Early American History Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts from Early American History, including Native American societies, European exploration, colonial conflicts, and the formation of the US government.

What was a key component of the economy for the Pueblo peoples in the Southwest before European contact?

Maize agriculture.

What are the 'Three Sisters' in agricultural terms for the Iroquois?

Corn, beans, and squash.

What cultural practice characterized Iroquois society?

It was a matrilineal society, where inheritance passed through the mother's line.

What was the primary economic activity of the Plains Indians?

Hunting and gathering with a mobile lifestyle.

What was the impact of the Black Death on European society?

It led to the decline of feudalism and created labor shortages, opening up work opportunities for survivors.

What was the significance of the Treaty of Tordesillas?

It divided newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.

What is the term for the labor system that allowed Spanish settlers to extract labor from Native Americans?

Encomienda system.

Who was Bartolome de Las Casas, and what did he advocate against?

He was a Spanish priest who advocated for the rights of Native Americans, criticizing the encomienda system and the treatment of indigenous peoples.

What was the economic impact of the Columbian Exchange on Europe?

It introduced new crops and livestock that revolutionized agriculture and increased population growth.

What does the term 'Maroons' refer to?

Africans who escaped slavery in the New World and formed independent communities.

What was the primary reason for the enactment of the Navigation Acts by Britain?

To ensure that colonial trade benefited Britain by limiting where goods could be shipped.

What was the Boston Tea Party a response to?

The Tea Act, which gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies.

Which event marked the first armed conflict of the American Revolution?

The battles of Lexington and Concord.

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

That independence from Britain was necessary for America.

What did the Articles of Confederation establish?

A loose federal government that had very limited power.

What was Shays’ Rebellion, and what did it signify?

It was an armed uprising in 1786-1787 that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government.

What compromise at the Constitutional Convention addressed the representation of slaves?

The Three-Fifths Compromise.

What did the Bill of Rights provide for American citizens?

Protection of individual liberties against government infringement.

Which two political parties emerged in the early years of the US government?

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

What was the significance of the XYZ Affair?

It heightened tensions between the US and France and led to an undeclared naval conflict.

What precedent did George Washington set by stepping down after two terms?

The traditional two-term limit for US presidents.