Unit #1 – English Colonization Notecards

What major event in 1588 helped England rise as a world power?

The British defeated the Spanish Armada.

How did Henry VIII’s struggle for a son lead to the Protestant Reformation?

He wanted a divorce, the pope refused, so he made himself head of the Church and ended papal authority.

Why didn’t Elizabeth I get married?

She wanted to protect England and avoid foreign influence.

Why did English citizens go to America?

Religious freedom, economic opportunities, political liberty.

What was the first English colony, and why did it disappear?

Roanoke; it vanished due to starvation and disease.

What was the first successful English colony?

Jamestown.

What religion were the Plymouth founders?

Pilgrims.

How was Plymouth different from Jamestown?

Plymouth came for religious freedom; Jamestown came for profit.

What is a cash crop?

A crop grown to sell for money.

What cash crop made Jamestown successful?

Tobacco.

What was indentured servitude?

Someone pays your way to America and you work for them for years.

When did slavery begin in the colonies?

1619.

How did Bacon’s Rebellion lead to more African slavery?

A mixed group rebelled → scared leaders → they wanted more control → increased African slavery.

How did joint-stock companies fund colonies?

Investors pooled money and shared profits.

What type of criminal was Georgia founded for?

Debtors.

How did Mercantilism work?

Colonies provided goods to benefit the mother country (England).

Who was Massasoit and what was his role in the first Thanksgiving?

Wampanoag leader who helped Pilgrims survive and gave them food.

How did the colonies change from Massasoit to Metacomet?

Relations worsened; King Philip’s War happened during Metacomet’s time.

What was unique about King Philip’s (Metacomet’s) War?

It was one of the deadliest early American wars.

How did John Peter Zenger’s trial influence the First Amendment?

Jury nullification helped him win; supported the idea of freedom of speech.

Why would colonists use an Irishman instead of an enslaved person?

Irish were seen as expendable; enslaved people were valuable investments.

What were the basic facts of the Salem Witch Trials?

1692–1693, led by William Stoughton, ended when the governor’s wife was accused.

How did spectral evidence affect the Salem Witch Trials?

Dreams/nightmares were used as “evidence,” causing many false accusations.

What is mass hysteria?

A group losing common sense and panicking.

How did mass hysteria affect the witch trials?

People believed dream-based accusations, leading to innocent deaths.

Give a modern example of mass hysteria.

People believe ideas without logic (example: monkeypox panic).