A Comprehensive History of the United States: From the Bering Strait Migration to the American Revolution
Chapter 1
- When did the Bering Strait migration occur?
A:
- Who were the Olmecs?
A: The Olmec were the first major civilization in what is now Mexico and much of Central America
- Where was Cahokia located?
A: Its located near present-day St. Louis, Missouri
- what did Europeans know about the Americas prior to the 15th century?
A: They were almost entirely unaware of the existence of the Americas before the fifteenth century.
- Describe Columbus’ knowledge of the world prior to sailing.
A: Columbus thought the world was far smaller than it actually is. He also believed he could reach East Asia by sailing west, across the Atlantic, rather than east, around Africa.
- where did Columbus think he landed in 1492?
A: He sighted land and assumed he had reached an island off Asia.
- Where did the name Indians come from?
A: Although Columbus’ mistake was soon recognized, the name stuck; for centuries the native people of the Americas were collectively called “Indians”. This misnomer was perpetuated in place naming; the islands of the Caribbean were named, and are still known as, the West Indies
- How was Cortes able to defeat the Aztec empire?
A: Because the technology he possessed made the Aztecs believe he was god.
- What spurred England to start colonization?
A: Interest Colonization grew in part as a response to social and economic problems in sixteenth century England.
- who was Martin Luther?
A: Martin Luther forever changed Christianity when he began the protestant reformation in 16th century Europe.
- Who was John Calvin?
A: John Calvin is the preeminent Protestant theologian, made a powerful impact on the fundamental doctrines of Protestantism.
- what caused the English Reformation?
A: King Henry VIII of England, angered by refusal of the pope to grant him a divorce from his Spanish wife, broke England’s ties with Catholic Church and established himself as the head of the Christian faith in his country.
- what was the first permeant English settlement in the New World?
A: The first permanent English settlement in the New World was established at Jamestown, in Virginia, in 1607.
- Why was the site of Jamestown Selected?
It was selected because there was A disease ridden, bug-infested swamp with bad water.
- Virginia was named after whom?
A: Virginia named after Elizabeth the first.
Chapter 2
- Who was John Smith?
A: John Smith is a famous world traveler. He imposed work and order on the community, created a shaky relationship with natives.
- What was the starving time?
A: Winter of 1609-1610 when about three quarters of English colonists in Virginia died of starvation.
- What led to the first economic boom in Jamestown?
A: The production of tobacco
- What was the headright system?
A: it was used as a way to attract new settlers to the region and address the labor shortage
- Describe the first Africans brought to Virginia?
A: it’s not clear if the Africans are considered slaves or indentured servants. An indentured servant
Would be required to work a set amount of time, then granted freedom.
- What was the Virginia House of Burgesses?
A: Virginia house of burgesses was the first democratically elected legislative body in the British American colonies.
- Who was John Rolfe?
A: John was one of the early English settlers of North America. He is credited with first successful cultivation of tobacco as an export crop in the Colony of Virginia.
- Why did the puritans describe their colony as a “city upon a hill”?
A: Because they believed they were founding a holy commonwealth.
- Describe the establishment of Rhode Island?
A: Rhode Island was a result of the religious and political dissent of Roger Williams.
- Who was Ann Hutchinson?
A: Ann Hutchinson was a Puritan spiritual adviser, mother of 15, and an important participant in the Antinomian Controversy.
11.Why was Maryland founded?
A: it was founded by lord Biltmore, because he had attempted to settle in Virginia and was rejected for being a Catholic.
12.
A:
13.Why was Georgia founded?
A: it was founded by James Oglethorpe for relief for poor English and as a buffer between Spanish Florida and The Carolinas.
14.What was the Dominion of New England?
A: The Dominion of New England was a territory comprised of northeastern American colonies, formed in 1686 by King James ll.
Chapter 3
1.What was the middle passage?
A: The middle passage was the crossing from Africa to the Americas which the ships made carrying their cargo of slaves.
2.Describe the triangle Trade?
A: a process by which merchants carried rum and other goods from New England to Africa, exchange their merchants for slaves.
3.Describe slavery in colonial America.
A:
4.What was the Stono Rebellion?
A: Stono Rebellion was a slave rebellion that began in 9 September 1739, in the colony of South Carolina. It was the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies.
5.How were Jews treated in the English Colonies?
A: They were treated bad because nowhere could they vote or hold office. Only in Rhode Island could they practice their religion openly.
6.What is Primogeniture?
A: British law and custom where the firstborn son inherits the family’s entire estate. It led many younger sons of gentry to seek their fortunes in exploration and colonization.
7.Who was George Whitefield?
A: a powerful open preacher from England, made several evangelizing tours through the colonies and drew tremendous crowds.
8.What ideas did the Enlightenment suggest?
A: Enlightenment ideas was encouraged men and women to look to themselves and their own intellect no just to God for guidance as to know how to live their lives and shape their society.
9.What was the first college in the Colonies?
A: Harvard the first college in the Colonies.
Chapter 4
- What was the Albany Plan?
A: Albany plan of union was a plan to create a unified government for the Thirteen colonies.
- Who led the colonial forces at Fort Necessity?
A: Gorge Washington led troops at Fort Necessity.
- How did George Grenville view tax policies toward the colonies?
A: He shared the prevailing opinion within Brittan that the colonist should be compelled to pay a a part of the cost of defending and administering the empire.
- How did the colonists respond to the Stamp Act and how did the British respond?
A: They argued in letters and articles, refused to buy stamps, and attacked tax collectors. The British repealed the stamp act.
- What was the Tea Act?
A: The Tea Act passed by Parliament on May 10, 1773, would launch the final spark to the revolutionary movement in Boston.
- Who was Patrick Henry?
A: Spoke in House of Burgesses
Declared Virginian’s had the right to tax themselves as they alone saw fit, and said the Stamp Act was unconstitutional. Was cut off and accused of treason.
- Who was Sam Adams?
A: A political leader during the American Revolution, helped organize colonist to fight for Americas independence, also signed the declaration of independence.
- What was the Boston Massacre?
A: The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occurred on March 5, 1770, between a “patriot” mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and stick, and a squad of British soldiers.
Chapter 5
- What effect did the Coercive Acts have on Massachusetts in relation to the other colonies?
A:
- Who wrote common sense?
A.Thomas Paine
- Why was Financing the Revolution difficult for the Americans?
A: Hard currency was scarce
- Who wrote the Declaration of independence?
A: Thomas Jefferson
- What was the Battle of Bunker Hill?
A: the first important battle of the Revolutionary war, the British had their worst casualties during this war, but still to control of the hill.
- Describe the Battle of Trenton and Princeton.
A: Jan 2, 1777 George Washington, commander in chief of the continental army, repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Greek in Trenton that night he evacuated his position circled around general lord Cornwallis army and went attack the British garrison at Princeton.
A:
- What was significant about the Battle of Saratoga?
A: it was very important because it convinced the French to give the U.S. military support. It lifted American spirits ended the British threat in new England by taking control of the Hudson River.
- Describe the Battle of Yorktown.
A: Assault led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau against General Cornwallis. (1781)
- Describe the Treaty of Paris 1783.
A: its negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, ended the revolutionary was and recognized American independence.
- What was the first state to make slavery illegal?
A: The first state to make slavery illegal in the U.S. was Rhode Island.
- Describe the Article of Confederation?
A: The first constitution, was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781 during the revolution. The document was limited because states held most the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade.
- What was the impact of Shays’s Rebellion?
A: Shays’ Rebellion was caused by the large amount of debt that farmers were experiencing in the 1780s and a lack of economic crisis laws in Massachusetts
Essay Questions
1.Discuss the establishment of the 13 colonies. Reasons for establishment of each colony and major figures.
A: Virginia: (Southern Colony) it was founded in 1607 by the London company to find gold.
Plymouth: (New England Colony) It was founded in 1620 by Separatist Pilgrims for religious freedom.
Massachusetts: (New England Colony) It was founded in 1630 by Puritans for religious freedom.
Rhode Island:(New England Colony) It was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams and his supporters for religious freedom and separation of church from state after a disagreement with Massachusetts Bay.
Connecticut: (New England Colony) It was founded in 1635 by Thomas Hooker and his followers for political and religious freedom after a disagreement with Massachusetts Bay
New Hampshire:(New England Colony) It was founded in 1692 by John Mason for farming.
New York: (Middle Colony) It was founded by the Dutch for trade and furs and became an English Colony in 1664.
New Jersey: (Middle Colony) It was founded in 1664 for farming and trade.
Maryland: (Southern Colony) It was founded by Lord Baltimore and other Catholics for religious freedom.
Pennsylvania: (Middle Colony) It was founded by William Penn and some other Quakers for religious freedom.
Delaware: (Middle Colony) It was founded in 1776.
The Carolinas: (Southern Colony) It was founded by supporters of Charles II for farming and trade. It later split into North and South Carolina.
Georgia: (Southern Colony) It was founded by James Oglethorpe for relief for poor English and as a buffer between Spanish Florida and The Carolinas.
2.Compare and contrast the Southern, New England and Middle Colonies.
Northern: had harsh rocky soil which led to subsistence farming land was granted to a group and divided among families have ship building and small scale factories.
Middle: River system allowed them to trade larger businesses such as lumbering, mining, and other stuff attracted a lot of Germans, Dutch, Swedish, people.
Southern: Farm were scattered, not so urban used to use indentured servants but switched to slave’s plantations came to be and needed more slaves.
3.
A:
4.Discuss the events leading up the American Revolution
French and Indian war: this was between Britain and France ended with victories British deeply in debt and demanding more revenue from colonies. With the defeat of the French, the colonies became less dependent on Britain for protection.