Early American History Comprehensive Review

Flashcards covering key concepts, events, and figures from early American history lectures, designed for exam preparation.

What does the Coastal Migration Theory propose about early human migration to the Americas?

It suggests that people migrated along the Pacific coast of North America, possibly using boats, settling coastal areas before moving inland.

Who was Hernán Cortés known for encountering and conquering in the Americas?

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador known for the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

What was a significant outcome of Christopher Columbus' voyages to the Americas from a European perspective?

Columbus' voyages initiated widespread European exploration, colonization, and the Columbian Exchange between the Old and New Worlds.

What were some key characteristics of the Algonquian-speaking peoples of North America?

They were culturally diverse, often engaged in hunting, fishing, and agriculture, and covered a vast geographic area from the Atlantic coast to the Great Lakes.

What distinguished the Iroquois Confederacy among Native American groups?

The Iroquois were known for their powerful political alliance (the Five/Six Nations), communal longhouses, and reliance on maize agriculture.

What were some notable characteristics of the Aztec civilization?

The Aztec built a vast empire with its capital Tenochtitlan, practiced complex polytheistic religion, and had a sophisticated tribute system.

What were characteristics of the Mississippian culture, particularly regarding their settlements?

They were known for constructing large ceremonial mounds, developing complex chiefdoms, and relying heavily on maize agriculture.

What were distinctive characteristics of the Anasazi people, also known as Ancestral Puebloans?

The Anasazi were known for their intricate cliff dwellings, pueblo structures, advanced pottery, and effective irrigation systems for farming.

How did the Protestant Reformation impact European exploration and colonization efforts in the New World?

It intensified rivalries among European nations (Catholic vs. Protestant), fueled religious motivations for seeking new lands, and inspired missionary zeal.

Who was Bartolomé de Las Casas and what was his significance regarding the treatment of Native Americans?

He was a Spanish Dominican friar and historian who advocated for ethical treatment of Native Americans and exposed Spanish atrocities.

What was John Calvin's major contribution to the Protestant Reformation that influenced some early American colonists?

Calvin developed Calvinism, emphasizing predestination and a strict moral code, which influenced Puritan settlers in New England.

What were the primary motivations for European exploration of the New World?

The primary motivations are often summarized as 'Gold, God, and Glory': seeking wealth, spreading Christianity, and gaining national prestige.

What was the Columbian Exchange?

It was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries.

What was the Pueblo Revolt and approximately when did it occur?

The Pueblo Revolt was a successful Native American uprising against Spanish colonizers in New Mexico in 1680.

Why was the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 significant for England's colonial ambitions?

It weakened Spanish naval power and paved the way for England to establish its own naval dominance, enabling future colonization attempts in North America.

What was the Encomienda system in Spanish colonies?

It was a labor system where Spanish conquerors were granted rights to demand labor and tribute from Native American populations within a specific territory.

What were the year of establishment, initial purpose, characteristics, and ultimate success of Jamestown?

Established in 1607, its initial purpose was profit seeking (gold). It was characterized by early struggles, starvation, and conflicts with Native Americans, but ultimately succeeded through tobacco cultivation.

Who was Pocahontas and what was her role in early Jamestown history?

Pocahontas was a Native American woman, daughter of Chief Powhatan, known for her interactions with John Smith and her role in mediating relations between the Powhatan Confederacy and English colonists.

What was John Smith's vital role in the early survival of Jamestown?

John Smith provided strong leadership, implemented a 'no work, no eat' policy, and established crucial trade relations with Native Americans, which were critical for the colony's survival.

Identify a prevalent religious sect/denomination and its primary location in the American colonies.

Puritans were prevalent in Massachusetts Bay Colony, Quakers in Pennsylvania, and Anglicans in the Southern colonies like Virginia.

What were slave codes and their primary purpose in the colonies?

Slave codes were laws enacted in the colonies to define the status of enslaved people as property and to control their behavior, primarily to maintain social order and enforce the institution of slavery.

