AP US History Chapter 2 Flashcards
Explain what the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation were and how they lead to political and religious conflict in Europe; what impact did this have on the Americas?
The Reformation and the Counter-Reformation were both divergences from the Roman Catholic Church. The separation of the church was caused by the view that it is wrong to sell indulgences for donations as well as other corrupt practices. The reformation expressed the belief that God alone decides who shall be saved or damned leaving Christians with the impression that they must believe in his love and faith rather than amoral practices. It led to religious and political conflict in Europe because it divided the people between Catholicism and Protestantism adding much upheaval amongst the leaders and people. Religious and political ties were severed when the pope refused to annul King Henry VIII’s marriage with Catherine of Aragon, and the conflict lasted for hundreds of years. In the Americas, both Catholic Spain and Protestant England wanted to take control of the new land, leading to the success of the English.
Define the Columbian Exchange and how it impacted the rest of the world with specific examples.
The Columbian Exchange was a “biological encounter” between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The trade system exchanged people, animals, food, and diseases from one place to another rather quickly. The Columbian Exchange impacted the rest of the world through the means of enriching the human diet. Diseases wiped out whole tribes of Indians while Europeans and Africans transported corn, potatoes, tobacco, and turkey. The Americas also received many new products such as wheat, sugar, cattle, sheep, horses, etc. The network stimulated the wealth of nations such as Spain due to the import of gold, silver, and sugar.
Explain the beliefs of the English Puritans. How did Elizabeth I and James I feel about those beliefs?
English Puritans were a religious group that formed as a result of the separation of the Roman Catholic Church. Puritans were those who wanted to remove all vestiges of Catholicism such as the selling of indulgences and other practices. They also believe in the message of righteous and self-discipline as well as the interference of bishops and church hierarchy. Elizabeth I and James I encouraged the beliefs for it allowed them to break away from the church of Catholic Spain. It allowed them to explore the Western hemisphere constructing settlements in the Americas such as Roanoke Island and Jamestown.
Explain the various motivations of English settlers coming to the Americas.
With great competitive activities arising between the European powers, it prompted English men and women to journey and settle to the Americas to claim territory for their countries. The separation and conflict from the Spain Catholic church led England to gain interest towards the Western hemisphere. In attempts to raid Spanish treasure ships and scour the region for gold and colonial sites, it eventually led towards the building of settlements. Other settlers came to America in hopes to gain financial success, land, and escape Anglican persecution.
Compare and contrast the founding and early development of Virginia and Plymouth. Since both were English colonies, what accounts for these differences?
The development of Virginia came about prior to Plymouth, which occurred in 1620 by the Mayflower. Both ventures were sponsored separately with Virginia being from the English joint-stock company Virginia Company of London and Plymouth from London merchants whom were given a patent from the Virginia Company of London. In Virginia, the settlers failed to secure food leading them to starvation as well as conflict with the Powhatans. However, discipline and force by Captain John Smith helped save the colony. In Plymouth, on the other hand, the settlers got along with the Indians in their area whom taught the Englishmen to plant corn and arrange treaties with tribes.
Compare and contrast the early 17th Century (1600s) settlements in North America of the Spaniards, French, Dutch, and English.
During the early 17th century, European nations were very competitive in becoming one of the major powers in the Northeastern hemisphere. Spanish settlements penetrated much land in Mexico, the West Indies, and what is known today as the United States. It nearly wiped out large communities of Mississippians and came into conflict with Indian resistance. The French ventured through many failures in building before they reached success. With all the European powers trying to beat out their rival, the French sent Samuel de Champlain to find Quebec in 1608, which became the first permanent French settlement in Canada. The English’s desire to become a great Atlantic power led the first settlement in the Americas a mystery as everyone disappeared. The settlement of Jamestown and Plymouth, however, were successes even though Native Americans attacked Jamestown while the Indians aided Plymouth. The Dutch constructed Fort Nassau establishing New Netherland in 1614. The local Indians also allowed the Dutch to settle on an island allowing them to build New Amsterdam.
Discuss the religious and political conflicts and economic conditions in the 16th and early 17th Century England that made the English interested in exploration and colonization in the Western Hemisphere.
During intense religious upheaval with Catholic Spain, England took interest in the Western hemisphere in terms of benefiting its economical stability and overtaking the Spanish. With the monarchy drawing the lines of separation, Queen Elizabeth encouraged her people to raid the ships and ports of the Spanish to rob their wealth while England advances in the battle. The search for the Northwest Passage and gold permitted colonization in the Americas as they were trying to beat their Spanish rival in finding a route through the Americas. England’s victory in the struggle allowed the nation to become a major Atlantic power.
“The Atlantic world brought few benefits to West Africa and Native Americans.” Illustrate this statement by discussing the African slave trade and its impacts, and the effects of European settlement in America on indigenous people.
The African slave trade brought more negatives amongst West Africa and Native Americans than benefits in which they perhaps thought they would have gotten. The Atlantic world turned slavery into an intercontinental business where Europeans brought the African war captives, in which they encouraged warfare with neighboring states towards the rulers, to the Americas. The slaves suffered horrific circumstances such as the exposure to diseases and epidemics as well as lack of food and water. Diseases from Europe and Africa spread to the Native Americans in which they were not immune to causing their population to decimate. Conflicts with the Europeans such as warfare and slavery impacted the Natives Americans harshly wiping out tribes.
