Colonial America and the Early United States: CPUSH Midterm

New England colonies

Established for religious freedom and economic opportunities

Puritans

Primary settlers of New England colonies seeking religious freedom

Joint-stock companies

Invested in the new world for profit

Geography of New England colonies

Advantages: fertile soil, forests for timber, coast for fishing. Disadvantages: lack of arable land, harsh winters, geographic isolation

Pequot War and King Phillips War

Conflicts between New England colonies and American Indians

Trade and commerce

How New England colonies made money

Fishing, shipbuilding, lumber and timber, whaling, and manufacturing

Specific ways New England colonies made money

Southern colonies

Primarily Anglican or Church of England in religious orientation. English settlers, African slaves, and Native Americans.

New England colonies

Puritans and Pilgrims seeking religious freedom. Rhode Island stood out as a beacon of religious tolerance.

Mid-Atlantic colonies

Remarkable religious and ethnic diversity. Quakers.

Middle Passage

Brutal part of the transatlantic slave trade. Enslaved Africans transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.

African culture in the colonies

Evolved through syncretism, merging with European and indigenous cultures.

African influence on architecture

Used materials and construction techniques like mud-brick architecture

African influence on agriculture

Knowledge of crop cultivation, like rice cultivation in the Carolinas

African influence on foodways

Contributed to dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and cooking methods like smoking and seasoning

Salutary Neglect

British colonial policy of hands-off approach, allowing self-governance and economic freedom

House of Burgesses

First representative assembly in the American colonies

Direct democracy in New England

Town meetings allowed citizens to directly participate in decision-making

Mayflower Compact

Foundational document for self-governance in Plymouth Colony

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

One of the first written constitutions in the colonies, outlining representative government

Stamp Act

Imposed taxes on printed materials, leading to widespread protest and opposition

Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty

Secret societies and activist groups formed to protest British policies and promote colonial rights

First Continental Congress

Addressed grievances with British policies, petitioned King George III, and called for a boycott of British goods

Committees of Correspondence

Shadow governments that exchanged information and coordinated resistance against British policies

Common Sense

Written by Thomas Paine to persuade colonists to support independence from British rule

Declaration of Independence

Primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, declaring independence from Britain

John Locke

Influenced the Declaration with ideas on natural rights and social contract

Rousseau

Influenced the Declaration with ideas on popular sovereignty and government by consent

Montesquieu

Influenced the Declaration with ideas on separation of powers and checks and balances

George Washington

Significant military leader during the Revolution, inspiring and holding together the Continental Army

Baron von Steuben

Trained and disciplined the Continental Army at Valley Forge

Marquis de Lafayette

Secured vital French support for the American cause and led troops in battles

Winter at Valley Forge

Transformative period for the Continental Army, improving discipline and preparedness

Battle of Trenton

Geography and surprise attack on Hessian forces led to victory

Battle of Saratoga

American forces utilized geography and natural barriers to their advantage

Saratoga as a turning point

American victory led to French support, altering the course of the war

Battle of Yorktown

Geography and siege contributed to successful American and French victory

Women's support in the war effort

Nursing, managing households and farms, serving as spies and messengers

American Indians' support in the war effort

Varied depending on tribal alliances and interests

Great Compromise

Resolved debate between large and small states over representation in the new U.S. government

Separation of powers

Prevents concentration of power and creates checks and balances

3/5 Compromise

Determined how enslaved individuals would be counted for representation and taxation

Anti-Federalists

Opposed ratification of the Constitution, called for a Bill of Rights

Federalists

Supported ratification of the Constitution, believed in a strong national government

Federalist Papers

Series of essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution

George Washington's presidency

Established norms and precedents, two-term limit, neutrality in foreign affairs

John Adams' presidency

Peaceful transfer of power, challenges in foreign relations

Sedition Acts

Made it a federal crime to publish false or malicious writing against the government

Louisiana Purchase

Expanded the nation's territory, contrary to Jefferson's strict interpretation of the Constitution

Andrew Jackson's presidency

Stood against nullification, expanded voting rights, Indian removal

Nullification Crisis

Southern opposition to tariffs, belief in states' right to nullify federal laws

Temperance movement

Movement to ban the sale of alcohol

Abolitionist movement

Movement to abolish slavery

Reform of public schools

Expansion of public schools in more states

Women's suffrage movement

Advocated for women's right to vote, Seneca Falls Convention led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton