Colonial America to the Cold War: Key Historical Events

What was the Columbian Exchange?

The transfer of goods, diseases, ideas, and people between the Americas and Europe.

What were some key maritime advancements during the Age of Exploration?

The astrolabe, caravel, and the establishment of Prince Henry the Navigator's School of Navigation in Portugal.

Where did Spanish colonization primarily focus?

In South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Florida, and the southwestern region of North America.

What was the primary goal of Spanish colonization regarding natives?

To convert them to Christianity, specifically Catholicism.

What was the Encomienda System?

A system where Spanish colonizers enslaved natives to mine minerals and work on plantations with the goal of conversion to Christianity.

What social structure was established by the Spanish colonizers?

A caste-like system including Peninsulares (plantation owners), Creoles (small farm owners), Mestizos/Mulattoes (landless whites), and Native Americans/African Slaves (slaves).

What is significant about St. Augustine, Florida?

It was the first city established in North America.

What was the focus of French colonization in North America?

The fur trade and interactions with Iroquois natives along the St. Lawrence River.

What was the purpose of Joint-Stock Companies in English colonization?

To make money in the colonies, initially seeking gold.

What happened to the Roanoke Colony founded by Sir Walter Raleigh?

It failed mysteriously, with all colonists disappearing by the time Raleigh returned.

What challenges did the Jamestown colony face?

Horrible location, lack of clean water, diseases from mosquitoes, severe drought, and unprepared colonists.

What was the relationship between the Jamestown colonists and the Powhatan Confederacy?

Initially cooperative, trading food for guns and knives, but later deteriorated due to conflicts, including the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe.

What was the House of Burgesses?

Created in 1619, it was one of the first forms of government in the British colonies, allowing the House to control the governor's salary.

How did tobacco impact Jamestown?

It became a major export that saved the colony from extinction and increased its population.

What was the Headright System?

A system established in 1617 that granted 50 acres of land to every new arrival paying their way to the colonies.

What was the role of indentured servitude in the colonies?

Wealthy planters paid for the passage of others in exchange for several years of labor, after which the servants could gain their freedom.

Who were the Pilgrims?

Stricter Separatists who wanted to completely break away from the Anglican Church, led by William Bradford.

What document did the Pilgrims create while at sea?

The Mayflower Compact, establishing a basic legal system for the colony.

What was the goal of the Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

To purify the Anglican Church to help their congregation reach heaven.

Who was John Winthrop?

Elected governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629, known for his 'Model of Christian Charity' and the phrase 'city upon a hill'.

What sparked the Pequot War?

The murder of two English traders (not by the Pequots), which led to a mob from Massachusetts assuming the Pequots were responsible.

What was the primary economic focus of the Chesapeake colonies?

Tobacco and the plantation system.

What societal structure characterized the Chesapeake colonies?

A male-dominated society.

What was the main focus of New England colonies?

Religious orientation, specifically anything but Catholicism, and a family-oriented society.

Who founded Providence, Rhode Island?

Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson after being banished from Massachusetts.

What was the original status of New York before becoming a British colony?

It was originally a Dutch colony.

What was the significance of Pennsylvania's founding?

Founded by the Quakers in 1681 for religious freedom and equal rights.

What crops were primarily cultivated in the Carolinas?

Tobacco, rice, and indigo.

What triggered King Philip's War in 1675?

Increased colonist population forced onto native land and conversion efforts angered King Philip (Metacom).

What was the outcome of King Philip's War?

Colonists fought back, killed King Philip, and began selling captured natives into slavery.

What was the main cause of Bacon's Rebellion in 1676?

Governor William Berkeley's inaction against native attacks on colonists' farms.

Who led the rebellion against Governor Berkeley during Bacon's Rebellion?

Nathaniel Bacon.

What was a significant consequence of Bacon's Rebellion?

Landowners realized there was less land for indentured servants, leading to increased reliance on slave labor.

What was the Great Awakening?

A religious revival in New England from the mid-1730s to the 1760s, marked by emotional sermons.

Who was Jonathan Edwards?

A preacher whose sermon created intense emotion and fear of sin during the Great Awakening.

