history Flashcards
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What major historical event happened in 1588 that signaled a change in the beginning of the English overtaking the Spanish as a world power?
The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English navy in 1588 marked the decline of Spanish dominance and the rise of England as a major naval and colonial power.
2
How did Henry VIII’s struggles to have a son lead to the Protestant Reformation in England?
. How did Henry VIII’s struggles to have a son lead to the Protestant Reformation in England?
Henry VIII wanted a male heir, but the Pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. In response, Henry broke from the Catholic Church, forming the Church of England, and declared himself its head. This marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation in England.
3
What political reason caused Elizabeth I to not get married?
. What political reason caused Elizabeth I to not get married?
Elizabeth I chose not to marry to maintain her power and independence, using her single status as a diplomatic tool to balance alliances. She became known as the “Virgin Queen” and avoided any loss of authority to a foreign prince or noble.
4
. What were some of the reasons that caused the English citizens to want to go to America?
Economic opportunities (e.g., land and wealth from cash crops)
Religious freedom (escaping persecution)
Adventure and a fresh start
Overcrowding and poverty in England
- What was the first English colony? Why did it disappear? What was the first successful English colony?
- What was the first English colony? Why did it disappear? What was the first successful English colony?
First Colony: Roanoke (1587), known as the “Lost Colony,” disappeared mysteriously, possibly due to conflict or assimilation with Native Americans.
First Successful Colony: Jamestown (1607), in Virginia. - How was Plymouth’s creation different than
How was Plymouth’s creation different than Jamestown’s?
Plymouth (1620) was founded by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom. It focused on community and faith.
Jamestown (1607) was an economic venture aimed at finding wealth and resources.
- What cash crop made Jamestown successful?
Tobacco, introduced by John Rolfe, became the colony’s economic foundation. - Explain how groups of businessmen financed colonies with joint-stock companies.
Businessmen pooled their resources into joint-stock companies, sharing the costs and profits of colonization. This reduced individual financial risk. An example is the Virginia Company, which financed Jamestown. - What type of criminal was Georgia founded to shelter and reform?
Georgia was established as a refuge for debtors and poor individuals to give them a second chance. - How did the economic theory of Mercantilism work?
Mercantilism aimed to accumulate wealth by maximizing exports and minimizing imports. Colonies provided raw materials to the mother country and served as markets for its goods. - What was a cash crop?
A crop grown primarily for sale rather than personal use, such as tobacco, sugar, or cotton. - Be able to match the 13 colonies to their place on a map (names provided).
Study a colonial map to familiarize yourself with the locations of the 13 original colonies (e.g., Massachusetts, Virginia, Georgia, etc.). - What were the basic facts of the Salem Witchcraft Trials?
Time Period: 1692, in Salem, Massachusetts.
Leaders: Puritan ministers and townspeople.
How it Ended: Public skepticism and intervention by higher authorities led to the trials’ cessation. - Explain how spectral evidence was used in the Salem trials.
Spectral evidence was testimony claiming that a person’s spirit or “specter” committed harm, even if the accused was physically elsewhere. This unreliable evidence was a key factor in many convictions. - What is mass hysteria? How did it affect the Salem Witchcraft trials?
Mass hysteria is collective panic or irrational behavior. In Salem, fear of witches led to widespread accusations, irrational decisions, and the wrongful execution of 20 people. - Tell of parallels of mass hysteria from today.
Modern examples include:
COVID-19 misinformation causing panic-buying and fear.
Conspiracy theories leading to widespread distrust and irrational actions.
20. Who was Massasoit? What was his/his tribe’s role in the first New England Thanksgiving?
Massasoit was the leader of the Wampanoag tribe. His alliance with the Pilgrims helped ensure their survival, and his tribe participated in the first Thanksgiving in 1621.
- How did the colonies change from Massasoit’s reign to that of his son, Metacomet? What was historically unique about Metacomet’s (King Philip’s) War?
Under Metacomet (King Philip), tensions rose between Native Americans and colonists over land and resources, leading to King Philip’s War (1675–1678).
It was one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history and marked the end of significant Native resistance in New England. - How did John Peter Zenger’s trial influence the First Amendment?
Zenger, a printer, was tried for libel in 1735. His lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, argued that truth is a defense against libel. The jury acquitted Zenger, a case often cited as a foundation for freedom of the press. - Why would colonists use an Irishman in place of an enslaved person?
Irish indentured servants were cheaper and more expendable than enslaved Africans, especially for dangerous work.
You said
Tobacco, introduced by John Rolfe, became the colony’s economic foundation.
What was indentured servitude?
A system where individuals worked for a set number of years in exchange for passage to America, food, and shelter. After their term, they were freed.
. What year did slavery begin in the American colonies?
1619, when the first enslaved Africans were brought to Jamestown.
How did Bacon’s Rebellion lead to a rise in African slavery?
After Bacon’s Rebellion (1676), wealthy landowners sought to prevent future uprisings by moving away from indentured servants (who could become free and rebellious) and instead relied on enslaved Africans, who had no hope of freedom.
