8th Grade S.S. Chapters 4-6

Subsistence farming

is growing food for personal use, not for selling.

Triangular trade

Place for people to trade: Europe to Africa for slaves, Africa to Americas for labor, Americas to Europe for goods.

Cash crop

is a crop grown primarily for sale and profit rather than for personal consumption.

Surplus

refers to an excess or extra amount of something beyond what is needed or used.

Slave code

were laws in colonial America that restricted the rights and freedoms of enslaved people.

Export

refers to the act of selling and sending goods or services from one country to another, often for trade or economic purposes.

Import

refers to the process of bringing goods or services into one country from another for consumption or sale.

The Navigation Acts

regulated colonial trade to benefit England, limiting commerce with other nations.

The Enlightenment

Intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights, challenging traditional authority.

Militia

refers to a civilian military force, often composed of volunteers, serving in a local or national defense capacity.

George Washington

was the first President of the United States and a Founding Father of the nation.

Albany Plan of Union

was a proposal in 1754 to create a unified government among American colonies.

Resolution

is a formal decision or commitment made to address a specific issue or problem.

Boycott

is a collective refusal to engage with a person, organization, or product as a form of protest or disagreement.

Patrick Henry

was a prominent American Founding Father known for his fiery speeches advocating for American independence.

Samuel Adams

was a key figure in the American Revolution, known for his leadership and involvement in colonial independence efforts.

Sugar Act

was a British law in 1764 that imposed taxes on sugar and other goods in the American colonies.

Proclamation of 1763

was a British decree that prohibited American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Stamp Act

was a British law in 1765 that imposed taxes on printed materials in the American colonies.

The Townshend Acts

The Townshend Acts were British laws in 1767 that imposed taxes on various imported goods in the American colonies.

Propaganda

Information or media designed to influence public opinion or promote a specific agenda.

The Boston Massacre

A 1770 conflict in Boston where British troops killed five colonists, escalating tensions.

Tea Act

British law in 1773 giving the British East India Company a tea monopoly in the colonies.

Boston Tea Party

1773 protest in which American colonists, disguised as Native Americans, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.

The Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

Punitive British laws in 1774 meant to control Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party.

Continental Congress

A representative assembly of American colonies, which convened to address grievances against British rule.

Minutemen

Colonial militia ready to mobilize quickly during the American Revolution.

Lexington and Concord

The first battles of the American Revolution in 1775.

Bunker Hill

A significant battle during the American Revolution in 1775, even though it occurred on Breed's Hill.

Continental Army

The unified American military force during the American Revolution.

Olive Branch Petition

A peace proposal sent to King George III in 1775 as a final attempt to avoid war.

Declaration of Independence

A 1776 document that proclaimed the American colonies' independence from Britain.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution.

Patriots

Colonists who supported the American cause for independence during the American Revolution.

General John Burgoyne

A British general known for his surrender at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.

Smallpox Inoculation

A medical practice to prevent smallpox by introducing a weakened form of the virus.

Winter at Valley Forge

A harsh winter encampment of the Continental Army in 1777-1778.

Guerrilla Warfare

Irregular military tactics, such as ambushes and hit-and-run attacks.

Battle of Yorktown

The decisive battle in 1781 leading to British surrender and the end of the Revolutionary War.

Treaty of Paris 1783

The agreement that formally ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.

What was the primary economic activity in the New England colonies?

Farming

What were the important industries in the New England colonies besides farming?

Shipbuilding and fishing were important in the New England colonies, alongside farming.

How did coastal cities in New England contribute to the region's economy?

Coastal cities in New England served as centers of trade.

What was the triangular trade route, and how did it connect American and European goods with West Africa and enslaved Africans?

______ linked three continents, with American and European goods being shipped to West Africa and traded for enslaved Africans, who were then sold in American ports.

What were the main economic activities in the Middle Colonies, and why did they differ from those in New England?

The Middle Colonies had more fertile soil and milder climate conditions compared to New England, and their economies depended on the sale of cash crops.

What were the key cash crops cultivated in the Middle Colonies, and how did they contribute to the economy?

Wheat and Corn

How did the economy of the Southern Colonies differ from that of the Middle and New England Colonies?

The Southern Colonies had little industry, and their economy was primarily based on cash crops such as tobacco and rice

What role did enslaved Africans play in the economic success of the Southern Colonies?

____ worked on plantations in the South's Tidewater region, and their labor was essential to the economic success of the Southern Colonies.

What were the primary cash crops in the Southern Colonies, and how were they cultivated?

The main cash crops in the Southern Colonies were tobacco and rice, cultivated through large-scale plantation agriculture.

How did slavery impact the Southern Colonies' economic structure and development?

