Colonial Geography & Regions
Which colonial region was known for rocky soil and shipbuilding?
New England Colonies
What was Virginia’s main cash crop?
Tobacco
Which colony was founded as a refuge for Catholics?
Maryland
What was the Mayflower Compact?
An agreement for self-government among Plymouth settlers
What is indentured servitude?
A system where 4-7 years of labor is exchanged for passage to America.
Which region was called the “Breadbasket Colonies”?
The Middle Colonies
A business owned by investors who share profits and losses is called?
A joint-stock company
Why did the Puritans and Separatists come to the New England colonies?
They were being persecuted in England and wanted to practice their religion freely.
What was the House of Burgesses?
The first elected assembly in the colonies (Virginia, 1619).
What term means to disagree with or oppose an official opinion?
Dissent
Why were the Southern colonies more agricultural than New England?
The South had fertile soil and a warm climate perfect for large plantations.
The theory that a country builds more wealth by exporting more than it imports is called?
Mercantilism
What led to the founding of Rhode Island?
Roger Williams banishment from Massachusetts
What were the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut?
The first written constitution in the colonies
What was the headright system?
Granted 50 acres of land for each person brought to Virginia.
What natural features encouraged trade in the Middle Colonies?
Navigable rivers and good harbors, fertile farmland.
What was the original purpose for the founding of Jamestown?
To find gold, and provide wealth for investors and England.
Compare religious tolerance in Maryland and Pennsylvania. What was the difference?
Both offered tolerance — Catholics in Maryland, Quakers in Pennsylvania
In Massachusetts, who was allowed to vote?
White, male land owners that belonged to the church.
Why was Jamestown’s location poor?
Swampy land, poor drinking water, and mosquito-borne disease.
Explain how the geography affected life in each of the colonial regions.
Geography influenced economies, labor systems, and community size.
Explain why Bacon's Rebellion was actually based on economic factors.
The governor was choosing trade with the Indians over the protection of its citizens. Also, The governor's refusal to protect frontier lands impacted poor farmers ability to make a living.
Was religious freedom equally practiced in all colonies?
No; tolerance varied by region and leadership
Compare the early colonial governments (Compact, Burgesses, Orders).
All promoted self-rule and accountability to citizens.
Why did slavery replace indentured servitude?
Slavery provided permanent labor while servants gained freedom.