Unit 1&2 Flashcards
What motivated exploration during the Columbian Exchange, and how was it made possible?
Exploration during the Columbian Exchange was motivated by God, gold, and glory. It was made possible by improvements in navigation, as countries competed to control trade routes.
What were the major effects of the Columbian Exchange on both Native Americans and Europeans?
The native population was decimated by smallpox, with nearly a 90% reduction.
European life expectancy increased due to the incorporation of calorically dense foods like the potato.
The lives of Native Americans were significantly altered, including the introduction of horses, which revolutionized hunting on the plains.
Who was Squanto, and what role did he play in early interactions between Native Americans and European settlers?
Squanto was a member of the Patuxet people, who initially had friendly contact with European settlers.
As a youth, he was captured by English explorers, taken to Europe, and sold into slavery.
In 1620, Squanto returned to America as an interpreter but was captured by the Wampanoag tribe during an attack on his party.
How did Squanto help the Pilgrims and interact with the Wampanoag?
Squanto acted as an interpreter, helping the Wampanoag chief Massasoit form an alliance with the Pilgrims and teaching them to grow crops like corn and squash. Although Governor William Bradford praised him as “a special instrument sent of God,” he also noted that Squanto used his position to advance his own goals.
What challenges did the Jamestown settlers face, and how did their relationship with the Powhatan Confederacy evolve?
The Jamestown settlers initially struggled with malnutrition and disease, relying on food from Native Americans to survive, but faced a crisis when Chief Powhatan halted trade. By 1618, the settlers’ expansion for tobacco cultivation led to conflict, culminating in a deadly attack by the new Powhatan chief, Opechancanough, in 1622.
What were the long-term effects of conflict between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Confederacy?
Intermittent warfare lasted 14 years, ending with the final uprising in 1644 when Opechancanough was killed, breaking the power of the confederacy. Warfare and disease reduced the Native American population in Virginia by about 90% within the first 60 years of English settlement.
What were the causes and key dynamics of the Beaver Wars?
Samuel de Champlain established a fur trading post in Quebec in 1608, supplying the Hurons with manufactured goods, including guns, in exchange for beaver pelts and making them the focus of Jesuit missionary efforts. Meanwhile, the Iroquois, armed with guns from Dutch traders, attacked the Hurons and other groups to dominate the fur trade.
How did the conflict between the French and Iroquois resolve, and what were the outcomes?
In the 1660s, New France waged war against the Iroquois, and by 1667, the Mohawks, the last to surrender, accepted peace with the French and allowed Jesuit missionaries into their communities. The Iroquois who remained in New York formed an alliance with the English.
What led to the Pequot War, and what was its outcome?
The Pequots allied with the Dutch, angering English traders, and the 1636 death of an English trader escalated tensions. By the end of 1637, the Pequots were defeated, and the English seized their land.
How did the Puritans’ belief in predestination affect their view of Native Americans?
The Puritans’ belief in predestination, which held that only a few were chosen by God for salvation, led them to look down on Native Americans, whom they doubted were among the elect.
What led to King Philip’s War, and who was involved in the conflict?
After the Pequot War, the New England colonies formed the New England Confederation for mutual defense, and by the 1670s, Europeans outnumbered Native Americans three to one. Wampanoag leader Metacom, also known as “King Philip,” formed an alliance with neighboring Native American tribes to attack English settlements.
What was the outcome of King Philip’s War, and how did it impact Native Americans in New England?
Fighting ended in 1676 when the Wampanoag ran out of gunpowder and Metacom was killed by mercenaries. Although 1/5 of English towns in Rhode Island and Massachusetts were destroyed, the Native American losses were much larger, marking the end of a formidable Native American presence in New England.
What led to the Pueblo Revolt, and who led the resistance against Spain?
Spain moved inland seeking more gold and silver, but Santa Fe became a political base, while missionaries forced the Pueblo to convert to Catholicism and demanded corn and labor. Popé, a Pueblo leader and medicine man, led the resistance against Spain.
What was the outcome of the Pueblo Revolt, and what were its long-term effects?
The Pueblo, supported by the Navajos and Apache, launched a successful attack on the Spanish, killing 400 and driving 2,000 south to Mexico, reclaiming their religion and government for 12 years. By 1692, the Spanish returned and regained control, leading to “syncretism”—a blending of native and Catholic practices—and the end of the encomienda system.
What was the role of Spanish conquistadors in the Americas, and what systems did they establish?
Spanish conquistadors subdued the Aztec, Maya, and Inca civilizations and established the encomienda system, where landowners were granted native labor in exchange for promising to Christianize them. Intermarriage between Spanish settlers and natives was common, leading to the creation of Mestizos.
