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Who discovered America in 1492?
Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.
Which country did Columbus sail from?
He sailed from Spain.
Name one of Columbus’s ships.
One of his ships was the Santa María.
Who lived in America before Europeans arrived?
Indigenous peoples lived in America before Europeans arrived.
Who were the Vikings and when did they reach America?
The Vikings were explorers from Scandinavia, and they reached America around the year 1000.
What was Beringia?
Beringia was a land bridge that connected Asia and North America.
Name one Indigenous tribe from North America.
One Indigenous tribe was the Cherokee.
What were the “Three Sisters”?
They were corn, beans, and squash grown together by Indigenous peoples.
What was the Columbian Exchange?
It was the exchange of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Americas and Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Give one positive and one negative effect of the Columbian Exchange.
A positive effect was new crops; a negative effect was the spread of deadly diseases.
Why did many Indigenous populations decline after European arrival?
Because of diseases, wars, and loss of land.
What were Spain’s main goals in the Americas?
Spain wanted gold, silver, and to spread Christianity.
How did Puritan beliefs influence life in New England colonies?
Puritan beliefs created a strict society focused on hard work, religion, education, and community rules.
What was the importance of the Mayflower Compact?
It was important because it was an early form of self-government and democracy.
How did colonial life differ between New England and the Southern Colonies?
New England focused on trade and small farms, while the Southern Colonies relied on plantations and enslaved labor.
How did European exploration lead to the creation of colonies?
Exploration helped Europeans claim land, map territories, and establish permanent settlements.
How did colonial experiences help form a distinct American identity?
Shared challenges, self-government, economic growth, and distance from Europe helped colonists see themselves as a separate people.
Why did the Pilgrims leave England and settle in America?
They left England to gain religious freedom.
Why did Columbus travel across the Atlantic Ocean?
He wanted to find a new sea route to Asia.
What year did the Pilgrims arrive in America?
The Pilgrims arrived in 1620.