AP US History Summer Work

Amsco chapters 1 and 2

What years define Period 1 in American history, and what do they symbolize?

1491 - 1607; 1491 symbolizes pre-contact Native Americans, and 1607 symbolizes the first permanent English settlement, Jamestown.

What are the main characteristics of Arctic Indians?

They were hunters, gatherers, and fishers, primarily eating seals, with a diet consisting of around 75% fat, which was sufficient for their environment.

Describe the lifestyle of Plains Indians, including the significance of buffalo.

Plains Indians, such as the Sioux and Comanche, were bison hunters and migratory, using teepees and riding horses introduced through European contact.

What is the significance of the Wichita tribe in relation to Plains Indians?

The Wichita tribe had a lifestyle based on agriculture and traded with nomadic bison hunters.

What farming method is associated with Northeast Indians, and what are the 'Three Sisters'?

Northeast Indians practiced slash and burn agriculture, and the 'Three Sisters' refers to corn, squash, and beans.

What were the gender roles in Northeast Indian societies?

Men were responsible for hunting, while women engaged in gathering and farming.

What type of housing did the Iroquois live in, and how was their society structured?

The Iroquois lived in longhouses, which were multifamily homes, and formed a permanent alliance among 5-6 tribes due to inter-tribal warfare.

What are the characteristics of Southwest Indians?

Southwest Indians, such as the Hopi and Pueblo, built clay houses and cliff dwellings, practiced corn agriculture, and lived in multifamily homes with defensible structures.

What defines the Southeast Indians and their culture?

Southeast Indians, like the Cherokee and Creek, practiced agriculture in settled communities and were part of the Mississippian culture, characterized by large man-made mounds.

What does 'Reconquista' mean and its historical significance?

Reconquista means reconquest; it refers to the Spanish Christians' efforts to reclaim their territory from Muslims since the Middle Ages.

Who were Ferdinand and Isabella, and what was their goal?

Ferdinand and Isabella became the Catholic Monarchs of Spain in 1492, aiming for additional conquests influenced by the 3 G's: God, Glory, and Gold.

What is the role of conquistadors in New Spain?

Conquistadors were conquerors who took over tribes in the new land (Mexico) and established Spanish sovereignty, expanding the Spanish Empire.

What was the Aztec Empire, and who conquered it?

The Aztec Empire was the largest empire taken over by the Spanish, with its capital at Tenochtitlan, conquered by Hernan Cortes.

What is the Caste system in New Spain, and what are its main categories?

The Caste system was a social ranking based on pedigree and birthplace, including Peninsulares (born in Spain), Creoles (born in the Colonies), and Mestizos (mixed ancestry born in the Colonies).

What was the encomienda system?

The encomienda system involved forced labor and tribute, which was widely criticized for its abuses.

Who was Las Casas and what did he advocate for?

Las Casas was a Dominican priest who complained about the abuses of the encomienda system and wrote about the mistreatment of Native Americans, though with some exaggeration.

What system did the Spanish use that was criticized for abusing Native Americans?

The Encomienda system.

What was the purpose of the Black Legend engraving?

To depict the abuses against Native Americans and the harsh encomienda system set up by the Spaniards.

What was the objective of Spanish Missions regarding Native Americans?

To assimilate Native Americans into Spanish life, teaching them Spanish, converting them to Christianity, and collecting taxes.

Where was New France located?

The bulk of Canada and the Louisiana territory, surrounding the Mississippi River.

Who was LaSalle and what did he do?

He sailed the Mississippi River and claimed all the land surrounding it and its tributaries for France.

What were the settlement patterns of New France like?

Very small compared to their colonial claims, primarily located at trading posts.

What was the French attitude towards settling in New France?

They were not interested in settling but focused on making money through trade, particularly in furs.

How did the French maintain relations with Native Americans?

They formed alliances and had positive relationships, equipping them with technology during conflicts.

Why did the French cultivate relationships with Native Americans?

To obtain furs for trade and profit.

How did the French approach Christianizing Native Americans differently than the Spanish?

The French spread the gospel using Native languages without expecting Natives to learn French, while the Spanish forced Natives to use Spanish.

What is the take-home point regarding French relations with Native Americans?

The French had the best relationship with Native Americans among European colonial powers.

What were two distinguishing features of the Dutch compared to other European countries?

They had the lowest shipping rates in Europe and allowed private worship for Jews and Catholics as long as it was profitable.

What was the primary focus of the Dutch in their colonial endeavors?

Money.

Where was New Netherland located?

