Geography
What was the key implication of England’s geographic position?
England's island geography provided natural protection from foreign invasions, reducing the need for a large standing army. This isolation allowed the nation to focus its resources on naval power and global maritime trade. Consequently, the English developed a distinct culture and political system separate from continental Europe.
Find the value of x: 4(x-3)= 8
5
Separatists
Radical Puritans who wished to break away completely from the Church of England rather than reform it from within.
Common law
Legal system based on accumulated judicial customs and precedents rather than solely on written statutory laws.
Martin Luther writes 95 Theses
1517
Amerigo Vespucci
Italian explorer who recognized South America as a new continent, inspiring cartographers to name the Americas after him.
Martin Luther
German monk whose 1517 protests against Catholic corruption initiated the Protestant Reformation and fractured Western Christianity
Tobacco
Highly lucrative cash crop that saved the early Virginia colony financially and drove the demand for unfree labor.
Feudalism
Medieval European social system based on land tenure in exchange for military service, labor, and loyalty.
The French and Indian War
1754-1763
Silk Road
Ancient network of Eurasian trade routes connecting the East and West, vital for exchanging goods, culture, and technology.
Absolutism
Political theory granting a monarch centralized, unlimited power based on the concept of divine right.
Jamestown
First permanent English settlement in North America, established in Virginia in 1607 by a joint-stock company.
What was the Mayflower Compact?
The Mayflower Compact was a formal agreement signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims before landing at Plymouth. It established a civil body politic to enact "just and equal laws" for the general good of the colony. This document served as an essential early experiment in secular self-government and foundational democratic principles in America.
Jamestown colony established
1607
What does "D.C." in the name of our country's capital mean?
District of Columbia
Roman Catholic Church
Dominant Christian church in Western Europe, led by the Pope, possessing vast political and spiritual authority.
Who were the Puritans? What was their mission?
The Puritans were English Protestants who believed the Church of England retained too many Catholic practices and needed to be "purified." Their mission in America was to establish a utopian, godly society that would serve as a moral beacon—a "city upon a hill"—for the rest of the Christian world. They demanded strict adherence to biblical laws and placed
How “controlled” were English settlements in America?
English colonies were largely decentralized and enjoyed a high degree of self-governance compared to those of Spain or France. The English crown typically used joint-stock companies or private proprietors to fund and manage the settlements rather than imposing direct royal administration. This hands-off approach allowed distinct colonial assemblies and local laws to flourish.
Christopher Columbus sets sail from Spain
1492
What is the capital city of Canada?
Ottawa
Parliament
England’s bicameral legislative body responsible for making laws, approving taxes, and checking royal authority.
How did the New England colonies differ from Virginia in their founders’ purpose and in their social and economic backgrounds?
Virginia was founded primarily by young, single men seeking economic wealth through tobacco cultivation, creating a highly stratified plantation economy. In contrast, New England was settled by deeply religious families seeking spiritual freedom and a place to build a moral community. New England's economy focused on small family farms, fishing, and commerce, leading to a more egalitarian and tight-knit social structure.
What was the most important political difference between England and other European nations?
Unlike continental European monarchs who ruled with absolute power, English rulers were limited by law and shared power with Parliament. The English people possessed traditional rights and liberties that protected them from arbitrary royal decrees. This framework established a system of constitutional monarchy rather than divine-right absolutism.
Pilgrims settle at Plymouth
1620