13 colonies study guide

1. What is a colony?

A piece of land that is controlled by a larger country that is far away.

2. What is a charter?

A document from a king or queen giving permission to explore the New World.

3. What is a joint-stock company?

A group of investors who bring money together hoping to make a profit on New World riches.

4. When John White returned to Roanoke, what did he find?

Nothing but the word “CROATOAN” carved on a tree.

5. What is Jamestown best known for?

It represents the first successful English colony in North America

6. Who did John Smith and the Jamestown colonists attempt to trade with?

The Powhatan tribe

7. What was the area like where Jamestown was built?

A swampy area with disease-carrying mosquitoes, making farming difficult.

8. Jamestown was the first ______ colony.

Successful English colony.

9. Before coming to the Americas, the Pilgrims relocated to which country?

Holland

10. Why did the Pilgrims write the Mayflower Compact?

No laws existed, so they created a democratic government for the colony.

11. Which colony is NOT part of the Middle

Delaware

12. Which colony is NOT part of the New England Colonies?

New Jersey.

13. Which colony is NOT part of the Southern Colonies?

Pennsylvania

14. Tensions often arose with this royal-appointed executive of the colonies when he carried out England’s orders.

The governor

15. Government in the colonies was influenced and sometimes controlled by this.

England

16. England had a partially elected legislature, making it what type of democracy?

Representative democracy

17. What movement spread ideas for better governments across Europe and to the U.S.?

The enlightenment

18. What document written in 1215 limited the government’s power?

The Magna Carta

19. What was the elected assembly in Virginia called?

The House of burgesses

20. What 1689 document reduced the power of the king or queen and gave more rights to citizens?

The English Bill of Rights

21. What do the terms “God, Gold, and Glory” refer to?

The main motivations for European exploration.

22. Which commodity was a major motivator for European exploration?

Spices

23. What was the relationship between European explorers and Indigenous peoples?

They often clashed over land and resources.

24. The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the New World between which countries?

Spain and Portugal

25. What were European nations mainly motivated by during exploration and colonization?

Economic gain and desire for power

26. What were the economic, social, and political reasons for colonial exploration?

Economic: Searching for riches like gold from the New World.

Social: Spreading Christianity and converting Native Americans.

Political: Gaining power, land, and national glory.