American Colonial History: Key Theories, Events, and Figures

Origin of First Americans: Describe the leading theory on how the first Americans arrived on the continent and what their way of life was like.

The leading theory is that they migrated from Asia across the Bering Strait land bridge. They were primarily hunters and gatherers, following large game.

First European Settlers: Besides the Spanish, which European group is believed to have established a settlement in North America (at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland) around 1000 A.D.?

The Vikings (Norse), led by Leif Erikson.

15th Century European Developments: What key developments in 15th-century Europe, such as new maritime technologies and the rise of unified monarchies, made long-distance exploration and expansion possible?

Population increase and economic growth, rise of nation-states, spread of new technologies, spread of old knowledge, longing for navigation, and the rise of unified monarchies in Spain and Portugal with the resources to fund voyages.

Columbus's Intentions vs. Accomplishments: What was Christopher Columbus's primary intention when he set sail in 1492? What were his actual accomplishments?

His intention was to find a westward sea route to Asia. His accomplishment was connecting the Old and New Worlds, initiating the Columbian Exchange.

Hernán Cortés & Spanish Conquest: Who was Hernán Cortés, and what methods characterized the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the New World?

A Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire. He used superior weaponry, alliances with resentful native groups, and the devastating impact of European diseases.

Las Casas & the "Black Legend": What was Bartolomé de Las Casas's main critique of Spanish colonization? How did his writings contribute to the "Black Legend"?

He was a Dominican friar who condemned the brutal treatment of Native Americans by Spanish colonists. His writings created the "Black Legend," an image of Spain as a uniquely brutal and exploitative colonizer.

Spanish Empire Characteristics: Describe the key characteristics of the Spanish empire in America, including its system of government and social structure.

Urban civilization with a hybrid culture. The society was a rigid hierarchy with native-born Spaniards at the top, followed by Creoles, mestizos, and Native Americans/Africans at the bottom.

French Colonization: What were the major features of French colonization in America, particularly regarding their economic focus and relationships with Native Americans?

Focused on the fur trade rather than large-scale settlement. They established trading posts and fostered alliances with Native American tribes.

Henry Hudson & Dutch Settlement: For which country did Henry Hudson sail when exploring the river that now bears his name? What was the primary economic focus of the Dutch colony of New Netherland?

He sailed for the Dutch. The Dutch colony of New Netherland (centered on New Amsterdam) was primarily a commercial/trading outpost.

Conquistadores

Spanish for "conquerors"; the soldiers and explorers who led the conquest of the Americas for the Spanish Crown.

Bartolomé de Las Casas

A Spanish priest who advocated for the rights of Native Americans and wrote "A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies."

Lesson 2: The English Colonization of America

Protestant Reformation's Impact: How did the Protestant Reformation, particularly the establishment of the Church of England, impact England's national identity and its rivalry with Spain?

It broke England from the Catholic Church, creating a sense of English nationalism and fueling a rivalry with Catholic Spain, which was seen as the primary enemy of Protestantism.

The Roanoke Colony: Briefly describe the story and outcome of the Roanoke colony.

England's first attempt at a colony in North America (1585). The colony famously "disappeared," and its fate remains a mystery.

Jamestown's Struggles & John Smith: What were the major struggles faced by the early Jamestown colony, and what role did Captain John Smith play in its survival?

The colony suffered from disease, starvation, and a lack of colonists willing to work. John Smith imposed military discipline and a "he who shall not work, shall not eat" policy, which helped the colony survive its early years.

John Rolfe & Powhatan Relations: Who was John Rolfe, and how did his actions impact both the economy of Virginia and the relationship between the English settlers and the Powhatan confederacy?

He introduced a strain of tobacco that became a profitable cash crop, saving Virginia economically. His marriage to Pocahontas temporarily stabilized relations between the settlers and the Powhatan.

Political Changes in Virginia: What significant political change occurred in Virginia in 1618 with the "Great Charter"? What happened to the Virginia Company's charter in 1624?

In 1618, the Virginia Company issued the "Great Charter," establishing the House of Burgesses, the first elected assembly in colonial America. In 1624, the king revoked the charter and made Virginia a royal colony.

Maryland Colony: What was the primary purpose for the founding of the Maryland colony, and who was its proprietor, Cecilius Calvert?

Founded as a proprietary colony by Cecilius Calvert (Lord Baltimore) to be a haven for fellow Catholics who faced persecution in England.

The Pilgrims: Who were the Pilgrims, and why did they establish a settlement in Plymouth?

They were Separatists who wished to break away entirely from the Church of England. They sailed on the Mayflower and settled in Plymouth in 1620 to practice their religion freely.

Puritanism & Massachusetts Bay: What were the central beliefs of the Puritans, and what was their goal in founding the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

Puritans were Calvinists who wanted to "purify" the Church of England. They founded Massachusetts Bay to create a "City on a Hill," a model religious society that would serve as an example for all of England.

Dealing with Dissent: How did the Puritan authorities deal with dissenters like Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson?

They were banished from the colony. Roger Williams was exiled for advocating separation of church and state, and Anne Hutchinson was exiled for challenging the authority of ministers by claiming direct revelation from God.

Founding of Rhode Island: What was Roger Williams's role in the founding of Rhode Island, and what principles was the colony based on?

After his banishment, Roger Williams founded Rhode Island on the principles of religious toleration and the separation of church and state.

Mayflower Compact

The first written framework for self-government in the United States, signed by the Pilgrims in 1620.

Roanoke

The "Lost Colony," significant as England's first, albeit failed, attempt at colonization in North America.

