The early day of the United States : From Colonial America to the Young Republic

What is colonialism?

The practice of domination, which involves the transfer of a population to a new territory, where the settlers live permanently.

What are the 3 main motivations for European colonization?

1) Economic : money, new resources, new trade routes.

2) Religious : convert indigenous peoples.

3) Political : expand the kingdom's authority.

Which countries were the main colonist powers?

England, Portugal, Spain, France, and the Netherlands.

What happened in 1492?

Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas.

What is a "royal charter"?

A document from the king granting rights and privileges to a colony (e.g., the right to mine gold, silver, and copper).

What was the Roanoke Island Colony?

The first English settlement in the New World, founded by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585.

What happened to the Roanoke colony?

It vanished in 1590 when John White returned from England. It is known as the "Lost Colony“.

What was the Virginia Company?

A group of merchants who went to the king to be allowed to found a colony in Virginia.

When was Jamestown founded?

1607, in the Chesapeake Bay. It was the first successful English colony.

What was the Mayflower Compact?

A document signed by the Pilgrims in 1620 to establish a self-governing colony based on the consent of the governed.

Why is the Mayflower Compact important?

It is considered a foundation of American democracy (social contract, government by consent).

What is the Chesapeake Bay?

A large bay on the East Coast where Jamestown was founded (1607). It provided a safe harbor and fertile land.

What were the Southern colonies?

Colonies with an economic motivation (making money). They grew cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo.

What was the plantation system?

Large farms in the South that used enslaved labor to grow cash crops.

Who were the indentured servants?

Poor Europeans who signed a contract (indenture) to work 4 to 7 years in exchange for passage to America.

What was the Triangular Trade?

A trade route between Europe, Africa, and the Americas: European goods → Africa → enslaved people → Americas → raw materials → Europe.

Who were the Native Americans?

The first inhabitants of the land. They helped early colonists survive (e.g., Squanto).

What was King Philip's War?

A major conflict between Native Americans and English colonists in New England (1675-1676).

What is the North/South divide?

The economic and social divide between the Northern colonies (industry, trade) and the Southern colonies (plantations, slavery).

What was the "Lost Colony"?

The Roanoke Island colony that vanished in 1590.

1 What was the context in England before colonization?

Enclosures, crime, poverty, religious persecution. Colonies were a solution to absorb the population.

What were the "enclosures"?

The closing of common lands by rich landowners. Poor peasants lost their land. (Les terres communes clôturées par les riches propriétaires.)

Why was there crime and poverty in England?

Because peasants lost their land and became vagrants or criminals. (Les paysans sans terre sont devenus vagabonds ou criminels.)

What was the religious context in England?

Puritans, Quakers, and other religious groups were persecuted by the Church of England. (Les puritains, quakers et autres groupes religieux étaient persécutés.)

Why were the colonies a "solution" for England?

They absorbed the excess population and gave land to the persecuted. (Ils absorbaient la population excédentaire et donnaient une terre aux persécutés.)

What was the Southern colonies' economic project?

Making money through cash crops (tobacco, rice, indigo) and slavery. (Faire de l'argent grâce aux cultures commerciales et à l'esclavage.)

What were "cash crops"?

Crops grown to be sold for profit (tobacco, rice, indigo). (Cultures destinées à être vendues pour le profit.)

What was the plantation system?

Large farms in the South that used enslaved labor to grow cash crops. (Grandes fermes du Sud qui utilisaient une main-d'œuvre esclave.)

Who were the indentured servants?

Poor Europeans who worked 4 to 7 years in exchange for passage to America. (Européens pauvres qui travaillaient 4 à 7 ans pour payer leur voyage.)

What replaced indentured servants?

Enslaved Africans, because plantation owners wanted a permanent and free workforce. (Les esclaves africains, car les propriétaires voulaient une main-d'œuvre permanente et gratuite.)

11 What were the 3 regions of the 13 colonies?

New England, Middle Colonies, Southern Colonies.

What was the economy of New England?

Fishing, trade, craftsmanship. (Pêche, commerce, artisanat.)

What was the economy of the Middle Colonies?

Diversified agriculture and trade. (Agriculture diversifiée et commerce.)

What was the economy of the Southern Colonies?

Plantations (tobacco, rice, indigo) and slavery. (Plantations et esclavage.)

What was the North/South divide?

The North was industrial and commercial; the South was agricultural and slave-based. (Le Nord était industriel et commerçant ; le Sud était agricole et esclavagiste.)

Why did this divide lead to the Civil War?

Because the North and South had different economic and social systems, especially regarding slavery. (Parce que le Nord et le Sud avaient des systèmes économiques et sociaux différents, surtout concernant l'esclavage.)

Who were the Native Americans?

The first inhabitants of the land. They helped early colonists survive (e.g., Squanto). (Les premiers habitants de la terre. Ils ont aidé les premiers colons à survivre.)

What happened to Native Americans during colonization?

They were displaced, enslaved, or killed by European diseases and wars. (Ils ont été déplacés, réduits en esclavage ou tués par les maladies et les guerres.)

What was King Philip's War?

A major conflict between Native Americans and English colonists in New England (1675-1676). (Un conflit majeur entre les Amérindiens et les colons anglais en Nouvelle-Angleterre.)