1st Quarter A PUSH Exam

Aztec + Incan Empires

Two prominent pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas, known for their advanced societies, architecture, and agricultural practices. The Aztecs dominated central Mexico, while the Incas thrived in the Andean region of South America.

Cahokia

An ancient Native American city located near present-day St. Louis, Missouri, known for its large earthen mounds and as a significant cultural and trade center.

Maize

a staple crop and primary food source for many Native American cultures, including the Aztecs and Incas. It played a crucial role in their agriculture and economy.

Clovis Technology

A prehistoric tool-making tradition characterized by distinctive fluted stone points, used by the Clovis people for hunting large game during the late Pleistocene era.

What role did geography and climate play in early Indian civilizations?

Geography and climate significantly influenced the development of early Indian civilizations by determining the location of settlements, agricultural practices, and trade routes. Varied climates allowed for diverse crops and ways of life, fostering unique cultures across different regions.

Compass

An instrument that shows direction relative to the Earth's magnetic poles, vital for navigation and exploration.

Sugar

A sweet, soluble carbohydrate found in many plants, especially sugarcane and sugar beets, used as a sweetener in food and drinks.

Caravel

A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century, used by the Portuguese and Spanish for exploration.

Sextant

An instrument used for navigation that measures the angle between two visible objects, typically used to determine latitude and longitude at sea.

Absolute Monarchs

Rulers with complete authority over their subjects and government, often justified by divine right.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production, where investments, production, and distribution are driven by profit and market competition.

It promotes individual entrepreneurship and consumer choice, leading to innovation and economic growth.

Henry VII

King of England from 1509 to 1547, known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church and for his six marriages.

Protestant Reformation

A religious reform movement in the 16th century that led to the establishment of Protestant churches and significant changes within the Catholic Church.

Martin Luther

A German monk and theologian who is credited with initiating the Protestant Reformation by publishing the Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, challenging the practices of the Catholic Church.

John Calvin

A French theologian and precursor to the Protestant Reformation known for his doctrine of predestination and his role in establishing Calvinism.

What were the conditions in Europe that made colonization possible?

Factors such as economic expansion, technological advancements in navigation, competition among European powers, and the search for new trade routes contributed to the conditions in Europe that made colonization possible.

Encomienda

A system instituted by the Spanish crown in the Americas that granted colonists the right to demand labor and tributes from Indigenous peoples in exchange for protection and Christianization.

role of the Catholic Church

in European society during colonization, which included providing spiritual guidance, sanctioning colonization efforts, and influencing governance.

mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes the role of the government in regulating trade to enhance national wealth, typically through a balance of exports over imports.

Triangular Trade

A historical trade system between Europe, Africa, and the Americas involving the exchange of goods, slaves, and resources that significantly impacted these regions.

How were the Spanish able to conquer native civilizations?

The Spanish utilized advanced weaponry, military tactics, and formed alliances with rival tribes, alongside spreading diseases that devastated native populations.

What were Spanish motivations for colonization?

The Spanish were motivated by the pursuit of wealth, spreading Christianity, and gaining land for the empire, following the Reconquista and the desire for new trade routes.

Compare and Contrast English, French, and Spanish colonization

English colonization focused on settlement and agriculture, while French colonization emphasized trade and alliances with Native Americans. Spanish colonization was driven by conquest, extraction of wealth, and the spread of Christianity.

Headright System

A land allocation method used in the colonies where settlers were granted parcels of land for each person they brought to America, encouraging growth and settlement.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, founded in 1607 in Virginia, primarily for economic purposes.

Indentured Servitude

A labor system where individuals worked for a specified number of years in exchange for passage to America, room and board, and eventual land ownership.

Bacon’s Rebellion

A rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon in 1676 against the Virginia government, primarily due to grievances over land policies and the lack of protection from Native American attacks.

Slavery

A system where individuals are legally owned by others and are forced to work without compensation; it became a significant institution in colonial America.

Cash Crops

Agricultural products grown for sale, such as tobacco, cotton, and sugar, that were cultivated mainly for profit rather than for subsistence.

Maryland

A colony established in 1632, Maryland became known for its tobacco production and as a refuge for English Catholics seeking religious freedom.

Slave Codes

Laws that defined the status of slaves and the rights of masters, establishing the legal basis for racial slavery in the colonies.

Stono Rebellion

A 1739 slave uprising in South Carolina that was one of the largest in the colonies, leading to stricter slave codes and increased fear among white colonists.

Explain the development of slavery in the second half of the 17th and early 19th centuries

The development of slavery during this period saw an increase in the plantation economy, particularly in the Southern colonies, where demand for labor to cultivate cash crops like tobacco and cotton led to the expansion of African slave labor. Legal and social systems reinforced racial hierarchies and justified the institution of slavery.