Around New York and New Jersey.

What is the modern name for New Amsterdam?

New York City.

Who was Peter Stuyvesant?

The Director-General of New Netherland, known for having a peg leg.

What is the origin of the name 'Wall Street'?

It was named after a street that had a wall.

What was the Iroquois Confederation?

An alliance of 5-6 tribes near upstate New York that pledged mutual defense and friendship.

What were longhouses in Iroquois culture?

Multi-family homes representing their alliance as one big family.

What conflict arose between the English and the Dutch?

The Dutch claims in New Netherland split English claims along the Atlantic coast, leading to the English taking control of New York in 1664.

What were the main characteristics of English colonies?

They settled on the Atlantic Coast and Canada, primarily practiced Protestant Christianity, consisted of settlers and religious dissidents, relied on agriculture and trade, settled in towns/farms, and did not engage in evangelism.

What technological improvements facilitated European exploration?

Gunpowder, sailing compass, shipbuilding and mapmaking advancements, and the printing press.

What was the effect of religious conflicts in Europe during the age of exploration?

They led to a desire for exploration and colonization to spread Christianity and pursue political and economic motives.

What was the primary significance of Columbus's voyages?

He navigated to uncharted territories, bringing permanent interaction between diverse peoples and changing the world.

What was the Columbian Exchange?

A transfer of plants, animals, and germs between the Old World and the New World for the first time.

What deadly diseases did Europeans introduce to Native Americans?

Germs and diseases such as smallpox and measles.

What was the Line of Demarcation?

A vertical line drawn by the pope in 1493 that divided the Americas between Spain (west) and Portugal (east).

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?

An agreement signed in 1494 that moved the Line of Demarcation a few degrees west, further dividing Spanish and Portuguese claims.

What was the primary motive for Spanish exploration?

The pursuit of gold and silver.

What was the Asiento and why was it necessary?

A tax the Spanish had to pay to their king for each slave imported to the Americas, necessary due to the decline in the native population from disease and brutality.

What prevented England from establishing more colonies in the 1500s?

Other issues, including Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church, preoccupied England's monarchy.

What delayed French claims to the New World?

The French monarchy was preoccupied with European wars and internal religious conflicts between Roman Catholics and Huguenots.

What was the first permanent French settlement in the New World and who established it?

Quebec, established by Samuel de Champlain in 1608.

What caused the Pueblo Revolt?

Efforts to Christianize the American Indians.

How did Europeans view Native Americans?

They looked down upon them, seeing them as inferior and exploitable for economic gain, Christian followers, and military allies.

What was the Spanish policy towards Native Americans?

It involved harsh treatment, often leading to death from overwork or disease.

Who was Bartolomé de Las Casas and what was his role regarding Native Americans?

A Spanish priest who initially owned land and slaves but became an advocate for better treatment of Native Americans and persuaded the king to institute the New Laws of 1542, ending Indian slavery and forced labor.

What were the Valladolid Debates (1550-1551) about?

A formal debate over the role of Indians in Spanish colonies, where Las Casas argued for their humanity and moral equality to Europeans, while Juan Gines de Sepulveda argued they were less than human and justified slavery.

How did English colonial policy differ from Spanish policy?

The English settled in areas without large native empires and came in families, unlike the Spanish who sought to control native populations.

What characterized the French colonial policy towards Native Americans?

The French maintained good relations with tribes, built trading posts, and posed less threat to the native population due to having few colonists and farms.

What are the three types of colonies established in early America?

Corporate colonies, royal colonies, and proprietary colonies.

How were early English settlements funded?

Through joint-stock companies that pooled the savings of many investors to spread the financial risk.

What early problems did Jamestown face?

The swampy location led to dysentery and malaria outbreaks, and settlers were unaccustomed to physical work, with many being gold-seekers who refused to farm.

Who was John Smith and what was his significance to Jamestown?

He was the leader of Jamestown who played a crucial role in its survival during the first five years.

What was John Rolfe's contribution to the Jamestown colony?

He married Pocahontas and developed a new variety of tobacco that became popular in Europe and profitable.

Why did King James take control of the Jamestown colony?

Due to the survival of only ⅓ of the original population and the Virginia Company's poor financial decisions.

What motivated the establishment of the New England colonies compared to the Virginia colonies?

The New England colonies were established for religious purposes, while the Virginia colonies were motivated by wealth.

Who established the Plymouth colony?

The Pilgrims, who were radical dissenters from the Church of England, also known as Separatists.

What was the early economy of Plymouth like?

