8th Grade US History Unit 1 Study Guide: The 13 Colonies

Page 1: Jamestown vs. Plymouth

• Jamestown (1607)

  • Founded in Virginia by the Virginia Company for economic reasons (seeking gold and profits).

  • Economy: Based on tobacco cultivation using indentured servants and, later, enslaved Africans.

  • Challenges: Initially struggled with food shortages and relations with Native Americans.

  • Government: Established the first representative assembly, the House of Burgesses in 1619.

• Plymouth (1620)

  • Founded in Massachusetts by Pilgrims (Separatists) seeking religious freedom.

  • Economy: Based on small farming, fishing, and trading.

  • Government: Created the Mayflower Compact, an early form of self-government.

  • Relations: Developed cooperative relationships with local Native Americans, such as the Wampanoag.

Page 1: Comparison of the Three Colonial Regions

• New England Colonies (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire)

  • Economy: Based on fishing, shipbuilding, trade, and small-scale subsistence farming.

  • Climate: Cold winters, rocky soil; less suitable for large-scale farming.

  • Religion: Dominated by Puritanism (except Rhode Island, which had religious freedom).

  • Education: Important due to religious values.

• Middle Colonies (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware)

  • Economy: Known as the “breadbasket colonies” for grain production; also involved in trade and manufacturing.

  • Climate: Fertile soil and mild climate.

  • Religion: Diverse religious practices, including Quakers in Pennsylvania, who emphasized equality.

  • Diversity: More religious and ethnic diversity compared to New England.

• Southern Colonies (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia)

  • Economy: Depended heavily on plantation agriculture, growing cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo.

  • Climate: Fertile soil, warm climate with a long growing season.

  • Society: Strong reliance on slave labor and a hierarchical social structure.

  • Religion: Generally less emphasis on religion, with the Anglican Church dominant but less strict.

Page 2: Slavery in the Colonies

• Origins: Slavery in the colonies began in Virginia in 1619, when the first African slaves arrived.

• Triangular Trade: Trade route involving the exchange of goods between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

• Growth of Slavery: Expanded especially in the Southern Colonies, where plantation economies needed large labor forces to grow cash crops.

• Middle Passage: The transatlantic slave trade brought enslaved Africans to the Americas under brutal conditions.

• Regional Differences:

  • In the Southern Colonies, slavery was crucial to the economy due to large plantations.

  • In the New England and Middle Colonies, slavery existed but was less central to the economy, with more small farms and businesses relying on wage labor or indentured servants.

• Slave Codes: Harsh laws established to control enslaved populations, particularly in the South.

Page 2: Religious and Political Life

• Religious Freedom:

  • New England: Puritans sought to create a religiously pure society, with little tolerance for dissent (except in places like Rhode Island).

  • Middle Colonies: Known for religious pluralism, welcoming Quakers, Catholics, Jews, and other groups.

  • Southern Colonies: Religion was less dominant, though the Anglican Church was the official church in many colonies.

• Political Life:

  • Self-Government: Early colonial governments like the House of Burgesses (Virginia) and the Mayflower Compact (Plymouth) were steps toward self-rule.

  • Local Governance: Town Meetings in New England allowed for local decision-making, while the Southern Colonies had county-based governments with a strong aristocratic influence.

  • The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s): A religious revival that spread through the colonies, emphasizing personal faith and equality before God, encouraging ideas of democracy and challenging established authority.

Page 3: Key Terms to Know

• Indentured Servants: Workers who agreed to work for a certain number of years in exchange for passage to the colonies.

• Mayflower Compact: An early form of self-government in Plymouth.

• House of Burgesses: The first legislative assembly in the American colonies (Virginia).

• Puritans: A religious group that settled in New England, seeking to purify the Church of England.

• Quakers: A religious group in Pennsylvania known for their tolerance and equality.

• Cash Crops: Crops grown for profit, such as tobacco, rice, and indigo.

Page 3: Possible Test Questions

1. Compare and contrast the economies of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies.

2. How did religious beliefs influence the development of the colonies, especially in New England and the Middle Colonies?

3. Explain the importance of Jamestown and Plymouth in the early history of the colonies.

4. Discuss the role of slavery in the Southern Colonies and its impact on the economy.

5. How did early forms of government in the colonies, like the House of Burgesses and town meetings, lay the foundation for American democracy?

**Make sure to review key events, terms, and ideas as you prepare for the test