Compare and Contrast life in the Chesapeake to life in New England

Life in the Chesapeake was predominantly agricultural, centered on tobacco plantations, with a reliance on enslaved labor, while life in New England was characterized by small-scale farming, trade, and a focus on community and family structures.

Pilgrims

A group of English settlers who established the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts in 1620, seeking religious freedom from the Church of England.

Puritans

Members of a religious reform movement in the late 16th and 17th centuries, seeking to purify the Church of England and establish a more godly society, notably founding the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Half-Way Covenant

A religious solution adopted by the Puritans in the 1660s allowing the children of baptized, but unconverted, church members to be baptized and thus have a voice in church matters. It was an attempt to increase church attendance and maintain influence.

Salem Witch trials

A series of prosecutions and trials that took place in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693, where numerous people were accused of witchcraft, leading to executions and widespread hysteria.

John Winthrop

The first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, he was a leading figure among the Puritans and envisioned the colony as a "city upon a hill" that would serve as a moral example to the world.

Rhode Island

A colony founded by dissenters from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, notably Roger Williams, in 1636, advocating for religious freedom and the separation of church and state.

Anne Hutchinson + Roger Williams

Both were prominent dissenters in colonial New England who challenged the Puritan orthodoxy, leading to the establishment of Rhode Island as a haven for religious freedom.

What role did religion play in New England society?

Religion was central to the socio-political structure of New England, influencing governance, community life, and individual conduct, often leading to the establishment of various colonies that sought religious freedom.

How does the economy in New England develop differently than in other parts of British North America and why?

The New England economy developed with a focus on small-scale farming, fishing, and trade, influenced by its geography and climate, leading to diverse economic activities relative to the plantation economies of the South.

House of Burgesses

The first legislative assembly in the American colonies, established in 1619 in Virginia, allowing settlers to create local laws and govern themselves.

Town Meetings

Local assemblies in New England where community members gathered to discuss important issues and make decisions regarding local governance.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, establishing a framework for self-governance in the New Plymouth Colony.

Colonial legislatures

Agreements made by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower in 1620 to create a government and abide by its rules for the sake of social order.

Royal Governor

A representative of the monarch appointed to oversee a colony, ensuring compliance with royal policies and directives.

Council

A governing body consisting of appointed officials who advised the Royal Governor and assisted in administration of the colony.

3 Branches of Government

The three divisions of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—each with its own powers and responsibilities, designed to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

How did the British policy of Salutary Neglect influence the development the colonial governments?

Salutary Neglect allowed colonies to operate with greater autonomy and encouraged self-governance, leading to the development of local legislatures and the establishment of political institutions independent of British control.

George Whitefield

An influential preacher during the First Great Awakening, known for his emotional sermons and for spreading the revivalist movement across the American colonies. E

Expansion of higher education

The growth and establishment of colleges and universities, especially during the 19th and 20th centuries, to provide advanced learning opportunities to a broader population.

New religious sects

emerged during the First Great Awakening, promoting diverse interpretations of Christianity and increasing religious pluralism in the colonies.

Old and New Lights

Terminology used during the First Great Awakening to describe two groups of religious followers, with Old Lights favoring traditional practices and New Lights advocating for emotional and revivalist worship.

To what extent was the Great Awakening a unifying force In American society?

The Great Awakening acted as a unifying force by promoting shared religious experiences across diverse colonies, fostering a sense of American identity and encouraging individuals to question established authority.

Ft. Duquesne

A French fort established in 1754 at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, significant in the early conflicts of the French and Indian War.

Fall of Quebec

A significant battle in 1759 during the French and Indian War where British forces under General Wolfe defeated the French, leading to the eventual British control of Canada.

Louisbourg

A fortified French port city on Cape Breton Island, captured by British forces in 1758 during the French and Indian War, marking a crucial turning point in North American conflicts.

Proclamation of 1763

An order issued by the British government that prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, aimed at stabilizing relations with Native Americans.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

A conflict that began in 1763, led by Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe, against British colonial expansion into Native American territories, resulting from frustrations over British policies following the French and Indian War.

In what ways did the British and American colonists find that they were different during the war

The British and American colonists differed in their military strategies, attitudes toward warfare, and political views, which ultimately influenced their relationship and the emerging American identity.

Sugar Act

A revenue-raising act imposed by the British government in 1764 that taxed sugar and molasses imported into the colonies, aimed at reducing smuggling and increasing compliance with trade regulations.

Stamp Act

A 1765 British law that imposed a direct tax on the colonies requiring them to use specially marked paper for printed materials, leading to widespread protest and contributing to tensions between Britain and the colonies.

Quartering Act

A law passed in 1765 requiring colonial governments to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers stationed in the colonies, leading to increased resentment among colonists.

Stamp Act Congress

A meeting of representatives from nine colonies held in 1765 to organize opposition to the Stamp Act and promote colonial unity against British taxation policies.