It relied on fish, furs, and lumber, and the settlers were aided by friendly American Indians after a harsh first winter.

What group settled Massachusetts Bay and what were their beliefs?

The Puritans, who were moderate dissenters believing the Church of England could be reformed.

Who was John Winthrop and what did he accomplish?

He led a group of a thousand Puritans in 1630 to found Boston and several other towns.

What was the Great Migration?

A movement in the 1630s driven by a civil war in England that brought 15,000 settlers to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

How was representative government established in Virginia?

In 1619, Virginia colonists organized the first representative assembly in America, known as the House of Burgesses.

What document did the Pilgrims sign in 1620 that pledged them to make decisions by the will of the majority?

The Mayflower Compact.

Who could participate in yearly elections in the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

All freemen males of the Puritan Church.

In what way was democracy limited in the colonies?

Women and landless individuals had few rights; slaves and indentured servants had practically none.

What type of government ruled the colonies, and to whom did they answer?

The colonial government ruled with autocratic powers, answering only to the king or financial supporters in England.

What were the two Chesapeake colonies?

Virginia and Maryland.

What was the purpose of the Act of Toleration adopted in Maryland in 1649?

It granted religious freedom to all Christians but mandated death for anyone denying the divinity of Jesus.

Why did Catholics want the Act of Toleration passed in Maryland?

To gain access to land without starting a quarrel with the Protestants.

What was the outcome of the Protestant revolt in Maryland in the late 1600s?

The Protestants won, leading to the repeal of the Act of Toleration and the loss of voting rights for Catholics.

What type of agriculture did Maryland and Virginia rely on?

Cash crop agriculture.

What is an indentured servant?

A young person from the British Isles who agreed to work for a specified period under contract for a master who paid for their passage.

What was the headright system in Virginia?

It offered 50 acres of land to each immigrant who paid for their own passage and to plantation owners who paid for an immigrant's passage.

Who was Sir William Berkeley and why were western frontiersmen angry with him?

He was the royal governor of Virginia who failed to protect them from Indian attacks.

What was the significance of Bacon's Rebellion in 1676?

It led to a distrust of the indentured servant system and an increase in the use of slavery as a labor source.

What did Bacon's Rebellion reveal about former indentured servants?

Many were uncontrolled and living on the frontier after their contracts ended.

What did the Puritans who fled to New England want for themselves?

Religious tolerance.

Who were the two religious dissenters expelled by the Puritans?

Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson.

Who founded Rhode Island and how was it different from other colonies?

Roger Williams founded Rhode Island, which tolerated diverse beliefs and served as a refuge for many.

Why was Anne Hutchinson expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

She challenged the religious norms and authority of the Puritan leaders.

What is antinomianism?

The belief that faith alone, not deeds, is necessary for salvation.

What was the New England Confederation?

A military alliance made by the four New England colonies (Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut, and New Haven) in the 1640s, which ended in 1684.

What was King Philip's War?

A vicious conflict from 1675-1676 between united tribes in southern New England and English settlers, resulting in thousands of deaths and the destruction of many towns.

What radical beliefs did the Quakers hold?

The equality of all men and women, nonviolence, resistance to military service, and that religious authority is found within each person's soul.

What was William Penn's 'Holy Experiment' in Pennsylvania?

He provided a Frame of Government that guaranteed a representative assembly elected by landowners and a written constitution, the Charter of Liberties, ensuring freedom of worship and unrestricted immigration.

What were the two reasons for the founding of Georgia?

To create a defensive buffer for South Carolina plantations against Spanish Florida and to relieve overcrowded jails in England by sending imprisoned debtors to America.

What is mercantilism?

An economic theory that views trade, colonies, and wealth accumulation as the basis for a country's military and political strength, advocating for government regulation of trade.

What was the purpose of a colony in mercantilism?

To enrich the parent country by providing raw materials for its industries.

What were the Navigation Acts?

Rules for colonial trade that required trade to and from the colonies to be carried only by English or colonial-built ships, and that certain goods had to pass through England.

How strictly were the Navigation Acts enforced?

The British government was often not very strict in enforcing the acts.

What was the Dominion of New England?

The combination of New York, New Jersey, and various New England colonies into a single unit in 1686.

What was the role of slavery in the southern colonies?

Slavery grew alongside cash crop agriculture in the southern colonies.

Describe the Triangular Trade.

A trade system where a ship from New England carried rum to West Africa, traded it for captive Africans, transported them on the Middle Passage, and then traded them in the West Indies for sugarcane, which was brought back to New England.