European Colonization and Development of North American Colonies

What were the primary motivations for European colonization in the Americas during the 17th century?

Economic gain, religious freedom, and expansion of empires.

How did the environment influence European migration to the Americas?

Geography and resources shaped settlement patterns and agricultural practices.

What was the role of joint-stock companies in English colonization?

They financed expeditions and settlements, sharing the risks and profits among investors.

What regions were colonized by the Spanish?

Southwestern United States, Florida, and parts of Central and South America.

What religion did Spanish colonists bring with them?

Catholicism.

What were the motivations behind Spanish colonization?

Wealth from resources, spreading Christianity, and territorial expansion.

Where were the first Spanish settlements established?

St. Augustine in Florida (1565) and Santa Fe in New Mexico (1610).

What types of colonists settled in Spanish colonies?

Conquistadors, missionaries, and settlers seeking wealth.

What was the relationship between Spanish colonists and Native Americans?

Often marked by conflict, forced conversion, and intermarriage.

What regions were colonized by the Dutch?

New York (formerly New Amsterdam) and parts of the Hudson River Valley.

What religion did Dutch colonists bring with them?

Calvinism, with a degree of religious tolerance.

What were the motivations behind Dutch colonization?

Trade, economic opportunities, and establishing a foothold in North America.

Where were the first Dutch settlements established?

New Amsterdam (New York City) in 1624.

What types of colonists settled in Dutch colonies?

Traders, merchants, and diverse immigrants.

What was the relationship between Dutch colonists and Native Americans?

Generally focused on trade, but also involved conflicts over land.

What regions were colonized by the British?

Eastern seaboard of North America, including New England, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies.

What religion did British colonists bring with them?

Primarily Protestantism, with various sects including Puritans and Quakers.

What were the motivations behind British colonization?

Economic opportunities, religious freedom, and expansion of territory.

Where were the first British settlements established?

Jamestown, Virginia (1607) and Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620).

What types of colonists settled in British colonies?

Farmers, tradespeople, and religious dissenters.

What were the evangelization efforts in British colonies?

Efforts varied; some colonies focused on converting Native Americans, while others sought religious freedom.

What was the relationship between British colonists and Native Americans?

Varied from trade and cooperation to conflict and displacement.

What were the three types of charters for British colonies?

Corporate, Royal, and Proprietary.

What was the significance of the House of Burgesses?

It was the first representative assembly in America, established in Virginia in 1619.

What was the Great Migration?

The movement of 15,000 Puritan settlers to Massachusetts in the 1630s.

What was the Act of Toleration?

A 1649 law in Maryland that guaranteed religious freedom for all Christians.

Who was Roger Williams and what did he establish?

A dissenting Puritan who founded Providence, Rhode Island, promoting religious freedom and Native American rights.

What was the first representative assembly in America?

The House of Burgesses, established in Virginia in 1619.

What was the Mayflower Compact?

An early form of self-government established in 1620, pledging to make decisions by majority rule.

What were Town Meetings in New England?

Local meetings held by communities to debate issues and elect representatives.

Who was excluded from early democratic practices in the colonies?

Females, landless males, indentured servants, and enslaved people.

What was the Royal African Company's role in the slave trade?

It had a monopoly on the slave trade in the 17th century until high demand allowed New England merchants to enter the trade.

What is mercantilism?

An economic theory that a country's wealth is determined by how much more it exports than it imports.

What were the Navigation Acts?

A series of laws (1650-1673) to enforce mercantilist policy, requiring colonial trade to be conducted on English or colonial ships.

What were the positive impacts of the Navigation Acts on the colonies?

Aided New England shipbuilding, gave Chesapeake tobacco a monopoly in England, and provided English military protection.

What were the negative impacts of the Navigation Acts on the colonies?

Limited economic development, high prices for English goods, and low prices for crops.

What was salutary neglect?

A policy where England was lax in enforcing trade regulations, leading to colonial resentment and smuggling.

What was the Dominion of New England?

An administrative union created in 1686 combining several colonies under royal control, led by Governor Sir Edmund Andros.

What was the outcome of the Glorious Revolution of 1688?

It led to the dissolution of the Dominion of New England and the return of colonies to separate charters.

What was Metacom's War (King Philip's War)?

A conflict (1675-1676) caused by English settlers encroaching on Native American land, leading to the defeat of Metacom and most Native American resistance in New England.

What was Bacon's Rebellion?

A 1676 uprising led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Sir William Berkeley's policies, highlighting class differences and conflicts with Native Americans.

What was the Pueblo Revolt?

A 1680 uprising of various Pueblo tribes against Spanish rule and forced religious conversion, temporarily driving the Spanish out.

What was the primary reason for the demand for labor in the colonies?

The emphasis on agriculture, particularly tobacco cultivation.

Why did landowners turn to enslaved Africans for labor?

Native Americans could escape easily, and the supply of indentured servants was too small and temporary.

What was the system of indentured servitude?

Landowners paid for the passage of servants from the British Isles, who worked for 4-7 years in exchange for room and board.

What was the status of indentured servants?

They were under the absolute rule of their masters.

What happened to indentured servants upon gaining freedom?

They could work for wages or obtain their own land.

What was the Headright System in Virginia?

It offered 50 acres of land to anyone who paid for an immigrant's passage to attract more laborers.

When did the institution of slavery begin in Virginia?

In 1619, when about 25 Africans were sold as indentured servants.

What significant change occurred in the 1660s regarding slavery in Virginia?

Laws were enacted making African people and their offspring enslaved for life.

Which colonies had the highest and lowest numbers of enslaved people by 1750?

Southern Colonies had the most enslaved people, while New England had the fewest.

What percentage of enslaved Africans went to British North America?

Less than 5%.

What were some reasons for the increased demand for enslaved Africans?

Reduced migration from England, a dependable workforce, and the need for low-cost labor for profitable crops.

What was the purpose of slave laws enacted in the colonies?

To ensure bondage for life and that slave status was inherited.

How did Africans resist slavery?

By maintaining family ties and cultural traditions, and through direct actions like hunger strikes and fleeing.

What was the population growth in the colonies from 1701 to 1775?

It grew from 250,000 to 2,500,000.

What were the main origins of European immigrants to the colonies?

England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and other parts of western/central Europe.

What were the motivations for European immigrants settling in the colonies?

Escaping religious persecution, wars, and seeking economic opportunity.

What was the economic structure of New England colonies?

Relied on subsistence farming, logging, shipbuilding, fishing, and trade due to rocky soil and long winters.

What was the Great Awakening?

A religious revival movement in the 1730s and 1740s that caused splits in denominations and encouraged a call for separation of church and state.

Who were key figures in the Great Awakening?

Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.

What was the role of education in colonial society?

Varied by region; New England had tax-supported schools, while the Southern Colonies relied on parents or tutors.

What was the structure of colonial government?

Governors were chief executives, with a legislature consisting of two houses; local government varied by region.

What were the voting restrictions in colonial America?

Excluded women, poor white men, enslaved people, and most free Black people.

How did social structure in the colonies differ from Europe?

The colonies lacked a hereditary aristocracy and had a narrower class system based on economics.

What was the significance of the family unit in colonial life?

The family was central to life, with people marrying younger and having more children.

What were the primary occupations of enslaved Africans in the colonies?

Field laborers, bricklayers, blacksmiths, and other unskilled laborers.