13 Colonies Study Guide – Flashcards (Question and Answer)

A comprehensive set of Question-and-Answer flashcards covering key people, documents, groups, colonies, regions, events, vocabulary, and big-picture themes from the lecture notes.

Who introduced tobacco as a cash crop that made Jamestown profitable?

John Rolfe

Who founded Rhode Island for religious freedom after being banished from Massachusetts?

Roger Williams

Who established Connecticut and helped create the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut?

Thomas Hooker

Who was the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony who promoted the Puritan vision of a 'city upon a hill'?

John Winthrop

Who founded Georgia as a refuge for debtors and a buffer against Spanish Florida?

James Oglethorpe

Who led the Roanoke Colony, associated with the 'Lost Colony' mystery?

John White

What was the Mayflower Compact?

The first self-government agreement in the colonies; established majority rule.

What is the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut known for?

First written constitution in America; set up government with elected representatives.

What did the Toleration Act (1649) establish in Maryland?

Religious freedom for all Christians in Maryland.

What is a charter in the colonial context?

A document from the king/queen granting colonists the right to start and govern a colony.

What does mercantilism mean in the colonial period?

An economic system where colonies exist to benefit the mother country through raw materials and trade.

Who were the Pilgrims and where did they settle in 1620?

Separatists who founded Plymouth in 1620.

What were the Puritans seeking and where did they settle?

To purify the Church of England; settled in Massachusetts Bay.

What did the Quakers (Society of Friends) emphasize, and where did they establish a colony?

Equality, pacifism, and religious tolerance; established Pennsylvania.

Why was Maryland settled by Catholics?

As a refuge for Catholics.

What challenges did Jamestown face and who led it to survival?

Disease, hunger, and conflict; led by John Smith; tobacco farming helped stabilize the colony.

What is Plymouth known for and when was it founded?

Founded by the Pilgrims for religious freedom in 1620.

Why was Massachusetts Bay Colony founded?

Founded by Puritans to escape religious persecution.

What was New York's origin and what changed it?

Originally Dutch New Netherland; taken over by the English.

Who founded Pennsylvania and what was its religious character?

William Penn; a Quaker colony with religious tolerance.

What is the relationship of Delaware and New Jersey to other colonies?

Delaware was originally part of Pennsylvania; New Jersey split from New York.

Who founded Maryland and for what purpose?

Lord Baltimore; to create a safe place for Catholics.

When was Georgia founded and what was its purpose?

1732; as a debtor refuge and military buffer against Spanish Florida.

What were the New England colonies' main economic activities?

Shipbuilding, fishing, trade, lumber, and small farms.

What characterized the Middle Colonies' economy?

Breadbasket region; grew grains and vegetables; strong trade.

What characterized the Southern Colonies' economy?

Large plantations growing cash crops (tobacco, rice, indigo) and reliance on enslaved labor.

What was the "Starving Time" in Jamestown?

The harsh winter of 1609–1610 when many colonists died from hunger and disease.

What was Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) about?

Poor farmers and former indentured servants rebelled against Virginia’s governor; highlighted tensions with colonial leaders.

What was King Philip’s War and who led the Native American forces?

Conflict (1675–1676) led by Metacom (King Philip) against New England colonists; many towns destroyed; Native power diminished.

What was the House of Burgesses and when was it established?

The first representative government in the colonies; established in 1619.

What are cash crops?

Crops grown to sell, such as tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton.

What is a joint-stock company?

A business where investors share costs and profits; funded colonies like Jamestown.

What was a patroon in the Dutch land system?

Dutch land grant system allowing wealthy landowners to rent land to tenant farmers.

What is a royal colony?

A colony directly controlled by the king.

What is a proprietary colony?

A colony given to an individual or group by the king to govern (e.g., Pennsylvania, Maryland).

Why did Britain want colonies in North America?

To gain wealth and power through mercantilism; colonies provided raw materials and markets.

How did geography shape the economies of the colonies?

New England: rocky soil, cold climate; Middle: fertile soil and rivers; Southern: warm climate and slavery-supported plantations.

How did religion influence the founding of the colonies?

Pilgrims and Puritans in Massachusetts; Quakers in Pennsylvania; Catholics in Maryland; Rhode Island for Roger Williams's religious freedom.

How did Native Americans and colonists interact?

They sometimes aided each other (e.g., Squanto with Plymouth) but often fought (e.g., Powhatan conflicts, King Philip’s War).

What are examples of self-government in the colonies?

Mayflower Compact (1620), House of Burgesses (1619), Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639).