What was the French approach to colonization in North America, and where did they primarily settle?
The French focused on fur trapping, with single men making alliances with and marrying Native Americans, while Jesuit missionaries attempted to Christianize them. They primarily settled in Canada and west of the Appalachians, with Quebec City established in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain.
What was the Dutch presence in North America, and how did their colony of New Amsterdam end?
The Dutch established New Amsterdam in 1629, with traders and Dutch governor Peter Minuit famously “purchasing” Manhattan from a local tribe for $24. In 1664, the English took over the colony, renaming it New York.
What characterized the New England colonies in terms of settlement, economy, and lifestyle?
The New England colonies were settled by Puritans and families, had a longer life expectancy due to a better climate and less disease, and were primarily composed of merchants and artisans. The economy was based on subsistence farming.
What characterized the economy and trade of the Middle Colonies?
The Middle Colonies, known as the “bread basket,” were major producers of flour due to their fertile soil, and also engaged in trade through cities like New York City and Philadelphia.
What were the key characteristics of the Chesapeake colonies, Virginia and Maryland?
The Chesapeake colonies, Virginia and Maryland, were centered around tobacco farming and also relied on coastal trade.
What characterized the Southern Colonies in terms of economy and society?
The Southern Colonies were plantation-based, focused on labor-intensive staple crops like rice, indigo, and cotton. Society was marked by a small number of elite plantation owners, while the majority were small farmers.
What was the early history of Virginia, and how did tobacco impact its development?
Virginia was established in 1607 at Jamestown by a joint-stock company seeking gold, but faced the “Starving Time.” The colony’s development took a turn when John Rolfe introduced tobacco, which became a key cash crop.
What was the significance of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and its founding by the Pilgrims?
The Pilgrims settled Plymouth in 1620, seeking religious freedom as Separatists, and aimed to create a “city upon a hill,” a model Christian community, as envisioned by John Winthrop.
What was the religious foundation of Maryland, and what policy did it implement?
Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony and implemented religious toleration for all Christians, allowing freedom of worship.
What was the significance of Rhode Island’s founding, and who was behind its principles?
Rhode Island, founded by Roger Williams, was based on the principles of separation of church and state and religious toleration, offering freedom of worship to all.
What characterized Pennsylvania’s founding and its relationship with religion and Native Americans?
Pennsylvania was founded by Quakers, who were tolerant of various religions and maintained better relations with Native Americans. They were also pacifists and abolitionists.
How was colonial government structured in the American colonies, and what were the voting restrictions?
Colonial governments were loosely controlled by Britain, with experiments in self-government, though all colonies had voting restrictions based on gender, race, property, and religion.
What was the Virginia House of Burgesses, and what role did it play in the colonies?
The Virginia House of Burgesses, established in 1619, was the first elected legislative assembly in the colonies. It consisted of two elected representatives from each county who established laws and taxation.
What was the Mayflower Compact, and what was its purpose?
The Mayflower Compact, signed in 1620 aboard the Mayflower, was a pledge to establish a civil government with the authority to enact laws for the good of the colony.
What were the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and what were the voting requirements?
The Fundamental Orders, established in 1635, created a representative government in Connecticut for “substantial citizens” and are considered the first constitution of the American colonies. Voting required both property ownership and church membership.
How did slavery evolve in the American colonies, and what factors contributed to its growth?
Indentured servants were more numerous than slaves until after Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676. The growth of slavery was driven by labor-intensive crops like sugar, rice, and tobacco, which required a large workforce, and more slaves were imported to the Indies and South America than to North America.
What was the Middle Passage, and what was its impact on enslaved people?
The Middle Passage was the brutal journey across the Atlantic Ocean for enslaved Africans, resulting in the death of approximately one-fifth of those enslaved.
What was the Stono Rebellion, and how did it impact slave laws?
The Stono Rebellion of 1739 was a slave revolt that was suppressed, leading to the implementation of harsher slave codes to prevent future uprisings.
What was the Great Awakening, and how did it challenge colonial Protestant traditions?
The Great Awakening challenged colonial Protestant traditions by opposing the rationalism and hierarchy of established churches. It promoted a more personal, emotional religion and encouraged a populist, democratic way of thinking.
Who were some key figures in the Great Awakening, and what was their approach to preaching?
Key figures in the Great Awakening, like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, were fiery ministers from England who preached emotional, open-air sermons across the colonies, attracting thousands of believers.
What is mercantilism, and how does it relate to government policy?
Mercantilism is an economic theory that suggests a favorable balance of trade generates wealth. Governments should ensure this by implementing protective laws and tariffs to regulate trade and accumulate wealth.
