Exam Review Session: Early American History

Flashcards covering key themes from the lecture: the colonization of New Netherland and New Sweden, the events and consequences of the Salem Witch Trials, and the causes, figures, and impacts of the Great Awakening.

Who was the English sailor who explored the area for the Dutch in 1609, naming a river and the surrounding region after himself?

Henry Hudson, who named the Hudson River and the area New Netherland.

What was the name of the prominent Dutch town established on Manhattan Island that eventually housed 9,000 people?

New Amsterdam.

Which Swedish queen initiated the New Sweden Company in 1637 to engage in the fur and tobacco trade in America?

Queen Christina.

Where did the Swedish New Sweden Company initially land in America in 1638, aiming to avoid English and Dutch settlers?

What is today called Delaware.

What distinctive building pattern, common in Sweden, did the settlers of New Sweden introduce to American culture?

Log houses.

What happened to New Sweden in 1655?

New Netherland attacked and conquered New Sweden, taking over its land including Delaware and parts of Pennsylvania.

What happened to New Netherland in 1664?

The English arrived with warships, forced the Dutch to surrender New Amsterdam, and renamed the entire area New York.

What are some examples of places in New York City that still retain Dutch names?

Broadway, Harlem, Brooklyn, and Coney Island.

In the 17th century, what was the common belief regarding witches?

People believed witches existed, had sold their souls to the devil, and could cause misfortune or illness.

What was the punishment for being a witch according to the Massachusetts Bay law code established in 1641?

Death.

Which biblical verse was often cited in the 16th century to justify the killing of witches?

Exodus 22:18, which states, 'Suffer not a witch to live.'

Who were the first three individuals accused of witchcraft in Salem in 1692, following the strange behavior of Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, and Anne Putnam?

Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba.

What evidence did Tituba provide during her questioning that fueled the hysteria in Salem?

She confessed to serving the devil and claimed to have seen the names of other witches, including the two Sarahs, in the devil's book.

What humiliating searches were prisoners accused of witchcraft subjected to in prison?

Searches for the 'devil's mark' and a 'third nipple' to feed their familiar.

What type of evidence was accepted by Governor William Phipps's special court, the Court of Oyer and Terminer, despite warnings from ministers like Cotton Mather?

Spectral evidence, where claims of being hurt in dreams or visions were admitted as proof.

Who was the first person hanged as a witch in the Salem Witch Trials on June 10th?

Bridget Bishop.

How did Giles Corey, an 81-year-old wealthy man, die during the Salem Witch Trials?

He was crushed to death under boards and rocks for refusing to enter a plea, thereby preventing the confiscation of his property.

What event prompted Governor William Phipps to dissolve the Court of Oyer and Terminer and create a new court that did not permit spectral evidence?

His wife was accused of being a witch.

When did Governor Phipps order the release of all remaining prisoners accused of witchcraft, concluding the Salem Witch Trials?

May 1693.

What happened in Massachusetts Bay in 1697 as an act of repentance for the Salem Witch Trials?

The entire colony observed a 'day of humiliation,' involving fasting, wearing ash, and prayer to ask for God's forgiveness.

When and where did the Great Awakening take place?

It took place in the 1730s and 1740s as a transnational phenomenon in the 13 colonies and Old England.

What two issues characterized religion around 1720 that the Great Awakening sought to address?

Formalism in churches (lack of excitement/passion) and the influence of the Enlightenment (which promoted a distant God and reasonable, not exciting, religion).

What was the central idea promoted by the Great Awakening regarding an individual's relationship with God?

People needed to have a 'personal conversion experience' to please God.

Who was Jonathan Edwards, and what was his key message during the Great Awakening?

A Puritan minister from Massachusetts who preached that people needed to be 'justified by faith,' believing that Jesus Christ died for their sins to avoid hell and go to heaven.

What was the title of Jonathan Edwards's most famous sermon, delivered in 1741?

'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.'

Who was George Whitefield, and what was his primary message to people?

An influential Anglican minister from England who preached that individuals needed to be 'born again' or experience a 'new birth' to avoid hell and go to heaven.

How many sermons did George Whitefield deliver and how many miles did he travel during his time in America from 1738 to 1739?

He delivered 350 sermons and rode 5,000 miles.

What proportion of the colonial population is estimated to have seen George Whitefield speak?

One quarter of the colonial population.

What were those who supported the emotional, conversion-focused religion of the Great Awakening called, and what were their general characteristics?

'New Lights,' who tended to be poorer and less educated, appreciating the common man's appeal of the movement.

What were those who opposed the emotionalism and personal conversion aspects of the Great Awakening called, and what were their general characteristics?

'Old Lights,' who were typically educated, wealthy, and at the top of society, including most professors at Harvard and Yale.

What was one significant consequence of the Great Awakening regarding education?

The creation of new universities like Brown, Dartmouth, Rutgers, and Columbia by New Lights to train ministers, as older institutions were controlled by Old Lights.

How did the Great Awakening contribute to the development of an American identity?

It fostered a shared experience among colonists across different regions, making them feel distinct from people in Britain and contributing to a unique American feeling.

According to John Adams, what major historical event was significantly influenced by the Great Awakening?

The American Revolution, as the rejection of religious authority during the Awakening paved the way for rejecting political authority.