Us history

Chapter 1: Native Americans and Europeans

• First people arrived in North America 15,000 to 60,000 years ago.
• They crossed a land bridge between Russia and Alaska.
• Native Americans developed agriculture.
• The “Three Sisters” were corn, squash, and beans.
• Native American groups had different languages, cultures, and governments.
• Families usually did not personally own land.
• Women had important roles in Native American societies.
• Spanish explorers wanted God, glory, and wealth.
• Bartolomé de Las Casas criticized the Spanish treatment of Native Americans.
• French colonists focused on the fur trade and worked with Native Americans.

Chapter notes.pdf

Chapter 2: English Colonies

• English colonization began under Queen Elizabeth in 1585.
• Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement, founded in 1607.
• Jamestown had poor soil and unhealthy water.
• Many colonists died from disease and starvation.
• Tobacco became Virginia’s main profitable crop.
• Indentured servants worked for several years in exchange for passage to America.
• The first Africans arrived in Virginia in 1619.
• Tobacco increased the demand for enslaved labor.

Chapter notes.pdf

Chapter 3: The Colonies

New England Colonies
• Rocky soil and cold winters.
• Fishing, shipbuilding, whaling, and trade were important.

Middle Colonies
• Fertile soil and good rivers.
• Known as the “Breadbasket Colonies.”
• Grew lots of grain.
• New York and Philadelphia were major ports.

Southern Colonies
• Warm climate and long growing seasons.
• Grew tobacco, rice, and indigo.
• Relied heavily on enslaved labor.

Chapter notes.pdf

Important Events

• King Philip’s War: Fighting between Native Americans and colonists.
• Quakers: Believed in individual religious beliefs and nonviolence.
• Salem Witch Trials: Many people were accused of witchcraft, especially women.
• Appalachian Mountains made moving west difficult.
• Navigation Acts: Colonists had to follow British trade rules.
• Bacon’s Rebellion: Poor Virginia settlers rebelled against the government.
• Pueblo Revolt: Pueblo people rebelled against Spanish control.

Chapter 4: Slavery and Empire

• Triangular Trade connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
• The Middle Passage was the journey of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic.
• Many enslaved people died during the voyage.
• Southern colonies became heavily dependent on enslaved labor.
• Britain, France, and Spain fought for control of North America.
• The French and Indian War lasted from 1754 to 1763.
• Britain won, but the war left Britain with a lot of debt.
• Britain began taxing the colonies more, which helped lead to the American Revolution.