Colonial Era

Who set up the “Lost Colony” at Roanoke in 1587

Sir Walter Raleigh

What was the main goal of establishing the Roanoke colony?

To raid Spanish ships returning with gold

What crop did the leader promote after returning to England

Tobacco

What are the possible explanations for the disappearance of the Roanoke colonists?

Destroyed by natives, died from the elements, adopted by a local tribe

Where was the first permanent English settlement?

Jamestown, Virginia

Why did the original Jamestown plan fail?

Unrealistic expectation to export gold

What hardships did the first Jamestown settlers face?

Arrived too late to plant crops, Settled on a swamp, refused to do work

Who were the two figures who saved Jamestown?

Captain John Smith and John Rolfe

What did Captain John Smith do to improve Jamestown’s survival?

Instilled strict discipline, built alliances, kidnapped pocahontas for ransom

How did John Rolfe save Jamestown?

By cultivating and exporting tobacco

Starving Time

Period when supply ships were delayed; colonists resorted to cannibalism and 2/3 died

What happened to the Virginia Company in 1615?

It went bankrupt due to conflicts with local tribes?

Who took control of Virginia after the company’s failure?

King James made it a royal colony

What religious change divided England in the 16th century?

What religious change divided England in the 16th century?

Who were the Puritans?

Anglicans who wanted to remove all Catholic practices from their religion

What was the Puritan Ethic?

A moral code emphasizing diligence, piety, sobriety, and thrift as the path to heaven

What role did government have in Puritan belief?

Government had the responsibility to enforce the Puritan Ethic

Who were the Pilgrims?

Puritans who believed the only way to achieve a pure church was by separating completely from England

What colony did the Pilgrims establish?What colony did the Pilgrims establish?

Plymouth Colony in Massachusett

Plymouth Colony in Massachusett

The first written constitution in America; it called for direct democracy of all landowning males

Who founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and when?

John Winthrop and Puritan followers in 1630

What was the goal of the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

To be a “City on a Hill” — a model society for the world to admire

What ethic did the Massachusetts Bay government enforce?

The Puritan Ethic

When was Plymouth Colony absorbed by Massachusetts Bay?

1691

What was a Joint Stock Company colony?

Investors bought shares, and the colony received a royal charter granting monopoly, specific territory, # of years, and % of profits to go to the King

Which colonies were Joint Stock colonies?

North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts

What was a Proprietary Colony?

Colonies granted by the King to wealthy friends who colonized and ruled; high risk, high reward

What was the one restriction on Proprietary Colonies?

Colonial laws had to be made by a colonial legislature

Which colonies were Proprietary?

Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania

What was a Charter Colony?

Generally self-governed colonies, with charters granted directly to the colonists

Which colonies were Charter Colonies?

Rhode Island and Connecticut

What was a Royal Colony?

A colony directly under the King; all colonies experienced this status at some point

What rights did the Magna Carta guarantee?

All English citizens equal under law, Parliament alone levies taxes, All citizens guaranteed representation in Parliament

What protections did English Common Law provide?

Protection against tyranny

What did the English Bill of Rights guarantee?

Human rights for all, including life, liberty, and property

What theory came from these rights?

The theory of justifiable revolution

What was the Virginia House of Burgesses?

The first colonial legislature where landowning males made the law

What did the Mayflower Compact establish?

Direct democracy, patriarchal, majority rule

What were Town Meetings?

Local assemblies where free, landowning males belonging to the church made local laws

What did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut establish?

Landowning males elect legislature, Legislature elects governor , Government rests on consent of the people

Who selected the governor in Royal Colonies?

The King

How was the legislature chosen in Royal Colonies?

Governor selected the upper house, Voters elected the lower house, Governor and King had veto power

Who appointed the governor in Proprietary Colonies?

The proprietor

How was government structured in Charter Colonies?

Colonists elected the governor and both houses of the legislature

What was the religious situation in most colonies?

Most had an official church; nonconformists were expelled

What was the Great Awakening (1730s)?

A movement led by Jonathan Edwards against established churches; taught that humans are sinful by nature and salvation comes by faith alone

What impact did the Great Awakening have?

Encouraged breaking with established churches and questioning civil authorities

What colony was originally Catholic-only but later allowed Protestant settlers?

Maryland (Lord Baltimore established religious tolerance)

Who founded Rhode Island on principles of religious freedom?

Roger Williams (Providence) and Anne Hutchinson (Portsmouth)

What was Pennsylvania’s religious stance?

Quaker haven, but allowed freedom as long as one believed in God

What characterized the North’s economy?

Densely populated port cities, manufacturing, trade, indentured servants, religious toleration, wealthy class

What characterized the Middle Colonies’ economy?

Port cities, trade, large middle class, religious freedom, indentured servants

What characterized the Southern economy?

Plantation life, Protestantism, small towns, sparse population, powerful aristocracy

What were indentured servants?

Poor English people who worked 4–7 years to pay off debts; many kidnapped or swindled, most didn’t survive for freedom

Where were indentured servants first brought, and for what crop?

Virginia, to work tobacco fields

How did slavery differ between the South and North?

South: Slaves were dominant population, lived in homogeneous groups, kept cultural heritage

North: Smaller population, some owned businesses but paid income % to masters, more assimilated into European culture

What traits defined the “New Americans” forged on the frontier?

Individualistic, self-reliant, independent, confident in the future