Who spread the ideas of the Great Awakening across the colonies?

George Whitefield.

What was the Seven Years' War also known as in North America?

The French and Indian War.

What were the opposing sides in the Seven Years' War?

British colonists versus the French and Native Americans.

What was a major consequence of the Seven Years' War for the British colonists?

It caused anti-British feelings and a desire to avoid higher taxes.

What was the Treaty of Paris (1763)?

The agreement that ended the Seven Years' War, resulting in France losing all North American land.

What was Pontiac's Rebellion?

An uprising led by Indian leader Pontiac against colonists due to cultural encroachment.

What was the Proclamation Line of 1763?

A boundary established by the British to prevent colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

What were some key acts of taxation imposed on colonists after the Seven Years' War?

Sugar Act (1764), Quartering Act (1765), Stamp Act (1765).

What was the Stamp Act Congress of 1766?

A meeting in New York to draft Stamp Act Resolves aimed at finding a new tax to meet monetary needs, resulting in the repeal of the Stamp Act in March 1766.

What was the role of the Sons of Liberty?

An inter-colonial association formed to resist taxation and unfair treatment by the British.

What were the Townshend Acts of 1767?

Legislation that imposed taxes on trade goods such as paper, tea, and glass.

What was the Boston Massacre?

An incident in 1770 where colonists threw snowballs at British soldiers, leading to the deaths of five colonists, which became a political weapon for patriots.

What was the Committee of Correspondence?

A group led by Samuel Adams in 1772 to publicize the patriot cause, with many members being part of the Sons of Liberty.

What happened during the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773?

In response to the Tea Act, the Sons of Liberty dumped approximately 10,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor, prompting British retaliation.

What were the Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts?

Legislation passed in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, which closed Boston Harbor to trade.

What was the purpose of the Continental Congress that met in September 1774?

To define American grievances, develop a resistance plan, and clarify the constitutional relationship with Britain.

What significant event occurred at Lexington and Concord in April 1775?

British troops attempted to confiscate military supplies, but were warned by Paul Revere, leading to a colonial rally and British retreat.

What was the outcome of the Second Continental Congress in May 1775?

The creation of the Continental Army and the appointment of George Washington as its leader.

What was the message of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense'?

It argued for American independence and the establishment of a separate government.

What was drafted during the Second Meeting of the Second Continental Congress in Spring 1776?

The Declaration of Independence, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, adopted on July 4, 1776.

What was the significance of the Battle of Saratoga in 1778?

It was a turning point that led to French support for the American cause.

What happened at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781?

It was the last battle of the Revolutionary War, resulting in the surrender of British General Cornwallis.

What was the Treaty of Paris of 1782?

A treaty drafted by Ben Franklin and signed by France, Britain, and America, officially ending the Revolutionary War.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

The first governing document of the United States, established in 1781, which created a weak national government.

What did the Constitution of 1789 achieve?

It established a stronger national government, replacing the Articles of Confederation.

What was the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794?

A riot against a whiskey tax, which led President Washington to send in the army to suppress the resistance.

What were the key points of Washington's Farewell Address?

He advised against political parties, emphasized national unity, and warned against foreign influence.

What were the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798?

Laws that allowed for the detention of enemy aliens and penalized citizens who spoke against the government.

What were the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions?

Documents drafted by Jefferson and Madison in 1799 stating that states could declare federal acts unconstitutional.

What was the significance of the Election of 1800?

It marked the peaceful transfer of power between political parties, setting a precedent for future elections.

What was the role of Chief Justice John Marshall during the Marshall Court (1801-1835)?

He was a federalist who upheld federal laws over states' rights.

What power was established by the Supreme Court case Madison (1803)?

The power of judicial review, allowing federal courts to check state courts.

What significant land acquisition occurred in April 1803?

The Louisiana Purchase, where Thomas Jefferson negotiated with Napoleon for land west of the Mississippi River.

Who led the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with assistance from Sacagawea.

What was the Embargo Act of 1807?

A law that forbade all US exports to other countries, which harmed the US economy.

What were the main causes of the War of 1812?

