1st ROK Flashcards
George Washington
He was a hero in the French and Indian War who went on to become the first president of the US in 1789. He is known as the Father of our country and was a delegate from Virginia during the signing of the DOI. He was commander and chief of the continental army. All the powers and duties of the president were designed for him.
John Adams
Our 1st VP and 2nd president he took the unpopular job of defending the red coats in the Boston Massacre case. His cousin, Samuel Adams, recruited him to the patriot cause where he emerged as a leader,though he was not for the bloody revolt his cousin favored.
Thomas Jefferson
The author of the DOI and the 3rd president of the US he served as a delegate from Virginia in the Continental Congress. He favored states rights and borrowed many of his ideas from John Locke.
James Madison
The Father of the constitution and our nations 4th president. He hailed from Virginia.
Magna Carta
The Great Charter as it was also called was written in 1250 and gave English nobles the right to Habeas Corpus and established the idea of limited government.
New England Colonies
Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island made up the middle colonies. They manufactured goods, trapped, and used the sea. They had little farming do to poor soil and their seasonal climate
The Middle Colonies
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware were also known as New Netherlands because they were founded by the Dutch. They allowed slavery, but it was not common. Their economy was varied because the climate was fairly moderate, but still not ideal for growing.
Southern Colonies
Maryland, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia were part of the Southern Colonies. Their moderate weather and rich soil led to an agrarian economy. They produced cash crops with slave labour on large plantations.
Cash Crops
Crops that were planted in large amounts and then sold to make a profit. The first cash crop was tobacco which was found by John Rolfe
Triangular Trade
The trade system between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Europe traded gunpowder, iron bars and alcohol with Africa for slaves, which they traded to America for tobacco, sugar, rum, and cotton
The Great Awakening
A 1730’s religious revival that swept the colonies. Ministers, like Jonathan Edwards, gave fiery sermons calling for a “New Birth”. There message was extended to everyone as Land owners and slaves all took part in the process
Jonathan Edwards
The most famous preacher during the Great Awakening.
Representative Government
A government in which people our represented by officials
Roger Williams
He believed in religious tolerance and tolerance of the Native Americans. He set up the colony of Rhode Island in 1644 which became a refuge for desenters.
The Toleration act of 1649
Passed in Maryland by Lord Baltimore it was passed to appease the protestants and keep them from seizing the colony. It called for religious tolerance and was a step towards religious equality.
William Penn
A wealthy british quaker who founded Pennsylvania or Penn’s Woods. He believed the land belong to the native americans and had to be bought. People of different religions were allowed to mix.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.
The first written constitution. It was passed in 1638 with the advocacy of Thomas Hooker and detailed a representative government.
Pilgrim
Someone who travels for religious purposes. We have come to use this term to describe the people who came over on the Mayflower because they were looking to practice their religion.
Plymouth
Located on Massachusetts coast it was the location of the pilgrims arrival.
Mayflower Compact
The written agreement that was signed by the males on the Mayflower establishing a direct democracy with each male receiving a vote, it was signed once it became clear that they were not going to land with in the confines of their charter.
Indentured Servents
People who worked for plantation owners for 4-7 years to earn passage to America. If a servant ran away for a year and a day they were free. Under the head right system the land owner got 50 acres per servant.
House of Burgesses
The Virginia legislature that was created in 1619. It was the first representative government in the Americas and was very similar to the House of Commons.
Leif Erickson
The Viking who founded Vinland in present day Canada in 1000CE. He was able to make his journey because of the vikings advanced shipbuilding skills. His legacy has been passed on through Sagas.
Vinland
The colony founded by Lief Erickson off the coast of present day Canada
Christopher Columbus
Made his famous voyage for Spain in 1492 on his three ships, Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. Landed in the bahamas and made his journey 3 times. He thought he had found a shorter route to the Indies by sailing West and so he named the natives Indians
Columbian Exchange
The exchange of ideas, culture, and goods between the Americas and Europe following Columbus’s voyage
Beringia Land Bridge
The Paleo-Indians traveled to America on an ice bridge from Asia between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago
Queen Elizabeth 1
The virgin queen of England for which Virginia was named. She issued the charter for the colony.
Amerigo Vaspucci
The explorer who discovered that America was a new continent. The Americas were named after him on Martin Waldseemuller’s map. The map is large and America’s birth certificate. It was sold to the US for 10 million dollars
