Life in North America Flashcards
What was the main religion in the French and Spanish colonies?
Catholicism
What was the main religion in the British colonies?
Protestantism
Which colonies allowed for more religious freedom?
The British Colonies
What was the population of the British colonies by 1763?
2 million
Which colonies were ruled by absolutist monarchies?
French and Spanish
Why was the relationship with Native Americans important?
- They knew the best hunting and fishing grounds
- They conducted guerrilla warfare
- They were a powerful force West of the Appalachians
How many colonies did the British control?
Thirteen
Who were indentured servants?
Colonists who gained free passage across the Atlantic by entering into a contract to provide labour for a number of years
How many white immigrants during the colonial period were indentured servants?
Between 1/2 and 2/3
How many enslaved Africans lived in the Thirteen Colonies?
350,000 by 1763
What % of enslaved Africans lived in the Southern Colonies?
90%
What was the role of the Governor in British colonies?
- Internal administration and law enforcement
- Granting of lands
- Military activity
What was the role of the colonial legislature/assemblies?
- Responsible for controlling the budget
- Agreed taxes
- Represented the interests of the population
Who could vote in the Thirteen Colonies?
- Between 50%-80% of white male adults.
- Property owners
What were Charters?
Formal documents which tied the colonies to Britain. I.e. governors were directly appointed by the Monarch.
What was Salutary Neglect?
The notion that the colonists would be ‘left to their own devices’ to avoid trouble. Would be challenged after the 7 Years’ War.
What were the regions of the Thirteen Colonies?
- New England Colonies
- Middle Colonies
- Southern Colonies
Which Colonies were heavily reliant on slave labour?
Southern Colonies
Which crop was the mainstay of the Southern Colonies?
Tobacco (exports worth £100 million by 1770)
What was Mercantilism?
The belief that colonies existed essentially to serve the economic interests of the mother country
What are some examples of Mercantilism in action?
- 1651 and 1673 Trade and Navigation Acts
- The Hat Act (1732)
- The Iron Act (1750)
Why was Mercantilism not a big issue for colonists prior to 1763?
Despite high taxes, the laws were poorly enforced and smuggling was common
Who were ‘planters’?
Wealthy Southern landowners who owned more than twenty slaves
What % of free males were farmers in society?
80%
By 1763 what % of white male American adults were literate?
75%