Impressment of American sailors by British ships and economic pressures from the Embargo Act.

What was the outcome of the War of 1812?

The Treaty of Ghent reaffirmed American independence and ended the Federalist Party.

Who was Tecumseh and what role did he play in the War of 1812?

Tecumseh was a Native American leader who revolted against American encroachment and aligned with the British.

What was the Missouri Compromise of 1820?

A compromise that admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state, prohibiting slavery above the 36'30" parallel.

What was the Monroe Doctrine?

A policy stating no more European colonization or intervention in the Western Hemisphere.

What innovations were part of the Market Revolution?

Railroads, Erie Canal, Steel Plow, Cotton Gin, Lowell System, and Telegraph.

What was the Nullification Crisis of 1828?

A conflict over whether states could nullify federal tariffs, highlighted by the Tariff of Abominations.

What was the Indian Removal Act of 1830?

A law allowing the president to forcibly remove Native Americans from their lands for American expansion.

What was the significance of the Second Bank of the US during Jackson's presidency?

It represented national power, but Jackson vetoed it, favoring states' rights and the common man.

What was the Trail of Tears?

The forced migration of Cherokee natives to reservations in Oklahoma.

What was the Second Great Awakening?

A religious revival movement encouraging personal salvation and repentance from the 1790s to 1840s.

What social movements emerged during the Second Great Awakening?

Temperance, Abolition, better conditions for Penitentiaries and Asylums, and Women's Rights.

What was the Mexican American War and when did it occur?

A conflict from 1846 to 1848 during Polk's administration, driven by the idea of Manifest Destiny.

What was the significance of Texas annexation in 1845?

It led to disputes over borders with Mexico, contributing to the Mexican American War.

What role did President Polk play in the Mexican American War?

He sent General Zachary Taylor to the disputed border area, escalating tensions with Mexico.

What was the effect of the War of 1812 on American nationalism?

It fostered a sense of national unity and pride, especially after the victory at New Orleans.

What was the Hartford Convention?

A meeting of Federalists opposing the War of 1812, which ultimately led to the party's decline.

What treaty ended the Mexican-American War and what did it achieve?

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) ended the war and gave the United States control of California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and established the Rio Grande as the border of Texas.

What was the Wilmot Proviso and what did it propose?

The Wilmot Proviso (1846) was a proposed law that aimed to make slavery illegal in any new territories acquired from Mexico.

What were the key components of the Compromise of 1850?

The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a free state, allowed New Mexico and Utah territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, banned the slave trade in Washington D.C., and included the Fugitive Slave Law.

What was the Fugitive Slave Law?

The Fugitive Slave Law allowed slave owners to forcibly reclaim escaped slaves if they could provide evidence of ownership.

What impact did Uncle Tom's Cabin have on American society?

Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852), written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, described the horrors of slavery and raised awareness among Northerners about its injustices.

What was the Underground Railroad?

The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses that helped runaway slaves travel to freedom in the North, with Harriet Tubman as a notable conductor.

What did the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 do?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise and allowed popular sovereignty to determine if Kansas and Nebraska would be free or slave states, leading to the creation of the Republican Party.

What was 'Bleeding Kansas'?

'Bleeding Kansas' (1856) refers to the violent conflicts in Kansas over the debate on slavery.

What was the Dred Scott Decision?

The Dred Scott Decision (1857) ruled that Dred Scott, a slave, could not sue for his freedom because he was not a U.S. citizen, and that residing in a free territory did not make him free.

What were the key battles of the Civil War?

Key battles of the Civil War included Fort Sumter, Antietam, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, and Sherman's March to the Sea.

What were the advantages of the North during the Civil War?

The North's advantages included a more industrialized economy, a larger population for manpower, a stronger navy, a central government under Lincoln, and support from liberated slaves.

What were the disadvantages of the North during the Civil War?

The North faced disadvantages such as invading 'foreign' territory, poor generals until Ulysses S. Grant, and the challenges of conducting an offensive war.

What advantages did the South have during the Civil War?

The South's advantages included fighting on home soil and having skilled generals like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.