2 When is Thanksgiving? Colonizing America

A set of flashcards summarizing key concepts from a Crash Course lecture on the early English colonies in America.

What motivated the first English settlers in Jamestown, Virginia?

They wanted to get rich, not seek religious freedom.

What was the first permanent English colony in the Americas?

Jamestown, Virginia, established in 1607.

What led to the high mortality rates among the early Jamestown colonists?

Many colonists preferred gold-seeking to farming, leading to starvation.

What was the headright system?

A recruitment strategy that offered 50 acres of land for each person a settler paid to bring over.

What crop became highly profitable for Virginia growers in the 17th century?

Tobacco.

What significant event in 1619 marked the beginning of African slavery in Virginia?

The arrival of the first shipment of African slaves.

What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?

It was the first written framework for government in the US, created by the Pilgrims.

Who helped the Pilgrims survive their first winter in Massachusetts?

Squanto and the local Indians.

What type of government did the Massachusetts Bay Colony have compared to Virginia?

Greater autonomy and self-government, as its board relocated to America.

What famous sermon by John Winthrop speaks of America as a 'city upon a hill'?

A Model of Christian Charity.

What was the primary occupation of early settlers in Virginia?

Most were servants, especially indentured servants.

What social structure developed in Virginia due to tobacco cultivation?

A small class of wealthy landowners above a mass of servants.

Who were the Congregationalists?

Puritans who believed that congregations should determine leadership and worship without bishops.

What were the differences between Pilgrims and Puritans regarding the Church of England?

Pilgrims wanted to completely separate from the Church, while Puritans sought to reform it.

What happened to Roger Williams and Ann Hutchinson due to their beliefs?

Both were banished from Massachusetts for advocating for religious freedom and differing church practices.

How did Puritan values influence literacy in Massachusetts?

Puritans wanted everyone to read the Bible, leading to a strong emphasis on literacy.

What historical tension does the lecture point out about America's founding myths?

The tension between the myth of religious freedom and the historical motives of money and indigenous contributions.