Colonial Period

Question 1

Who were Ferdinand and Isabella and why did they seek confirmation of their ownership in the Americas?

Answer 1

The joint monarchs of Spain feared the interference of seafaring Portugal in the age of exploration

Question 2

What was the Line of Demarcation?

Answer 2

Spain urged the Pope to draw the line of demarcation (100 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands) the east was declared for Portugal & the west for Spain

Question 3

What was the result of the treaty of Tordesillas?

Answer 3

In 1494, the Line of Demarcation was moved farther west to give more land to Portugal. Brazil became Portuguese as a result.

Question 4

Who was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean?

Answer 4

Vasco Nunez de Balboa after crossing Panama in 1513.

Question 5

Who claimed Florida for Spain as he searched for the fountain of youth?

Answer 5

Prince de Leon in 1513

Question 6

Who was Hernando Cortez?

Answer 6

The Spaniard was mistaken for a god by the Aztecs and defeated them with firearms, horses and small pox.

Question 7

Describe the earliest European exploration of the interior of North America

Answer 7

Several Spaniards failed to find riches and many expeditions were deadly. Hernando de Soto discovered the Mississippi and Fransisco Vasquez explored Oklahoma through New Mexico. Spain asserted claims as a result.

Question 8

What was an encomienda?

Answer 8

Ruthless slave labor system developed by Spain to enslave native Americans.

Question 9

Why did the Spaniards begin importing African slaves?

Answer 9

When the Native American population died from overwork and European diseases.

Question 10

What were the three strata of Spanish society members in New Spain?

Answer 10

Peninsulares, Creoles & mestizos

Question 11

Who was the first European since the Vikings to reach mainland North America?

Answer 11

John Cabot claimed North America for England in 1497

Question 12

Describe early French exploration of North America

Answer 12

In 1524 the King of France began authorizing expeditions in search of the northwest passage (to China). Explorers reached Montreal and were stopped by Rapids. They did not return to America for 65 years.

Question 13

How did English colonization differ from that of the rest of the world?

Answer 13

Although the English were late to the game, their efforts were privately funded rather than governmentally funded, resulting in greater freedom.

Question 14

Why was the 16th century a violent time in both Europe & America?

Answer 14

Because of New World rivalries and differences between Protestants and Catholics

Question 15

Explain how England became a great global power and colonization force?

Answer 15

The French and English made sport of plundering what the Spaniards stole from the Native Americans. Angered by the embarrassment, King Phillip the second dispatched the Spanish Armada in 1588 to attack England, but was defeated cleanly. The war continued until 1604.

Question 16

Describe the significance of Roanoke Island

Answer 16

The first English settlement in the Americas, Roanoke Island was chartered privately and offered the full rights of English citizens to its constituents. In 1587 the first settlers landed, but when leader John White returned in 1590 the settlement was deserted.

Question 17

Describe the significance of Jamestown

Answer 17

Supported by the sale of shares of stock, the Virginia Company of London set out in 1607 and settled Jamestown. During early years, settlers suffered from starvation, disease and hostility with natives. All members shared the profits, resulting in low work incentives. Settlers also wasted time searching for riches. John Smith’s leadership kept the colony from collapsing by instilling the “He who works not, eats not” rule.

Question 18

What factor secured more labor and immigration to the Virginias?

Answer 18

In 1612, John Rolfe discovered a superior strain of tobacco. The indentured servant system supported the immigration of England’s lower class, but the system was often abused. Virginia became known as a death trap.

Question 19

How was the “death trap” of the indentured servant system reformed in the Virginias?

Answer 19

In 1619 the colonists, based on their promise of equal rights to English citizens, established the House of Burgesses and instituted the private ownership of land.

Question 20

Describe relations between the Virginian settlers and Native Americans during the first half of the 1600’s

Answer 20

Several times, Native Americans massacred over 300 settlers. Shortly after, the English subdued the Native Americans. Due to the violence, King James I revoked the London Company’s charter and made them a royal colony.

Question 21

Describe the French/Indian relations of the first half of the 1600’s.

Answer 21

Following England’s renewed interest in the Americas, the French returned to Canada in 1608 and began a lucrative fur trade with the Native Americans. The French settled in Canada and explored the Great Lakes and Mississippi. New France was handicapped by an inadequate population and lack of support from France.

Question 22

Describe the New Netherlands

Answer 22

Unstable and small, the Dutch settled in the Northeast, founding the Hudson river and built large estates to house upwards of 50 families. This offer was unattractive to the stable economy of Holland.

Question 23

Who were the Separatists?

Answer 23

Leaving England for religious reasons, the Separatists believed the Church of England was beyond saving. Led by William Bradford, the famous group of Separatists left England for Holland and respectively for the Americas on the Mayflower in 1620. Eventually they bought out the investors who sponsored them.

