Unit 1 - STAR TERMS

✮ Columbian Exchange ✮

WHO:

• Christopher Columbus

• Indigenous peoples of Americas

• People of Old and New World

WHAT:

An encounter and exchange of plants, animals, and microbes caused by the cultural contact between the Old and New Worlds that Columbus's voyages initiated.

• Greatly impacted environment of both worlds

• Old World to Americas:

  • Diseases/microbes: smallpox, chickenpox, measles, mumps, and typhus Animals: pigs, cows, horses, and oxen Plants: wheat and grapes

• Americas to Old World/Europe:

  • Disease: venereal syphilis Animals: llamas and guinea pigs Plants: tomatoes, chilies, corn, beans, cassava, potatoes, avocados, blueberries, peanuts, and tobacco

WHERE:

• Between the Old World (particularly Europe) and New World (the Americas), across the Atlantic Ocean

WHEN:

• Began 1492, continued throughout the Age of Exploration and European colonization

WHY:

• Dramatically reduced Native American populations because Old World diseases spread among people with no natural immunity.

• Greatly changed the environment of the Americas through the introduction of new plants and animals such as wheat, grapes, horses, cows, pigs, and oxen.

• New American crops such as corn and potatoes provided new food sources for the Old World, helping support major population growth.

• Permanently connected the Old and New Worlds, changing their populations, diets, agriculture, and environments.

✮ “God, Glory, Gold” ✮

WHO:

European explorers, monarchs, nations, missionaries, Protestants and Catholics; Spain and England are major examples.

WHAT:

- the major motives for European exploration.

1. Crusades increased European interest in/access to trade.

   • wanted water routes for trade.

   • Gold

2. Renaissance brought increased curiosity about other lands and people.

   • Gold, Glory

3. Reformation led Protestants and Catholics to want to spread their faith after the Reformation.

   • God

4. Monarchs/nationalism — nationalism led to increased pride in one's country.

   • Glory

5. Technological advances included advances in ships, compasses, and weapons.

   • Glory, Gold

6. Fame and fortune included the desire for gold, silver, cash crops, and slavery.

   • Gold, Glory

WHERE:

New World/Americas

WHEN:

Developed during the period of European exploration

WHY:

These motives explain why Europeans explored and colonized the Americas. They encouraged religious expansion, competition between nations, and the pursuit of wealth. Under mercantilism, economic power also increased a nation's influence on the world stage.

✮ Jamestown ✮

WHO:

About 105 male settlers sent by the Virginia Company; King James I; Captain John Smith; and the Powhatan Indians, who initially provided food but later came into conflict with the colonists.

WHAT:

The first permanent English colony, established primarily in search of material wealth. Early settlers faced starvation, disease, lack of preparation, and conflict. Tobacco eventually became the cash crop that saved its economy.

WHERE:

Jamestown, Virginia, located near a river that settlers hoped might lead toward a passage to India.

WHEN:

Established in 1607. In 1624, the Virginia Company was dissolved and Virginia became a royal colony. By 1639, Virginia was producing about 3 million pounds of tobacco per year.

WHY:

Established a permanent English presence in North America. Tobacco brought economic stability and prosperity, while private property and more orderly political institutions helped stabilize the colony. Expansion of tobacco farming also increased conflict with Native Americans over land.

✮ Mayflower Compact ✮

WHO:

The Pilgrims, who were Separatists who had completely left the Church of England; leaders and signers of the Mayflower Compact.

WHAT:

An agreement establishing the settlers as a body politic and committing them to obey their own laws and authorities.

WHERE:

Created after the Pilgrims arrived around Cape Cod, outside the jurisdiction of the Virginia Company or any known government.

WHEN:

1620, when the Pilgrims arrived aboard the Mayflower and established Plymouth.

WHY:

The settlers needed a government because they had landed outside existing governmental authority. It became an important milestone in self-government and demonstrated the idea of a social contract, with ordinary people agreeing together to create their own government.

✮ First Great Awakening ✮

WHO:

Colonists across racial and class lines; especially associated with preachers George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards.

WHAT:

A widespread religious phenomenon/revival that crossed racial, class, and geographical barriers. Whitefield preached in fields using a portable pulpit.

WHERE:

Swept the American colonies from north to south.

WHEN:

Mainly the 1740s and 1750s, during a century also associated with the Age of Reason/Enlightenment.

WHY:

Helped create a growing sense of national identity among colonists and encouraged people to question age-old authorities and Old World norms. Ideas of consent and equality had roots in the Great Awakening, and its popular religious movement was later translated into the popular constitutionalism of the 1760s–1770s, contributing to developments leading toward the American Revolution. Some scholars call it the first national media event.