US Colonial and Revolutionary History: Key Events, Policies, and Figures

What were the main geographic regions used to categorize indigenous groups in the Americas before European arrival?

Regions included the Pueblo peoples, Wampanoag, Iroquois/Haudenosaunee League, Cherokee, and Powhatan.

What was the Columbian Exchange and its impacts?

The Columbian Exchange involved the transfer of goods, crops, and diseases between the New World and the Old World, significantly impacting both regions.

What characterized early Spanish colonization in New Spain?

Characteristics included a focus on resource extraction, conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity, and establishment of a rigid social hierarchy.

What were the characteristics of France's New World empire?

Early French colonization emphasized fur trading, alliances with Native Americans, and missionary work.

What were key features of early English colonization in Jamestown, Virginia?

Jamestown focused on tobacco cultivation, faced challenges like starvation and conflict with Native Americans, and established the first permanent English settlement.

What were the main characteristics of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Puritans?

The Puritans sought religious freedom, established a theocratic government, and emphasized community and moral conduct.

How did the economies and political structures differ among New England, Middle, and Southern colonies?

New England had a mixed economy with small farms and trade, the Middle Colonies were diverse with agriculture and commerce, while the Southern colonies relied heavily on plantation agriculture and slavery.

What were the changes and challenges faced by the colonies in the 1600s?

Challenges included Bacon's Rebellion, King Philip's War, and demographic growth leading to conflicts over land.

What is the Triangular Trade and its significance?

The Triangular Trade was a system of transatlantic trade involving the exchange of goods, slaves, and raw materials between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

What were the reasons for the increase in slavery in the Southern colonies?

The increase was driven by the demand for labor in tobacco and cotton plantations, leading to the establishment of slave codes.

What were the characteristics and impacts of the Great Awakening?

The Great Awakening was a religious revival that emphasized personal faith, emotional expression, and challenged established religious authority.

How did religious groups like the Puritans and Quakers influence colonial society?

These groups shaped social norms, education, and governance, promoting values like hard work, community, and religious tolerance.

What were the main ideas of the Enlightenment and their influence on British colonies?

The Enlightenment emphasized reason, individualism, and scientific inquiry, influencing colonial thought on governance and rights.

What were the causes and outcomes of the Seven Years War (French and Indian War)?

Causes included territorial disputes; outcomes included British dominance in North America and increased tensions with Native Americans.

What were the political and economic causes of the American Revolution?

Causes included taxation without representation, British trade restrictions, and growing colonial unity against British policies.

What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration aimed to justify the colonies' break from Britain, outlining grievances and asserting the right to self-govern.

What are the main characteristics of the U.S. Constitution?

The Constitution established a federal system, separation of powers, and included compromises on representation and slavery.

What were the main arguments of Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists?

Federalists supported a strong central government, while Anti-Federalists advocated for states' rights and feared tyranny.

What challenges did the U.S. face after independence during George Washington's presidency?

Challenges included establishing a functioning government, dealing with foreign threats, and managing economic instability.

What characterized the Adams presidency?

The Adams presidency was marked by tensions with France, the XYZ Affair, and the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts.

What were the key events during the Jefferson presidency?

Key events included the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the Embargo Act of 1807.

What was the Great Puritan Migration?

A movement in the 1600s where Puritans migrated to New England for religious freedom.

What was the Pueblo Revolt?

A 1680 uprising of Pueblo people against Spanish colonizers in present-day New Mexico.

What were the Navigation Acts?

Laws that restricted colonial trade to England and its colonies, supporting mercantilism.

What were the Virginia Slave Codes?

Laws enacted in the 1660s that defined the status of slaves and the rights of masters in Virginia.

What was the Stono Rebellion?

A 1739 slave uprising in South Carolina that resulted in stricter slave laws.

What was the Proclamation Line of 1763?

A boundary established by Britain to limit colonial expansion westward after the French and Indian War.

What was Pontiac's Rebellion?

A 1763 conflict between Native Americans and British settlers over land and sovereignty.

What was the Stamp Act?

A 1765 tax imposed by Britain on printed materials in the colonies, leading to widespread protest.

Who were the Sons of Liberty?

A group of American colonists formed to oppose British policies and taxes before the American Revolution.

What were the Coercive Acts?

Also known as the Intolerable Acts, these were punitive laws passed by Britain in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party.

What were the Committees of Correspondence?

Colonial networks for communication and coordination of resistance against British policies.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a weak central government.

What was the Northwest Ordinance?

A 1787 law that established a method for admitting new states to the Union from the Northwest Territory.

What was Shays' Rebellion?

A 1786-1787 armed uprising in Massachusetts protesting economic injustices and the lack of government response.

What are the main principles of the Constitution?

Popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism.

What was the Whiskey Rebellion?

A 1794 uprising by farmers against a federal excise tax on whiskey, demonstrating the federal government's power.

What is federalism?

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

What is the Bill of Rights?

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties and rights.

Who was George Washington?

The first President of the United States and a key leader during the American Revolution.

Who was Thomas Jefferson?

The principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States.

Who was John Adams?

A founding father, the second President of the United States, and a key advocate for independence.

Who was Alexander Hamilton?

The first Secretary of the Treasury and a key architect of the American financial system.

Who was James Madison?

The fourth President of the United States and known as the 'Father of the Constitution.'

What was the XYZ Affair?

A diplomatic incident in 1797-1798 that led to an undeclared war between the U.S. and France.

What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?

Laws passed in 1798 that restricted immigration and limited free speech against the government.

What was the Louisiana Purchase?

The 1803 acquisition of territory from France that doubled the size of the United States.