Chapter 2: English colonization/Indian conflict

Flashcards covering key concepts, events, and terms from AP U.S. History Chapter 2: American Experiments, 1521-1700.

What were the three regions involved in the Columbian Exchange and what did each contribute?

Europe: markets, capital, technology; Africa: labor; Americas: raw materials such as metals.

According to the notes, what fraction of the world’s crops originated in the Americas?

3/5 of the crops cultivated around the world today originated in the Americas.

What impact did the Columbian Exchange crops have on Europe’s population?

Crops brought back to Europe stimulated a European population boom.

How did the Taino population on Hispaniola change within about 50 years of Spanish contact?

It declined from about 1,000,000 to around 200 due to diseases.

What percentage of Indians is estimated to have died from European diseases in the centuries after Columbus?

As much as 90%.

What term describes the mixed ancestry resulting from European men and Native women in the early Americas?

Mestizo.

List the three broad reasons England sought to colonize the Americas as given in the notes.

Economic (mercantilism/raw materials); Religious (dissenting Protestants); Social/Political (enclosure, adventure, political freedom, weaken Spain by establishing outposts).

What major event in 1588 allowed Britain to plant colonies in America?

The defeat of the Spanish Armada, which gave Britain naval supremacy.

What is Roanoke, and what happened to the colony?

An early English settlement attempt on Roanoke Island; it vanished mysteriously; theories include absorption into Indian cultures, starvation, cannibalism, or Spanish destruction.

Who led the Jamestown settlement and is famous for establishing relations with the Powhatan?

Captain John Smith.

Which Native American Confederacy dominated the Jamestown region?

Powhatan Confederacy.

During the Starving Time (1609-1610), how many of the original 104 colonists survived by spring 1610?

60 survived.

Which individual played a pivotal role in Jamestown’s prosperity by introducing a cash crop?

John Rolfe, who introduced tobacco.

How did tobacco production in Virginia change from 1618 to 1629?

It rose from about 20,000 pounds in 1618 to about 1,500,000 pounds by 1629.

What is the Headright System?

It granted 50 acres of land for each person whose passage an colonist paid.

What were indentured servants bound to, and what did they receive after their term?

A 5–7 year contract; after the term, they received 'freedom dues' such as land and supplies.

In the 1660s, how was the status of a child born to a slave determined, and what does this imply about slavery?

By the mother’s status (the child would be enslaved if the mother was a slave).

What is the primary difference between indentured servants and slaves in early Virginia?

Indentured servants were bound for a set term and could gain freedom; slaves were not free and could be bought or sold.

Who were the Pilgrims and where did they settle in 1620?

Separatists who settled Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Who were the Puritans and where did they establish their colony?

Puritans who established the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

What is the Mayflower Compact and when was it signed?

The first written framework of government in what is now the United States, signed on November 11, 1620 by 41 colonists.

What key phrase described Massachusetts Bay Colony’s vision under John Winthrop, and what did it mean?

'A city upon a hill'—a model or moral example for others.

What act established the first public schools in America and what was its purpose?

The Old Deluder Act of 1647; created public schools so children could read the Bible and combat Satan.

When was Harvard College established, and what was its significance to New England society?

Established in 1636; part of the emphasis on education in Puritan New England.

What two major early colonial religious groups faced division in Massachusetts, and what distinguished them?

Pilgrims (Separatists) vs. Puritans (reformers who did not fully separate from the Church of England).

What were the Puritans’ practice regarding civil office and church membership in Massachusetts Bay Colony?

No ministers in civil office; only church members could vote.

In what year did the Salem Witch Trials occur in Massachusetts?

1692.

Who founded Rhode Island and what was its church policy?

Roger Williams; separation of church and state; no legally established church.

Name two major Indian wars in New England during the 17th century.

Puritan-Pequot War (1636) and Metacom’s War/King Philip’s War (1675-1676).

What contributed to New England being the most productive region, according to the notes?

Tough soil that fostered a strong work ethic, diversified agriculture, and reliance on trade/industry rather than slave labor.

What industries anchored New England’s economy besides farming?

Shipbuilding and commerce (trade) and Yankee ingenuity.

What does Mercantilism refer to in the context of English colonization?

An economic theory that colonies exist to supply raw materials to the mother country and to serve as a market for manufactured goods.

Which Native American confederacy is mentioned in the notes as a colonial power rival?

Iroquois Confederacy.

How did the 1622 Indian War affect Jamestown’s governance and status?

1/3 of the Jamestown population killed; the charter was revoked; Jamestown became a royal colony in 1624 and colonists paid taxes to support the Church of England.

What is Bacon's Rebellion and why is it significant?

1676 revolt led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkeley due to taxes and Native American attacks; it showed tensions between rich and poor and foreshadowed conflicts over labor.