Slavery played a significant role in shaping the economic structure and development of the Southern Colonies.

How did England view its North American colonies in terms of economic resources?

England viewed its North American colonies primarily as economic resources.

What were the Navigation Acts, and what was their purpose in relation to colonial trade?

____ were a series of laws passed by England to prevent colonists from trading with other countries and to ensure that ____ was conducted through English-controlled channels.

How did English colonists feel about the imposed restrictions of the Navigation Acts?

_____ grew to resent the imposed restrictions of the Navigation Acts as they believed in limited and representative government and felt that these acts infringed upon their economic freedom.

What forms of self-government did the colonies establish as they grew?

charter, proprietary, and royal governments

What were the three main types of colonial government structures?

Charter governments, proprietary governments, and royal governments.

What values and aspects of culture began to develop in American society during this period?

Education, religion, family life, scientific curiosity, and a free press.

Name some of the values that were embraced in the emerging American culture.

Education, religion, family life, scientific curiosity, and the importance of a free press.

Why did American colonists place importance on education, religion, family life, and scientific curiosity?

Because they believed these values were essential for personal and societal growth and prosperity.

What role did a free press play in the development of American culture during this time?

A free press played a crucial role in disseminating information, fostering public debate.

How did the belief in limited and representative government contribute to the colonists' resentment of imposed restrictions?

Colonists wanted more say; restrictions felt unjust.

What was the broader global context of the French and Indian War?

Global power struggle, European empires, alliances, territorial disputes.

What geographical region were Great Britain and France both interested in controlling during this period?

Ohio River Valley, North American frontier.

Who led British troops during the early stages of the war, and what was the outcome of their encounters with Native Americans?

General Edward Braddock, Native American resistance, British defeat.

How did British Prime Minister William Pitt contribute to the colonists' war effort?

Pitt funded colonies, boosted morale.

What were the key events that marked the end of the French and Indian War?

Treaty of Paris, 1763, ended war.

What territories did France cede to Great Britain in the Treaty of Paris?

France ceded Canada, land east of Mississippi.

How did the treaty affect the Native American allies of the French?

Native allies lost land, influence.

Who was Pontiac, and what role did he play in the aftermath of the war?

Pontiac led post-war Native resistance.

What was the outcome of the Native American forces' fight against the British?

Natives faced British military suppression.

Why did the British issue the Proclamation of 1763, and what was its primary directive?

Proclamation of 1763: limit westward expansion.

What event led to the Boston Massacre in 1770?

Growing tensions and a confrontation.

Who urged colonists to express grievances through writings in 1770?

Samuel Adams.

What did the Tea Act of 1773 allow the British East India Company to do?

Ship tea with reduced taxes.

What were the Coercive Acts designed to do?

Punish Massachusetts and limit rights.

What was the colonial response to the Tea Act?

Boston Tea Party.

What did the Continental Congress call on people to do?

Arm themselves and form militias.

How did colonial minutemen contribute to the early conflicts?

Gave advance warning to militias.

Where were the first conflicts in 1775?

Lexington and Concord.

What was a significant battle after Lexington and Concord?

Battle of Bunker Hill.

What was the stance of many Americans during the rebellion?

Loyal to Great Britain, opposed rebellion.

Who was chosen as the commander of the Continental Army?

George Washington.

What was the purpose of the Olive Branch Petition?

To avoid war with Britain.

How did King George III respond to the petition?

He refused it.

In what year did Washington's troops force the redcoats out of Boston?

1776.

Where did the British forces retreat to?

Canada

When was the Declaration of Independence approved by Congress?

July 4, 1776.

What were Britain's advantages during the American War for Independence?

Strong navy and army.

What was one of Britain's disadvantages during the war?

Fighting far from home.

What did the American forces lack during the war?

Experience, weapons, money, and loyalist support.

What advantage did the Patriots believe they had?

Fervent desire for freedom.

In which battle were the Patriots defeated in 1776?

Battle of Long Island.

What victories did Washington achieve in the winter of 1776?

Trenton and Princeton.

What British plan was foiled at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777?

The plan to control the Hudson River and separate New England from the Middle Colonies.

What event led France to openly support the Americans during the war?

The victory at Saratoga.

How did France support the American cause?

With money, equipment, troops, and a declaration of war on Britain.

Where did Washington and his troops endure a harsh winter?

Valley Forge.

What was the significance of the French-American alliance for the American cause?

It brought much-needed support and resources.

How did the Patriots finance their war for independence?

By printing paper money.

What was the consequence of printing large amounts of paper money?

Inflation and loss of value.

In addition to financing difficulties, how did the war impact Americans?

It led to questions about the roles of women and slavery.