social studies

Why were freed indentured servants a problem for colonial elites?

There was no good land left, many were poor and angry, and they were seen as a threat for rebellions.

What were the differences between old planters and new planters?

Old planters were wealthy, politically powerful, and safe from Native attacks; new planters were smaller farmers, often poor, with little political power.

What was the relationship between new planters and Native Americans?

It was tense, as settlers blamed tribes for attacks and wanted their land, leading to hostility.

How did Bacon and Berkeley's personalities affect their actions?

Bacon was aggressive and wanted to attack all Indians, while Berkeley was cautious and sought peace with friendly tribes.

What valid points did Bacon make in his complaints?

He criticized high taxes, accused the government of favoritism, and noted smaller farmers had little political say.

What was Bacon's aim when he took up arms?

To seize land from Native Americans, challenge leadership, gain power, and protect frontier settlers.

How did Bacon's Rebellion change the colony?

It shifted labor from indentured servitude to enslaved Africans and increased social division.

What was notable about the slave trade statistics?

12% of slaves didn't survive the voyage, and there were more Africans than Europeans.

How did slavery in the US compare to the rest of the Americas?

US slaves had a higher birthrate and were more self-sustaining than slaves in other regions.

What do child mortality rates among enslaved children indicate?

They indicate worse living conditions and malnutrition compared to white people.

Why did slavery not end after 1808?

Domestic slave trade flourished, and the population was sustainable due to births.

Why was slavery integral to the entire US economy?

It fueled national economic growth, contributing to one fifth of total US growth in commodity production from 1839-1859.

How important was enslaved labor to national growth?

Enslaved labor was as important to national growth as the manufacturing industry.

How did the system of slavery contribute to capitalism in the US?

The system of slavery linked Northern industry, banking, and trade with Southern plantation profits.

What economic problem arose between slaveholders and non-slaveholders in the South?

Economic inequality between slaveholders and non-slaveholding whites was growing.

What was the effect of the wealth gap between slaveholders and non-slaveholders?

The wealth of slaveholders was increasing rapidly, while non-slaveholders' position in the economy was decreasing, causing social and political tension.

What did the upper class in the South fear due to economic inequality?

The upper class felt threatened by poorer whites, who might turn against slavery.

What did the upper class do to preserve their wealth and power?

They pushed slavery into new territories to maintain their system and produce profit.

How were early African people treated in the colonies compared to white indentured servants?

In early colonies like New Amsterdam, there were no laws defining slavery, so Africans were treated similarly to indentured servants.

What rights did Black workers have in early colonies?

Black workers could take employers to court and had a say in their treatment.

What legal victories did some Black workers achieve in early colonies?

Petro Negretto and Manuel Rues sued for unpaid wages and won.

What was the significance of the 1662 Virginia law?

It made slavery hereditary, meaning children of slaves were also born as slaves.

What did the 1696 South Carolina law establish?

It made harsh punishments for slaves and exempted white masters from punishment if a slave died during punishment.

What did the 1705 Virginia law state about Black people?

All blacks, mulattoes, and Native Americans were considered slaves and property.

What restriction did the 1717 Connecticut law impose on free Black business owners?

Free Black business owners had to get special permission to operate.

How did the American Revolution influence attitudes towards slavery?

The ideals of liberty and natural rights made people question how slavery fit into a 'free nation'.

What actions did enslaved people take during the American Revolution?

They petitioned for freedom in Massachusetts using revolutionary ideals.

What role did Loyalists and Patriots play regarding enslaved people during the Revolution?

They offered slaves freedom for military service, leading thousands to join the army.

What did antislavery groups argue during and after the Revolution?

They argued that slavery violated Christian and American values.

What was the outcome of gradual emancipation laws in the Northern states by the 1790s?

Most Northern states had passed gradual emancipation laws.

What racial discrimination did free African Americans face in the Northern states after slavery ended?

Racial discrimination increased, including race riots and loss of voting rights.

What were Black Laws, and what did they require?

Black Laws required free Blacks to register and show proof of freedom to work.

What was the impact of the Dred Scott v. Sanford case?

The court ruled that Congress had no power to ban slavery in territories and that Black people were not citizens.

How did the Dred Scott decision affect divisions over slavery in the US?

