1 - United States History to 1877 Flashcards
This deck covers early American history, focusing on Native American cultures, European colonization, slavery, the Revolution, the Constitution, industrialization, westward expansion, sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. (100 cards)
Identify:
Which region was home to the Iroquois Confederacy?
Northeast
Identify:
Type of dwelling was commonly used by Algonquian and Iroquoian peoples.
Longhouses
Describe:
Native American life on the Great Plains.
- Vast grasslands were inhabited by nomadic tribes, such as the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Apache.
- They were skilled hunters and horse riders, following buffalo herds for sustenance.
Identify:
Pueblo peoples
- Lived in present-day Southwest United States.
- Built adobe villages.
Examples: Anasazi and Hopi
Identify:
5 important Native American cultural commonalities.
- Strong connection to the land
- Oral traditions
- Complex social structures
- Spiritual beliefs
- Art and crafts
Explain:
European colonization objectives during the Age of Exploration.
- Expanded trade routes to Asia.
- Conquered new lands to expand their power.
- Spread Christianity.
Explain:
Importance of Bering Land Bridge theory.
- During the last Ice Age, lower water levels created a frozen bridge of land called Beringia.
- Land bridge connected present-day Siberia and Alaska, enabling the migration of people and animals.
- Without the bridge, it would have been challenging for humans to arrive in the Americas.
The Beringia land bridge is now modern day Bering Strait.
Describe:
3 impacts of European colonization.
- Expanded trade through the Columbian Exchange.
- Led to European colonizers murdering thousands of Native Americans to gain their land and spread their religion.
- Spread of diseases.
Explain:
How did the dynamics between European colonizers and Native Americans shape the course of early American history?
- Relationships varied from cooperative trade alliances (e.g., French in Canada) to aggressive conquest and exploitation (e.g., Spanish in Central and South America).
- Colonization led to significant displacement, population decline, and cultural disruption for Native Americans due to violence, disease, and land loss, profoundly altering the demographic and social landscapes.
Disease wiped out 95% of the indigenous population in the Americas.
Explain:
Relationship between Native Americans and enslaved Africans in North America.
Conflict: Native American and African peoples were pitted against each other by European colonists, who sought to divide and conquer.
Cooperation: Native American and African peoples often shared experiences of oppression and exploitation under European colonial rule. They sometimes formed alliances to resist their common enemies and to protect their shared interests.
Example: Creek War (1813), a conflict between the United States and the Creek Nation, many enslaved Africans living within Creek territory allied with the Native Americans against the Americans. The enslaved Africans, known as the Black Seminoles, sought refuge with the Creek and were often treated as equals.
Explain:
Economic impacts of slavery.
- Primary source of economic prosperity for European colonists in the Southern colonies.
- Enslaved Africans were forced to work on plantations, producing cash crops like tobacco, rice, and cotton.
- This labor enriched European plantation owners but perpetuated a cycle of poverty and inequality for enslaved Africans.
Explain:
Cultural effects of slavery.
- Enslaved Africans developed their own unique cultures, blending elements of their African heritage with the experiences of slavery.
- Cultural synthesis gave rise to new forms of music, dance, language, and religion.
- Institution of slavery also had a significant impact on European culture, as it led to the development of racist attitudes and beliefs.
Describe:
How did religion impact European colonization?
- Spain and Portugal brought Catholicism to the Americas and set up missions to evangelize the people there.
- Indigenous people were forced to convert to avoid war and conflict.
Describe:
How slavery played a role in European expansion.
- Labor for plantations and colonies.
- Drove economic growth.
- Facilitated the accumulation of wealth and resources in Europe.
Explain:
Why was the Columbian Exchange significant in terms of transformation in Europe, Africa, and the Americas?
- Drastically altered ecosystems and agricultural practices worldwide through crops like potatoes, maize, and tomatoes.
- New diseases led to significant demographic decline.
Explain:
How did the principles of mercantilism influence the economic policies and international relations of European nations during the Age of Exploration?
- Mercantilism led to the establishment of colonies as sources of raw materials and markets for finished goods, fostering a system where the colonies existed primarily for the benefit of the mother country.
Nations formed alliances and engaged in wars to protect and expand their trading interests.
Explain:
Why were early explorers focused on finding the Northwest Passage?
- A passage through the Arctic provided a much shorter route to the lucrative markets of Asia, particularly for spices, silks, and other valuable goods.
- Allowed Europeans to control a faster and potentially safer route to Asia than going around Cape Horn.
Describe:
How was Sir Francis Drake influential in North American colonial development?
- Disrupted Spanish dominance.
- Explored and mapped Americas.
- Boosted English morale and ambitions.
Explain:
How did Sir Walter Raleigh influence the establishment and motivations behind the founding of colonies in North America?
- New opportunities for wealth through the exploitation of natural resources and trade.
- Established the Roanoke Colony in present-day North Carolina.
- Strategic importance of colonies to challenge Spanish dominance.
Explain:
Why was Sir Walter Raleigh focused on finding the mythical city of El Dorado?
- Sought to enhance his status, wealth, and influence.
England was also fighting with Spain and other European nations for economic dominance and influence in the world.
Explain:
Why was John Cabot a signficant historical figure in exploring the New World?
- Led the first European expedition since the Vikings to land on the mainland of North America.
- Voyages provided the basis for England’s claims to territories in North America.
- Demonstrated the viability of a northern route across the Atlantic and encouraged further exploration and colonization efforts.
Identify:
Why were the French colonies in North America not as successful as the English and Spanish?
- disease
- weather
- conflict with native peoples or other European powers
Identify:
Importance of Jamestown.
- Virginia colony’s first organized government.
- First permanent English colony in Americas.
Explain:
What 3 strategies and policies did Jamestown implement to overcome its labor shortages?
- Adopted the system of indentured servitude, where individuals from England would sign contracts to work for a certain number of years in exchange for passage to the New World, food, and shelter.
- Created headright system which granted land to settlers for each person they brought to the colony.
- Brought in enslaved Africans in 1619.