Colonization Era Flashcards
13 British colonies
New England
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
Middle Colonies
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Delaware
Southern Colonies
- Maryland
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
The First Settlement
In 1607, the settlement of Jamestown was established by the Virginia Company of London. The settlers came looking for gold but found none. After a rough start, Jamestown later prospered thanks to the leadership of Captain John Smith and the success of growing tobacco.
The Pilgrims
In 1620, the colony of Plymouth was founded by the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims were Christians who came to America to escape persecution in Britain. The Mayflower Compact was signed by the Pilgrims.
New England Colonies
(5 climate and 4 jobs)
Rocky soil, short growing season, long winters, small farms, and cold temperatures.
Fishing, whaling, lumber, shipbuilding.
New England Colonies (Continued)
Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson left Massachusetts to start the colony of Rhode Island based on the idea of religious toleration. Thomas Hooker established the colony of Connecticut which was governed by a set of rules called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.
The Middle Colonies
(4 climate)
Good soil, Moderate growing season, large grain farms, average sized farmers.
The Middle Colonies (Continued)
The Colony of Pennsylvania was established by William
Penn as a haven for Quakers (first anti- slavery group). The colony of New Netherlands turned into New York when Britain sent ships to defeat the Dutch settlers there.
The Southern Colonies
(3 climate)
Fertile soil, long growing season, cash crops called plantations, farms established on water routes to quickly travel and sell crops.
The Southern Colonies (Continued)
The colony of Maryland was founded by Lord Baltimore as a place for Catholics to escape persecution. The colonies of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina were established for economic reasons. The colony of Georgia was established by James Oglethorpe as a place for debtors and convicts to start a new life.
Representative Government
A government made up of people that were chosen by the residents of their town to represent their beliefs.
The First Great Awakening
This was a time period when preachers like Jonathan Edwards traveled around the colonies preaching to crowds in open fields. People were encouraged to read the Bible and ask forgiveness from their sins in order to go to Heaven. The teaching that all people were created equal in God’s eyes led to further growth of representative government.
Salutary Neglect
The British practice of not enforcing the British laws on the colonists. This continued practiced allowed the colonists to encouraged self-government.
Mercantilism
Economic belief that a country becomes more powerful by having more money. England’s goal was to take raw materials from the colonies, make a product, then sell that product to other countries in exchange for gold or silver. The colonies were also forbidden from trading with nations other than Britain.
Growth of Representative Government
Mayflower Compact - First document to create self-government in America
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut - 1st written Constitution (laws) in the colonies
Virginia House of Burgesses - First representative legislature in the colonies
Magna Carta - A document the forbid the king from being all powerful
English Bill of Rights - Promised certain rights to citizens.
