of that scrape, and several months later, with many colonists dying of burning fevers and becoming dissatisfied with their current leaders, he took charge of Jamestown and put everyone to work in order to survive.
What caused the Starvation Time in Jamestown?
Because there was no gold or mountains to be shown, the colonists didn’t have anything of value to trade for resources.
Which was the role of Pocahontas in the story of Jamestown?
She begged the life of Captain Smith being spared from the brutal execution by a war club.
What sort of ceremony did the English hold with Powhatan to show they’ve recognized who was in charge around Chesapeake Bay?
A “coronation” at which they asked him to kneel and accept a crown as a subject king.
What was the House of Burgesses and its significance in American History?
It was a group formed by duos of men, each one chosen by a different county to represent them in the legislature. It helped Virginia and Maryland to become healthier places to live with the plantations of tobacco.
What was the role of the Virginia Company in the colonization of America?
It was seeking new products to trade and make Virginia prosper by undergoing an economic boom.
What was the importance of tobacco in the history of Virginia?
It was the most lucrative crop of that time which was responsible for Virginia’s Economic Boom, but also had a very harsh planting process which summed with the high risks on the plantations’ environment, caused several workers to lose their lives.
Who was Anthony Johnson?
Originally named Antonio, he was a young African man who was brought to Virginia in 1621 and used to work along with his wife Mary for a white planer, either as servants or slaves, eventually gaining his freedom later.
What name did Anthony Johnson had when he was listed as an slave in 1621?
Antonio a Negro.
What impressive feats did Anthony achieve over his life in Virginia?
He survived his first year’s seasoning, escaped death in a big Indian attack of 1622, and lived nearly 50 years more, to die as one of Virginia’s few old men.
How many Africans among the 13.000 settlers lived in Chesapeake Bay and how many became free?
About 300. Dozens achieved freedom.
