Exploration
Why were spices like pepper, cinnamon, and cloves so valuable to Europeans?
They preserved food, improved taste, and were hard to get from Asia
Why was the Mayflower Compact important for democracy in America?
It was an early example of self-government by the people
Why did Britain pass the Proclamation of 1763?
To stop colonists from fighting with Native Americans and to keep control west of the Appalachians
What was the purpose of the Committees of Correspondence?
To spread news and organize colonial resistance across colonies
Which woman encouraged her husband to “remember the ladies” when forming the new government?
Abigail Adams
What did Marco Polo's journey inspire other Europeans to do?
Seek faster trade routes to Asia and explore new lands
How did geography affect life in the New England colonies?
Poor soil -> small farms
Harbors -> trade and shipbuilding
Why did colonists feel “taxation without representation” was unfair?
They had no vote in Parliament, so laws and taxes were forced on them without their consent
Why were the battles at Lexington and Concord so important?
They marked the start of armed conflict with Britain
Who was Mercy Otis Warren and how did she help the Revolution?
She wrote plays and pamphlets as propaganda supporting the Patriots
Name two positive and two negative effects of the Columbian Exchange.
Positive: new foods, animals, farming techniques
Negative: disease killed millions, slavery increased
How was the Middle Colonies' economy different from the Southern Colonies?
Middle: “breadbasket,” farming grains, trade
Southern: cash crops, plantations, slavery
What role did propaganda play after the Boston Massacre?
It exaggerated events to turn more colonists against Britain
What was the Olive Branch Petition?
A final attempt by colonists to avoid war by asking King George III for peace
Who was Thomas Jefferson, and what role did he play in the Revolution?
Main author of the Declaration of Independence
What was one major reason Spain and Portugal explored first?
They had strong navies and monarchs willing to pay for voyages
Why was the House of Burgesses important to American history?
It was the first elected assembly, a model for representative government
Why did the Boston Tea Party anger King George III so much?
It destroyed valuable property and challenged Britain’s authority directly
Why was Common Sense so effective in convincing colonists to support independence?
It was written in plain language and explained why breaking away made sense
Who was a Founding Father, diplomat to France, and helped draft the Declaration of Independence
Benjamin Franklin
How did competition between European countries shape exploration?
They raced to claim land, gain wealth, and spread their power, leading to conflict and colonization
How did the Great Awakening change how colonists thought about authority?
They began to question traditional authority and think more about individual choice, which influenced politics too
How did the Intolerable Acts unite the colonies?
They punished Massachusetts, but all colonies saw it as a threat to their own freedoms and rallied together
What did the Declaration of Independence list besides the official break from Britain?
A long list of grievances against the King to justify independence
Who was a philosopher that taught about natural rights (life, liberty, property); influenced Jefferson
John Locke