us history quiz 1 Flashcards
Why were the Spanish, led by Cortés, able to defeat the Aztec nation?
Cortés defeated the Aztecs through superior weapons, alliances with native tribes, and diseases like smallpox that weakened the Aztec population.
How did the Spanish missions incorporate native beliefs in their architecture?
Spanish missions adopted native customs like open courtyards for worship and used symbols such as clouds, which represented power to Native Americans and bells.
Name the reasons Europeans were motivated to come to the Americas. Explain along with your reasons.
Economic opportunities: Many sought wealth through resources like gold and silver, or by establishing plantations.
Religious freedom: Some groups, like the Puritans, sought to escape religious persecution in Europe.
Adventure and exploration: The desire for discovery and expansion of European empires also played a key role in motivating Europeans to come to the Americas
Explain why someone would agree to “indentured servitude” in the New World.
Indentured servitude in the New World was an attractive option for individuals seeking a new start. Workers could agree to work for a set period of time in exchange for passage to the plantations and the promise of land upon completion of their service.
Early English settlements struggled in America; what led to their eventual success?
The eventual success of early English settlements in America can be attributed to the introduction of tobacco farming, which became a profitable cash crop, and the arrival of more settlers and supplies from England.
What was the Headright System?
The Headright System granted 50 acres of land to anyone who paid for their own or another’s passage to Virginia, helping to improve the colony’s economy.
What Colony was the “Holy Experiment” and who was the founder?
Pennsylvania, founded by William Penn, was a “Holy Experiment” based on Quaker principles of equality, religious freedom, and fair treatment.
According to Roger Williams, what was the “National Sin”?
According to Roger Williams, the “National Sin” was the unjust treatment of Native Americans by the European settlers, particularly the seizure of their lands without fair compensation or treaties.
Explain the “Laws of Conquest”. Then, compare how the British interactions with Natives differed from other European groups who settled in America. (give an example of another group in your answer)
The “Laws of Conquest” were English laws that prohibited Irishmen from wearing English apparel or weapons upon death and banned marriages between the English and the Irish, reflecting the English view of the Irish as wild and undesirable to associate with. In contrast, the Spanish in New Mexico enforced their culture on the natives and expected marriages between Spanish and natives. Also, they oppressed the natives, forcing them to do labor work, displaying a complex and often exploitative relationship.
This British Statesman helped establish the truth of the French and Indian War through heavy spending, supplied the British Army, and led to its success on the battlefield.
William Pitt was the British statesman who helped turn the tide of the French and Indian War by heavily spending to supply and strengthen the British Army, leading to their success on the battlefield.
Explain the details of the Proclamation of 1763.
The British government issued the Proclamation of 1763 after the French and Indian War. It banned American colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian Mountains to prevent clashes with Native Americans. This restriction fueled resentment among colonists and added to the causes of the American Revolutionary War.
How did the French and Indian War contribute to the American Colonies uniting to have the Revolutionary War?
The French and Indian War left Britain in debt, prompting taxes on the American colonies. Resentment over these taxes and other restrictions fueled the colonies’ desire for independence and unity, leading to the Revolutionary War.
Explain the term Claim testing and give the four steps used.
Claim testing is the process of evaluating the validity of a statement or assertion. It involves four steps:
1. Observation: Gathering evidence through direct experience or reliable reports.
2. Logic: Assessing whether the claim makes sense logically.
3. Authority: Consulting credible sources or experts on the topic.
4. Intuition: Relying on one’s instincts or prior knowledge to evaluate the claim.
The early English settlements had little success. Explain what turned the tide for the English so they could successfully maintain and grow their settlements.
The early English settlements initially struggled, but they found success through the cultivation of a new crop known as tobacco, which was created by breeding Brazilian Tabasco with local Native American weed. This “brown gold” became a valuable commodity, leading to increased exports and economic growth. Additionally, the introduction of the headright system by the Virginia Company, which granted 50 acres of land to those who paid for their own or another person’s passage, facilitated the import of indentured servants, further contributing to the economic improvement of the colonies.
How did the French and Indian War lead to tension between the colonists and the British government?
The French and Indian War led to tension between the colonists and the British government in several ways. The Proclamation of 1763 halted westward expansion, making the colonists feel that their needs were being ignored. Additionally, the presence of British troops to control Native Americans and the allowance for broad search powers for British customs officials led the colonists to view it as a threat—furthermore, the significant increase in national debt due to war expenses added to the strain.
