Unit 1 | Pre-Columbian America and Early European Exploration

What is the Bering Land Bridge?

A land connection that linked Siberia and Alaska during the last Ice Age, allowing the first Americans to migrate.

Who were the Paleo-Indians?

Early migrants who spread across North and South America, developing hunting, fishing, and agriculture.

What were the complex societies developed by early Americans based on?

Hunting, fishing, and agriculture.

What happened as the Ice Age ended?

The Bering Land Bridge disappeared, isolating the Americas from the rest of the world.

What civilization is associated with Tenochtitlán?

The Aztecs.

What is chinampa farming?

A farming technique using floating gardens used by the Aztecs.

How did the Aztecs expand their territory?

Through warfare and tribute systems.

What is a defining feature of the Mayan civilization?

They developed the first writing system in the Americas using glyphs.

Which major civilization mysteriously declined before European contact?

The Maya.

What is Machu Picchu?

A famous city of the Inca civilization located in Peru.

What was the capital of the Inca Empire?

Cuzco.

How did the Mississippian civilization contribute to society?

By building large mound cities like Cahokia and extensive trade networks.

What was the Iroquois Confederacy?

An alliance of several tribes that developed an early democratic government.

What significant agricultural practice was common in the Southeast?

The cultivation of 'Three Sisters' crops: corn, beans, and squash.

What lifestyle did the Plains Indians adopt after the arrival of horses?

Nomadic hunting, relying on bison.

What architectural style was common among the Pueblo peoples?

Adobe houses.

What was the role of shamans in Indigenous societies?

They played important roles in healing and rituals.

What major belief systems characterized Indigenous religions?

Most were polytheistic and some believed in animism.

How did Indigenous trade networks impact societies?

They helped spread ideas, technology, and culture.

What economic system dominated Europe in the 1400s?

Mercantilism.

What motivated European nations to explore in the 1400s?

The pursuit of Gold, Glory, and God.

How did the Renaissance impact European exploration?

It encouraged curiosity, innovation, and discovery.

Who was Christopher Columbus?

An explorer sponsored by Spain, credited with opening the Americas to European colonization.

What did Ferdinand Magellan accomplish?

Led the first voyage to circumnavigate the globe.

What was the purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas?

To divide newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.

What was the significance of the encomienda system?

It provided Spanish settlers with land and Indigenous labor in exchange for protection.

What was the Casta System?

A racial hierarchy established in Spanish colonies that limited social mobility for non-Europeans.

What motivated the expansion of the Transatlantic Slave Trade?

The decline of Indigenous labor and the demand for cash crops in the Americas.

What was the Middle Passage?

The horrific journey enslaved Africans endured while being transported to the Americas.

What was a major consequence of the Columbian Exchange for Indigenous peoples?

The introduction of diseases that wiped out millions.

How did the Spanish colonies impact Indigenous cultures?

Through forced labor, religious conversion, and the establishment of a rigid social hierarchy.

What were the primary crops grown in Southern colonies?

Tobacco, rice, and indigo.

What event marked the beginning of British colonial governance in Virginia?

The founding of Jamestown in 1607.

What agricultural practice was a common economic factor among Southern colonies?

Plantation economies.

What was the primary reason for Bacon's Rebellion?

Tensions between poor farmers and the elite over land and Native American attacks.

What was the role of women in colonial society?

To manage households and raise children, with limited legal rights.

What was the First Great Awakening?

A religious revival movement that emphasized emotional experience and led to new denominations.

What was the social structure in the Southern colonies?

A strict hierarchy with wealthy planters at the top and enslaved persons at the bottom.

What resulted from the French and Indian War?

Increased British debt and higher taxes imposed on the colonies.

How did the growth of cities contribute to American identity?

By creating hubs of commerce and cultural exchange that fostered political discussion.

What were the Navigation Acts?

Laws requiring colonists to trade only with the British.

What changes occurred in education by the mid-1700s?

An emphasis on literacy, especially in New England, led to the founding of early universities.

What was the primary economic activity in the Middle Colonies?

Farming and trade.

Describe the relationship between the colonies and England during the policy of salutary neglect.

Colonies governed themselves with limited interference from Britain.

Who was John Peter Zenger and why was he significant?

A printer whose trial established a precedent for freedom of the press.

What was the primary effect of the Atlantic Slave Trade on Africa?

Devastation of populations and increased warfare.

What was the role of colonial assemblies?

To make local laws and control taxes, reflecting early democratic practices.

How did Indentured Servants contribute to the colonial economy?

By providing labor in exchange for passage to the New World.

What unity did colonies develop by the mid-1700s?

A distinct American identity increasingly separate from British influence.

How did the economic focus differ between the Northern and Southern colonies?

Northern colonies had diverse economies based on trade, while Southern colonies focused on plantations.

What did the phrase "City Upon a Hill" represent?

John Winthrop's vision for a model Puritan society.

