Chapter 4 Becoming America? 1720-1760: Geographic Expansion and Ethnic Diversity

A set of Question and Answer flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 4: geographic expansion and ethnic diversity in 1720-1760, including migration patterns, imperial competition, slavery, and identity maintenance.

By how much did the colonial population grow in 75 years, according to the notes?

From about 250,000 to 2.5 million.

Which groups contributed to migration to British North America as noted in the context?

Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, and especially Africa (the latter forced).

What did Dr. Alexander Hamilton observe about the colonies’ worldliness and power dynamics?

He saw a strange worldliness and cultural mix in the American provinces; power was held by popular opinion, and the colonies shared Britain’s work ethic.

Which two European powers expanded territorial claims moderately, but larger than the British in some ways?

France and Spain.

Where did the French and the Spanish focus their territorial expansion?

The French took more of the Mississippi land; the Spanish took the Southwest and California.

What role did missions play for the Spanish along the coast?

They established missions and lived among the native converts.

What was New Orleans’ strategic purpose in the French empire?

It served as the glue of empire, using rivers and lakes to connect Quebec and New Orleans for trade.

How did French–Native trade and Spanish competition affect local dynamics?

Trade with natives occurred; the Spanish would sometimes steal French business, altering native practices.

What was Louisiana’s main governmental purpose for the colonial powers?

To protect Caribbean claims and prevent expansion by the Spanish and British.

What happened with enslaved labor in the Louisiana colonies?

Inhabitants demanded slaves for plantations, but the system was an overall failure and led to backlash and neglect.

During the 18th century, which continent supplied more enslaved people to America?

Africa.

What was notable about the composition of enslaved populations regarding gender and age?

Women and children made up the majority of enslaved Africans brought over, aiding natural increase.

What percentage of newcomers were poor bound laborers in the early waves of European migration?

About 40%.

Which two regions produced one of the largest immigrant streams (4-1e)?

Ireland and Scotland (the Scots-Irish).

What reputation did many Irish communities acquire in Pennsylvania?

Lawlessness, hard drinking, and ferocious fighting.

Where did Germans tend to settle, and what proportion did they constitute in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania and the backcountry of Maryland and Virginia; about one-third of Pennsylvania’s population.

What language persistence was common in New York among settlers?

Dutch continued to be spoken by many New Yorkers.

Why did elites resist non-English Americans in government, and what changed in the 1770s?

Elites resisted to maintain power, but the political crisis of the 1770s created a need to recruit non-English support.

Between 1760-1775, immigration to the colonies intensified from Africa and England due to what factors?

Rising demand for slaves and hard times in Europe.