Colonial America and the Road to Revolution

Flashcards covering the social, economic, and religious aspects of colonial America, including regional differences, the Salem Witch Trials, the Enlightenment, and the Great Awakening.

What was the primary economic difference between the Southern and Northern colonies?

Southern colonies relied on cash crops and agriculture, while Northern colonies focused on shipping and mercantile enterprise.

What transition occurred in the South following Bacon's Rebellion?

A transition from indentured servitude to slavery.

Who were the gentry in the Southern colonies?

Wealthy slave owners who owned plantations and grew cash crops.

Who were the poor in the Southern colonies?

Subsistence farmers in the backcountry of the South who lived in poverty.

What war influenced the events leading to the Salem Witch Trials?

King William's War in 1689, which affected Upstate New York and Canada.

Who was the Reverend during the Salem Witch Trials, and what was his reputation?

Reverend Samuel Paris, the Salem Village's unpopular minister.

Who were the initial accusers in the Salem Witch Trials?

Elizabeth Paris, Abigail, and Anne were the first accusers, who started having fits and blaming others for their supernatural afflictions.

Who were the first three women accused of witchcraft in Salem?

Tituba, Sarah Goode, and Sarah Osborne were among the first women accused of witchcraft.

What type of evidence was used to convict people during the Salem Witch Trials?

Spectral evidence, based on visions and dreams, was used to convict people of witchcraft.

What are some possible explanations for the Salem Witch Trials?

Bored adolescents, local feuds, property disputes, and women who defied traditional roles.

What were the main beliefs during the Enlightenment?

The belief that God gave mankind reason, and scientific knowledge could improve society.

Who epitomized the American Enlightenment, and what were some of his contributions?

Benjamin Franklin, who made contributions such as the lightning rod, bifocals, and America's First circulating library.

What was challenging churches during the early eighteenth century?

Religious apathy, deism, and skepticism were challenging traditional religious beliefs.

Who was the main catalyst of the Great Awakening?

George Whitfield, an English minister who held open air revivals and emphasized individual salvation.

Name a few new religious denominations that sprung up because of the Great Awakening.

Baptists, Presbyterians, and later Methodists.

What was the biggest effect of the Great Awakening?

It prepared America for independence by encouraging individuals to realize that they had both religious and political power in their hands.