What were key differences between the New England and Chesapeake regions in the 17th century?

New England was characterized by family farms, Puritan religious influence, and diverse economies, while the Chesapeake focused on large plantations, Anglicanism, and a labor system based initially on indentured servants and later slavery.

What was the Stono Rebellion and its significance?

The Stono Rebellion was a slave revolt in South Carolina in 1739, leading to the enactment of stricter slave codes throughout the colonies.

Who were indentured servants and what was their role in colonial labor?

Indentured servants were individuals who voluntarily exchanged a period of labor (typically 4-7 years) for passage to the New World, food, and shelter; they were a primary labor source in the early colonies.

What was Bacon’s Rebellion and what was its impact on colonial labor systems?

Bacon's Rebellion was an uprising in Virginia in 1676 of landless colonists and indentured servants against the colonial government, revealing class tensions and contributing to a shift from indentured servitude to chattel slavery.

What is the concept of Divine Right?

Divine Right is the belief that a monarch's authority to rule comes directly from God, making them answerable only to God.

What was the Headright system and how did it encourage colonization?

The Headright system granted 50 acres of land to settlers who paid for their own passage (or another person's) to the colonies, thereby encouraging migration and settlement, particularly in Virginia.

Who was Metacom (King Philip) and what conflict is he associated with?

Metacom was a Wampanoag leader who led a major Native American uprising against New England colonists known as King Philip's War (1675-1678).

What were the primary purposes or methods of establishing the British North American colonies?

British colonies were established for various reasons, including economic gain (Virginia Company), religious freedom (Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay), and as proprietary grants (Maryland, Pennsylvania).

Who was Jonathan Edwards and what religious movement is he associated with?

Jonathan Edwards was a prominent American theologian and minister, a key figure in the First Great Awakening, known for his fiery sermons like 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God'.

Who was Roger Williams and why was he expelled from Massachusetts Bay Colony?

Roger Williams was a Puritan minister who advocated for religious freedom and the separation of church and state, leading to his expulsion from Massachusetts Bay Colony and his founding of Rhode Island.

What was the Virginia Company and its role in early English colonization?

The Virginia Company was a joint-stock company chartered by King James I to establish colonies in North America, most famously Jamestown, with the primary goal of making a profit.

What was the Glorious Revolution and why was it significant in England and the colonies?

The Glorious Revolution (1688) was the bloodless overthrow of King James II, which established parliamentary supremacy in England and influenced colonial governance by promoting ideas of liberty and representative government.

What were the Salem witch trials and what factors contributed to them?

The Salem witch trials (1692-1693) were a series of legal persecutions where individuals were accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts, fueled by religious hysteria, social tensions, and economic anxieties.

What is mercantilism and how did it shape colonial economic policies?

Mercantilism was an economic theory emphasizing that nations should maximize exports and accumulate wealth, leading Britain to enact policies (e.g., Navigation Acts) that restricted colonial trade to benefit the mother country.

What was Pontiac’s Rebellion and what prompted it?

Pontiac's Rebellion was a Native American uprising (1763) against British expansion and policies in the Great Lakes region after the French and Indian War, prompted by British encroachment on tribal lands and harsh trade practices.

What significant documents or roles is Thomas Jefferson known for in early American history?

Thomas Jefferson is known for authoring the Declaration of Independence, serving as the third U.S. President, and orchestrating the Louisiana Purchase.

What were the Grenville Acts and why were they significant in escalating colonial tensions?

The Grenville Acts (e.g., Sugar Act, Stamp Act) were a series of revenue-raising measures imposed by Prime Minister George Grenville on the colonies, escalating tensions by sparking protests over 'taxation without representation.'

What was the primary cause that started the French & Indian War (Seven Years' War)?

The war began due to conflicting territorial claims between Britain and France over the Ohio River Valley, leading to a struggle for control of North America.

Who were the Paxton Boys and what was their grievance?

The Paxton Boys were a group of Scotch-Irish frontiersmen in Pennsylvania who massacred innocent Native Americans in 1763, seeking better protection from Native American raids and protesting colonial government's perceived inaction.