Question 24

Who were the Puritans?

Answer 24

Far more numerous than the Separatists, they took the Bible very seriously and felt the Anglican Church retained too many unscriptural practices from Roman Catholocism. In 1629, King Charles I chose to rule without the Puritan dominated parliament and also persecuted the them heavily. In turn, the Puritans formed the Massachusetts Bay Company and took advantage of the charter’s unclear wording and made their headquarters in their new colony. Over 20,000 Puritans migrated by 1642.

Question 25

Who was John Winthrop?

Answer 25

The leader of the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Company, John Winthrop led a model of a Christian society. As a result of their strategic venture, they did not suffer from the early troubles faced by many other colonies.

Question 26

Describe early Rhode Island

Answer 26

Dissidents expelled by the Puritans and other exiles and troublemakers found home in Rhode Island.

Question 27

What was a proprietor?

Answer 27

Similar to Fuedal Europe, proprietors were owners of colonies and reported directly to the King of England so that he had more direct control. Maryland was settled by proprietors.

Question 28

When did the English first bring black slaves to the Americas?

Answer 28

In 1670 planters who settled in South Carolina used black slaves to provide labor for their rice crop.

Question 29

Why was New England a more well-ordered society?

Answer 29

The Puritans migrated as intact family units, their colonies in New England were homogenous and the stability provided for 15-20 more years of life expectancy. Puritans also placed a high priority on literacy. Boston became a major international port.

Question 30

How did black life in the Chesapeake area change from 1640 to 1670?

Answer 30

Initially a small percentage treated as indentured servants, the system became more and more corrupt and larger numbers of slaves began to be imported. Compounding from natural population increase, 30-40% of Chesapeake was comprised of black slaves by 1750.

Question 31

Who were mercantilists?

Answer 31

Mercantilists believed the world’s wealth was limited, and therefore one nation’s gain was automatically another nation’s loss. This belief was held by the English government and influenced their regulation of trade in the Americas. After a series of Navigation Acts, goods had to be transported on British or American ships and almost nothing could be imported without going through Britain first. The shipbuilders of the Northeast profited and the residents of the south suffered. When the colonists tried to create their own money, they were prohibited by the British authorities.

Question 32

What was the effect of the Navigation Acts?

Answer 32

Influenced by Mercantilism, the Navigation Acts profited the shipbuilders of the northeast and cut the cost of tobacco in the south. They transferred wealth from America to Britain and increased the prices Americans had to pay for British goods while lowering prices for goods imported to England.

Question 33

What did Nathaniel Bacon do?

Answer 33

In rebellion to the Royal government, he burned down Jamestown before later dying of dysentery. When Britain sent troops to handle the situation, the colonists united against Great Britain.

Question 34

What was the Half-Way covenant?

Answer 34

In 1662, as many New Englanders were drifting away from the original Puritan religious purpose, the half-way covenant offered church membership to those who did not profess saving grace. It was intended to keep membership high and retain influence for the church.

Question 35

Describe Puritan missionary work in the 1600’s

Answer 35

Puritans translated the Bible into Algonquin and set up four villages for converted Native Americans who numbered over 1,000 by 1650.

Question 36

Who were the Quakers?

Answer 36

Moral pacifists who placed little importance on the Bible, the Quakers founded Pennsylvania.

Question 37

Why did Germans migrate to the Americas?

Answer 37

They were prompted by wars, poverty and religious persecution.

Question 38

Why did Scotts and Irish migrate to the Americas?

Answer 38

They migrated because of economic depression.

Question 39

What were the Salem witch trials

Answer 39

Young girls claimed to be tormented by the occult activities of certain neighbors. Before Puritan clergy could intervene, some 20 “witches” were killed.

Question 40

How did the Enlightenment affect the Americas?

Answer 40

As the 18th century progressed, enlightened thought washed up on the Atlantic coast from Europe. Believing that human reason was sufficient, need for God declined. John Locke brought culture into alignment with the natural laws discovered by Isaac Newton. Locke attributed life, liberty and property as inalienable rights. Americans believed they came from God. Benjamin Franklin pioneered enlightenment thinking in the Americas.

Question 41

How did the Great Awakening affect the Americas?

Answer 41

Between 1720 and 1740, personal repentance by faith in Christ had a greater impact on common life than enlightenment. Led to the founding of many Ivy League schools.

Question 42

What was the French and Indian War?

Answer 42

Speaking on behalf of the British Government, George Washington asked the French in Pennsylvania to leave. When they declined, he led successful skirmishes against them until he was forced to retreat to Fort Necessity. Defense against the French was the first step towards unity in the colonies.

Question 43

What was the treaty of Paris (1763)?

Answer 43

Ending the French and Indian War, Great Britain gained control of Canada and the U.S. France lost all of its holdings in North America. As a result, pride in British heritage increased.