It deepened divisions and strengthened the power of slaveholders.

What amendments were passed after the Civil War to support African Americans?

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 14th granted citizenship, and the 15th gave Black men the right to vote.

What setbacks did African Americans face after the Compromise of 1877?

Union troops withdrew, ending federal enforcement of Black rights, leading to Jim Crow laws and voter suppression.

What was the impact of Jim Crow laws on African Americans?

They enforced segregation and limited the rights of Black citizens.

What were some economic differences between the North and South before the Civil War?

The differences included industrialization in the North versus agrarian economy in the South, affecting the system of slavery.

What percentage of the nation's manufacturing output did the North produce by 1860?

90%

What was a significant factor that reduced the North's reliance on slavery?

The use of machines like reapers and threshers in farming.

What percentage of Northerners lived in cities by 1860?

26%

What acts encouraged free farming and industrial growth in the North?

Homestead Act, Morrill Act, and Pacific Railway Act.

What was the primary economic reliance of the Southern states?

Cash crops, especially cotton.

What percentage of the population in the South was involved in agriculture?

84%

What percentage of railroad tracks did the South have by 1860?

29%

What was the total value of enslaved people compared to US railroads, banks, and factories?

More than all combined.

What major event crippled the Southern economy during the Civil War?

Union blockades and destruction.

What was the impact of the Confederate government's commitment to states' rights?

It prevented coordination in their economy.

How did westward migration affect Native economies?

It disrupted and replaced them with trade.

What became the foundation of wealth and survival for settlers in the West?

Agriculture.

What revolution increased long-distance trade and market-based production?

The Market Revolution.

What transportation developments boosted commerce in the West?

Roads, canals, and railroads.

Which cities became trading hubs linking rural areas to markets?

St. Louis and Chicago.

What led to economic panics and depressions in the West?

Rapid expansion and poor banking practices.

How did US expansion affect Hispanic economies and societies?

Anglos took control of land and markets.

What industries reshaped the Western economy by 1860?

Farming, mining, and trade.

What was wampum and its significance in trade?

A bead made from shell used as a form of money.

What were the estimates of the Indigenous population in North America prior to colonization?

1.2 million to 2.6 million, though some estimates suggest 8 million to 20 million.

What was Cahokia known for in pre-contact North America?

It was the largest city with an extensive trade network and social hierarchy.

How did Native Americans adapt their living based on the continent's regions?

They maximized food production and minimized labor based on climate and season.

Why did some groups depend on hunting and fishing?

Because maize was harder to grow in certain places.

Who were the first European people to arrive in the Americas?

Columbus and his supporters.

What was the attitude of early Europeans towards the land and natives?

They were greedy and sought to exploit the natives and land.

What is the Columbian Exchange?

The transfer of animals, plants, and diseases between the Americas and Europe.

What was one significant impact of the Columbian Exchange on the Americas?

It caused an epidemic that wiped out a large percentage of Native Americans.

What religious doctrine justified European claims to land in the Americas?

The Doctrine of Discovery.

What technological advancement helped spread news of Columbus's discoveries?

The printing press.

What role did Capitalism play in early colonial life?

It fueled colonization and competition for trade.

What was the first major cash crop in the English colonies?

Tobacco.

Why did slavery become more appealing than indentured servitude?

Indentured servants were becoming more expensive and less available.

What was the significance of sugar as a monoculture crop?

It dominated the Caribbean and caused economic inequality and suffering.

How did the situation in New England colonies differ from southern colonies?

New England focused on religion and small-scale farming, while southern colonies focused on large plantations.

What characterized the Southern colonial economy?

It was based on slavery and larger plantations with cash crops.

What crops were primarily exported from the Southern colonies?

Rice, indigo, and tobacco.

What was the economy of the Middle colonies based on?

Cereal/grain exports like wheat, barley, and oats.

What was the primary economic activity in the Northern colonies?

Fishing, shipbuilding, and trading.

How did social stratification appear during the colonial period?

There was a wealth gap between wealthy plantation owners and the lower classes.

How did Native Americans adapt to colonial realities?

They actively traded with colonists and became trade partners.

What were some goods traded by Native Americans to Europeans?

Deerskins, tools, guns, clothing, and alcohol.