Terms
What is a joint stock company?
Company formed by group of wealthy English merchants who sold shares to investors.
Who was William Penn? What were two of his contributions to American history?
He was an English Quaker who received a charter to establish the colony of Pennsylvania. He signed a treaty with the Lenape Indians and supported democracy and freedom of religion in his colony.
When were the first enslaved Africans brought to Virginia and what impact did this have?
1619- it began the institution of African slavery in America
Name one colony of each region: New England, Middle, and Southern
New England: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire
Middle: New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania
Southern: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
Why were the Southern colonies larger than the others?
They needed lots of land to grow their cash crops like tobacco and sugar.
What was the House of Burgesses? Why was it established?
The first representative government in America; established so colonists could make their own laws.
Who was Pocahontas and what were two of her contributions to American history?
She was Chief Powhatan's daughter. She supposedly saved John Smith's life and helped establish peace between Europeans and Native Americans by marrying John Rolfe.
When were the Salem Witch Trials and what were they?
1692- Mass paranoia in the town of Salem led to people being accused on witchcraft and put on trial. Over 100 people were arrested and 20 were executed.
What were the 3 biggest social aspects of the New England colonies?
They were faith-based, practiced direct democracy, and intolerant of any dissent (especially religious)
How was William Penn different than other colonists at the time?
He was more respectful toward Native Americans and their culture/customs. He even signed a peace treaty with the Lenape Indians and wished for friendship with them.
What was the headright system? What were its goals?
Gave every incoming head of household 50 acres of land, plus 50 more acres for every servant. Goals were to encourage immigration and solve severe labor shortages.
Who was Metacom? What were his contributions to American history?
He was a Wampanoag chief (known as King Philip to the colonists) who united tribes against colonists in 1675, leading to King Philip's War. The conflict was over land ownership and remains the bloodiest conflict in American history if considered by % of population killed.
When did the Puritans found the Massachusetts Bay Colony? What was John Winthrop's goal in doing so?
1630- he wanted to create the perfect Puritan Christian society.
What were three social aspects of the Middle colonies?
There was much more diversity, no dominant religion, and colonies were owned by single individuals appointed by the King (proprietary colonies). They also practiced representative assemblies.
Why were Bacon and his forces rebelling? How did their actions make things worse for Jamestown?
They were frustrated by a lack of good land and Native attacks. They ended up raiding and burning Jamestown and causing chaos.
What was the Mayflower Compact? What was its impact?
An agreement made by the Plymouth Colony to set up rules they agreed to follow. It helped establish America's ideas on self-government and majority rule.
Who was Anne Hutchinson? What did she do that the New England colonies found so bad?
She was a woman colonist in New England. She was banished for holding Bible meetings for women and moved to Rhode Island.
What year was Bacon's Rebellion, what was it, and what was its impact?
1676- an uprising of poor whites and former indentured servants who burned Jamestown and briefly took over. It made landowners distrustful of indentured servants and led to the importation of more slaves.
What was the geography of the Southern colonies? How did this impact their economy?
They had a warm climate and good soil for growing cash crops like tobacco and sugar. This meant their economy was largely based on the selling and trading of these cash crops, and built on the backs of slaves.
What was the Great Awakening? What was its impact on the colonies?
A religious revival that swept the Americas; creation of many new denominations led to greater religious acceptance. It was also the first major event that all the colonies could share, connecting them in a way that Britain could not join.
What was the middle passage? What impact did it have on Africa and the Americas?
It was the middle leg of the "Triangle of Trade"; a grueling sea voyage that was part of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Many Africans died on the journey before ever reaching the Americas, where they were expected to work as slaves.
Who was Jonathan Edwards? What was his contribution to American history?
He was a famous Calvinist priest. His sermons became incredibly popular and helped jumpstart the Great Awakening.
When was Georgia founded by James Oglethorpe? What were the two purposes of the Georgia colony?
1732- to act as a buffer between Britain and Spain and to act as a debtor's colony where criminals were sent.
What was the geography of the Middle colonies? How did this impact their economy?
They had rich soil and a mild climate good for farming. Made grain easy to grow as a cash crop, meaning the Middle colonies became the "bread basket" of the Americas and thrived in trade and manufacturing.
Where were most enslaved Africans brought to? Why there?
Brazil and the British Caribbean. Those places were big in cash crop plantations that needed lots of labor.