How did the French primarily establish their North American empire?

The French primarily established their empire through the fur trade, forging alliances with Native American tribes, and establishing a network of trading posts and forts along major rivers and lakes.

How did the Spanish primarily establish their North American empire?

The Spanish established their empire through military conquest (conquistadores), establishing missions to convert Native Americans, and controlling labor through systems like the encomienda system, focusing on extracting resources.

What was the Gaspée Incident and its significance?

The Gaspée Incident (1772) involved colonists burning a grounded British customs schooner in Rhode Island, signaling growing colonial defiance against British authority and revenue laws.

What was the Boston Massacre and its impact on colonial sentiment?

The Boston Massacre (1770) was an incident where British soldiers fired on a crowd of Bostonians, killing five; it became a powerful propaganda tool that inflamed anti-British sentiment.

Who was Sir Edmund Andros and why was he unpopular in the colonies?

Sir Edmund Andros was the English governor of the Dominion of New England, who was unpopular due to his autocratic rule, attempts to enforce Navigation Acts, and revocation of colonial land titles and assemblies.

What was the Boston Tea Party and why did it occur?

The Boston Tea Party (1773) was an act of political protest where American colonists, disguised as Native Americans, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act and 'taxation without representation'.

What was Lord Dunmore's significant action during the early American Revolution?

Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, issued a proclamation in 1775 offering freedom to enslaved people who joined the British army to fight against the Patriots.

What were some major struggles faced by the Patriot army during the American Revolution?

Major struggles included chronic shortages of supplies, food, and clothing; prevalence of disease; lack of consistent pay; and frequent desertion.

Why is Valley Forge significant in the context of the American Revolutionary War?

Valley Forge was the site of the Continental Army's harsh winter encampment (1777-1778), where thousands died from disease and exposure, but the army emerged more disciplined after training by Baron von Steuben.

What was the British Southern Strategy during the American Revolution?

The British Southern Strategy was a plan in the latter part of the war to shift fighting to the southern colonies, where they believed Loyalist support was stronger, to regain control from the bottom up.

What is republicanism and how did it influence early American political thought?

Republicanism is a political ideology emphasizing civic virtue, public service, and the common good, influencing early American thought by promoting the idea of self-governance and liberty over monarchy.

What was the significance of the Battle of Great Meadows/Fort Necessity?

It was one of the first engagements of the French and Indian War (1754), marking George Washington's first military command and a retreat for the British.

What was the significance of the Battles of Lexington and Concord?

These battles (April 1775) are considered the 'shot heard 'round the world,' marking the open outbreak of armed conflict in the American Revolutionary War.

What was the significance of the Battle of Bunker Hill?

During the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 1775), the militiamen inflicted heavy casualties on the British, demonstrating that the Patriot forces could stand up to the British army, despite a tactical British victory.

What was the significance of the Battle of Trenton?

The Battle of Trenton (December 1776) was a crucial victory for George Washington's Continental Army, boosting American morale and re-enlistments after a series of defeats.

Why was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point in the American Revolutionary War?

The Battle of Saratoga (1777) was a decisive American victory that convinced France to formally ally with the United States, providing crucial military and financial support.

What was the significance of the Battle of Yorktown?

The Battle of Yorktown (1781) was the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War, where a combined American and French force forced the surrender of General Cornwallis, effectively ending the war.

What was the outcome and significance of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse?

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse (1781) was a British tactical victory but a strategic defeat, as the high British casualties severely weakened Cornwallis's army in the Southern campaign.

What was the significance of the Battle of King’s Mountain?

The Battle of King's Mountain (1780) was a crucial Patriot victory in the Southern campaign, fought primarily between Patriot and Loyalist militias, significantly crippling the Loyalist forces.

Which European powers began populating North America first, and which followed, approximately when?

Spain began populating North America first (late 15th/early 16th century), followed by England, France, and the Netherlands in the early 17th century.