Why were newspapers significant in colonial America?

They spread political and philosophical ideas, fueling revolutionary sentiments.

What did the Great Awakening inspire in the colonies?

A questioning of traditional authority and the rise of new religious movements.

How did geography affect Indigenous lifestyles?

Different regions led to diverse practices in hunting, agriculture, and trade.

What was the significance of the Zenger trial?

It established a vital precedent for freedom of speech and the press.

What were the two main reasons for Native American conflicts in the colonies?

Land disputes and resistance to European expansion.

What was the primary crop that saved the Jamestown colony?

Tobacco.

How did slavery impact the structure of colonial economies?

It created a dependency on forced labor, particularly in plantation-based systems.

What was the relationship between the British economy and colonial trade?

Colonial trade primarily benefited the British economy through mercantilism.

What does the term "Triangular Trade" refer to?

The trade system connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Who were the key players in early European exploration of the Americas?

Explorers like Columbus, Magellan, Dias, and da Gama.

What were some of the distinct characteristics of the Middle Colonies?

Economic diversity, religious tolerance, and a mix of cultures.

What was one of the first forms of representative government in a colony?

The Virginia House of Burgesses.

What was a significant cultural contribution of the Iberian Peninsula to Latin America?

The establishment of Catholicism as a predominant religion.

Explain how the Spanish and Portuguese influenced the development of North America.

Through colonization and establishment of social, economic, and religious structures.

What change occurred in the North American colonies after the Atlantic Slave Trade expanded?

The establishment of a racial hierarchy and entrenched systemic racism.

What role did Catholic missions play in colonization?

They aimed to convert Indigenous peoples, often facing resistance.

How did the introduction of new crops through the Columbian Exchange affect Europe?

It led to a population boom as new staple crops became available.

What factor led to the decline in Indigenous populations after European contact?

Diseases such as smallpox brought by Europeans.

What did early European settlers expect from the Native Americans upon contact?

Cooperative trade and territorial agreements.

How did the culture of Native Americans differ across regions?

Cultures varied significantly based on geography and resources.

What kind of labor system replaced the indentured servitude system in the colonies?

African slavery became the primary labor system.

What types of alliances did the French pursue with Native Americans?

Trade and strategic military alliances against rival powers.

What was one of the main strategies used by English settlers as they expanded?

Establishing permanent settler communities.

Which group of settlers is associated with the idea of a religious 'City Upon a Hill'?

Puritans in Massachusetts Bay.

What led to heightened tensions between colonists and the British government?

Increased taxation and strict enforcement of trade laws.

What conflict resulted from competing territorial claims between Indigenous peoples and settlers?

Various wars, including King Philip's War.

Which colony was established as a haven for Quakers?

Pennsylvania.

What was the purpose of the headright system in Virginia?

To attract settlers by granting land for each laborer brought over.

Why was the introduction of African slaves seen as a solution for plantation labor needs?

To replace declining Indigenous labor availability.

What was the primary defense for Spanish colonization policies?

The spread of Christianity and the protection of Indigenous peoples.

What significant social structure did agriculture establish in the Southern colonies?

A plantation economy leading to a class hierarchy.

What was the impact of disease on European expansion into the Americas?

It altered the demographic landscape and shaped relations between settlers and Indigenous peoples.

What was the significance of the Act of Toleration in Maryland?

It granted religious freedoms to all Christians.

What type of work did enslaved people commonly perform in Southern colonies?

Labor on large plantations primarily producing cash crops.

What role did agriculture play in shaping colonial society?

It dictated the economy, social hierarchies, and labor systems.

How did British mercantilism affect colonial economies?

It restricted trade to benefit the British economy.

What was the relationship between urban growth and socio-economic mobility in the colonies?

Growing cities offered some opportunities but also highlighted class disparities.

How did the Puritan emphasis on education manifest in colonial society?

With a focus on literacy for reading the Bible and establishing schools.

What educational institution was founded in the colonies for training ministers?

Harvard University.

What was a common consequence of the growing tensions between colonists and Native Americans?

Increased military conflicts and territorial disputes.

What forms of early self-governance emerged in the colonies?

Local assemblies and town meetings.

How did the Atlantic Slave Trade transform African societies?

Through depopulation and disruption of social structures.

What was a defining characteristic of colonial identity by the mid-1700s?

A sense of separation from British rule.

What ideology emerged from the Enlightenment that influenced colonial thought?

Ideas about individual rights and self-governance.

What was a primary factor in the establishment of the first permanent colonies?

Economic gain, often through cash crops and trade.

Who were the primary European nations involved in colonization during the 16th and 17th centuries?

Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands.

What impact did the war for North American territories have on colonial perceptions of Britain?

It fostered a sense of resentment towards British governance due to increased taxation.

What was the result of the Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico?

The Pueblo people expelled the Spanish for 12 years before Spain regained control.

Which conflict was one of the deadliest in colonial New England history?

King Philip's War.