Lesson 3: Creating Anglo-America

Mercantilism & Navigation Acts: Describe the mercantile system. How did the Navigation Acts of 1660 and 1663 attempt to implement this system, and what was their impact?

An economic theory where the government regulates the economy to increase national wealth and power. The Navigation Acts required colonial goods to be shipped on English ships and that valuable "enumerated goods" (like sugar and tobacco) be sold only in English ports, enriching the mother country.

Control of New Netherland: How did England gain control of the Dutch colony of New Netherland in 1664?

The English fleet sailed into New Amsterdam's harbor in 1664 and took the colony without a fight, as the Dutch colonists were unwilling to resist. It was renamed New York.

William Penn's "Holy Experiment": Who were the Society of Friends (Quakers), and what was William Penn's vision for a "Holy Experiment" in Pennsylvania?

The Quakers were a radical Protestant sect that believed in inner light, equality, and pacifism. William Penn, a Quaker, envisioned Pennsylvania as a "Holy Experiment," a colony founded on religious freedom and peaceful coexistence with Native Americans.

Founding of Carolina: What was the "Barbadian connection" in the founding of the Carolina colony?

Early settlers came from the sugar-producing island of Barbados and brought a harsh system of slavery with them, establishing a slave-based plantation economy in Carolina.

Settlement of Georgia: What were the two primary reasons for the founding of the Georgia colony in 1733?

It was founded as a buffer colony to protect South Carolina from the Spanish in Florida, and as a philanthropic experiment for the "worthy poor" (imprisoned debtors) of England to have a new start.

Emergence of Slavery: Discuss the key factors that led to the emergence and growth of slavery in the North American colonies

Shift from indentured servitude to slavery was driven by a decline in English migrants, the need for a more stable and controllable labor force (especially after Bacon's Rebellion), and the availability of enslaved people through the Atlantic slave trade.

Bacon's Rebellion: What were the primary social and political reasons for Bacon's Rebellion in 1676?

Caused by the discontent of landless former indentured servants on the frontier who were angry with Governor Berkeley's friendly policies toward Native Americans (which protected his fur trade interests) and their lack of political power.

King Philip's War: What were the main causes and the ultimate outcome of King Philip's War?

Caused by colonial encroachment on native lands. It was the bloodiest conflict of the 17th century in New England, resulting in a devastating defeat for the region's Native Americans and opening up more land for English settlement.

Glorious Revolution in the Bay Colony: How did the Glorious Revolution in England (1688) specifically impact the Dominion of New England and the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

News of the revolution sparked a rebellion in Boston, leading to the overthrow and jailing of Governor Edmund Andros and the collapse of the unpopular Dominion of New England.

Salem Witchcraft Hysteria: What were the underlying social and economic causes of the Salem witchcraft hysteria of 1692?

Church factionalism, economic jealousy, misogyny, and fear of Native American attack

Glorious Revolution in NY & MD: Who were the respective leaders (Jacob Leisler and John Coode) associated with the rebellions in New York and Maryland following the Glorious Revolution?

Jacob Leisler led a rebellion in New York, and John Coode led a Protestant uprising in Maryland.

Nathaniel Bacon

Leader of the 1676 rebellion in Virginia against Governor Berkeley.

King Philip (Metacom)

The Wampanoag leader who led the Native American uprising in King Philip's War.

Walking Purchase

A fraudulent 1737 land deal in which Pennsylvania colonists cheated the Delaware Indians out of a vast amount of land.

Dominion of New England

A super-colony created by King James II, combining all the New England colonies (and later NY and NJ) under one governor to tighten royal control.

Salem witch trials

A series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts, resulting in 20 executions.

Lesson 4: Eighteenth-Century American Colonies

Leading Immigrant Groups: Besides the English, who were the two largest groups of non-English immigrants to the American colonies in the 18th century?

Germans and Scotch-Irish, and Africans

Regional Differences in Slavery: Compare and contrast the nature of slavery in the Chesapeake region with that of the Lower South (South Carolina and Georgia).

In the Chesapeake, slavery was based on tobacco and involved smaller plantations. In the Lower South, it was based on rice and indigo cultivation on large, brutal plantations where slaves were a majority and had less interaction with whites, allowing for more retention of African culture.

The Enlightenment in America: What was the Enlightenment? How did its ideas influence America, and how did Benjamin Franklin personify its principles?

An 18th-century intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights. Benjamin Franklin embodied this through his scientific experiments, inventions, and civic-minded projects.

The Great Awakening: What was the Great Awakening, and who were some of its most recognized leaders (e.g., Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield)?

A series of religious revivals that swept the colonies. Its leaders included Jonathan Edwards ("Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God") and the charismatic English evangelist George Whitefield.

Start of the French and Indian War: What conflict over the Ohio Valley marked the beginning of the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War)?

The war began when a Virginian force led by a young George Washington was sent to the Ohio Valley to challenge French expansion and was defeated at Fort Necessity.

Outcome of the Seven Years' War: What was the major outcome of the war for France, and what were the key terms of the Treaty of Paris (1763)?

France was expelled from North America. The Treaty of Paris (1763) gave Canada and all French territory east of the Mississippi River to Britain, and Florida to Britain from Spain.

Middle Passage

The horrific sea journey for enslaved Africans from Africa to the New World, part of the triangular trade.

Stono Rebellion

The largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies, which occurred in South Carolina in 1739.

Braddock's Defeat

A disastrous 1755 defeat of a large British force led by General Edward Braddock near Fort Duquesne, which demonstrated that regular British army tactics were not effective in the American wilderness.