Townshend Duties

A series of laws passed in 1767 by the British Parliament imposing taxes on imported goods such as glass, paper, paint, and tea, leading to further protests and boycotts by colonists.

Boston Massacre

A deadly confrontation in 1770 between British soldiers and Boston colonists, resulting in the death of five colonists and fueling anti-British sentiments.

Boston Tea Party

A political protest by the Sons of Liberty in December 1773, where colonists dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor in response to the Tea Act.

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive laws passed in 1774 by the British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party, aimed at suppressing dissent in the colonies.

Opposition thinkers

were individuals who challenged traditional authority and supported the colonists' right to rebel against British rule, influencing revolutionary ideas through pamphlets and speeches.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority, significantly influencing the American Revolution.

John Locke

An English philosopher who argued for natural rights and government by consent, greatly influencing Enlightenment thought and American revolutionary ideas.

Consent of the Governed

The theory that governments derive their authority from the consent of the people they govern, a key principle in Locke's political philosophy.

Committees of Correspondence

A network of communication established in the American colonies to coordinate resistance against British policies and foster unity among the colonies prior to the American Revolution.

Continental Congress

A convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body during the American Revolution, overseeing the war effort and leading to the Declaration of Independence.

Quebec Act

An act passed by the British Parliament in 1774 that granted religious freedom to Catholics in Canada and expanded Quebec's territory, which angered American colonists.

Admiralty Courts

Specialized courts established by Britain to try cases involving breaches of maritime law, often without juries, used primarily for enforcing the Stamp Act and Revenue Act.

Declaratory Act

A British law enacted in 1766 that asserted Parliament's authority to make laws binding the American colonies "in all cases whatsoever," reaffirming its control over colonial governance.

How did British politics strengthen colonist’s views of republicanism?

British political actions, such as imposing taxes without representation and enacting punitive laws, led colonists to question monarchical authority and embrace ideas of self-governance and individual rights, ultimately fostering a republican sentiment among the colonies.

What role did Opposition thinkers play in how Americans understood British policies?

Opposition thinkers, such as John Locke and Thomas Paine, influenced American perspectives by critiquing British authority and advocating for natural rights and self-government. Their writings helped articulate the colonial response to British policies and inspired the movement toward independence.

In what ways had Americans developed their own identity by the 1770s?

By the 1770s, Americans had developed a distinct identity through shared experiences of colonial life, opposition to British rule, and the emergence of a unique cultural and political ethos that emphasized liberty, self-governance, and individual rights.

Declaration of Independence

A document adopted on July 4, 1776, that announced the American colonies' break from British rule, outlining grievances against the Crown and asserting the principles of individual rights and government by consent.

Saratoga

The turning point of the Revolutionary War, where American forces secured a decisive victory over the British in 1777, leading to French support for the American cause.

Franco-American Alliance

A military agreement formed in 1778 between France and the United States during the Revolutionary War, providing crucial support to the American colonies against British forces.

Yorktown

The final battle of the Revolutionary War in 1781, where British General Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces, effectively ending the conflict.

Treaty of Paris

The agreement signed in 1783 that officially ended the Revolutionary War, recognizing American independence and establishing borders for the new nation.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the Revolutionary War, opposing independence.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 that argued for American independence from Britain and promoted republicanism.

Regulators

A group of American colonists in the 1760s and 1770s who protested against colonial government, seeking reforms including changes to laws and tax policies.

east/west conflict

A regional rivalry in the United States characterized by economic, political, and cultural differences between the eastern states and the western territories during the early 19th century.

How revolutionary was the American Revolution?

The American Revolution was revolutionary in its establishment of independence from British rule and the promotion of democratic ideals, though debates continue over the extent of social changes it brought. W

What role did Ben Franklin and George Washington play in winning American independence?

Ben Franklin served as a diplomat to France, securing crucial support, while George Washington commanded the Continental Army, leading military strategies that resulted in victory against Britain.

Whig Principles

The political philosophy that emphasized the protection of individual liberties, limited government, and the importance of a constitutional framework, which influenced early American political thought.

Republicanism

A political ideology that advocates for a government in which the authority belongs to the people, typically through elected representatives. It emphasizes civic virtue and the common good.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, established a system of government that provided significant power to the states and created a weak central government.

Shay’s Rebellion

a series of protests by American farmers against state and local enforcement of tax collections and judgments, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Northwest Ordinance

a significant piece of legislation passed in 1787 that established a method for admitting new states to the Union and outlined the governance of the Northwest Territory.

what foreign policy issues concerned many Americans?

Concerns about relations with Britain, Spain, and Native American tribes, along with trade challenges and the need for a standing army.

What economic issues concerned many Americans?

Concerns over debt, inflation, and trade deficits, along with the impact of state and federal tax policies on farmers and merchants.