Unit 1 Test: Colonial America Flashcards
(34 cards)
What are the two boundaries of the colonial settlements?
Atlantic coast to the east
Appalachian mountains to the west
How did the geography of New England affect the settlement of the colonist
-Rocky soil, short growing season:
-Natural harbors: which allows for shipping, fishing, ship building
-Diverse economy, with small scale fishing, whaling, farming, fur trade, ship building, lumber, trade
How did the geography of Southern colonies affect the settlement of the colonist
-Fertile soil, long growing season:
- Led to a plantation economy based on the growth of cash crops, using African slaves as cheap labor. they grew things like tobacco, rice, indigo and later cotton.
Who is John Locke
The person who enlightened Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence, with the three main rights being Life, Liberty and Property. In the declaration, property is changed to pursuit of happiness
what is the enlightenment influence on the declaration of independence
Consent of the governed:
Government get its power from the people
“No taxation without representation”
What is the Virginia house of Burgesses
An example of representative government. They elected their own representatives from all over Virginia. The first example of a democratic legislature in the US.
Whats the mayflower compact
The first self attempt at self government in America
What were the New England Town Meetings
A way to make decisions as a community. Another early example of democracy.
What were the causes of the French and Indian war (Seven years war) (1756-1763)
Causes: The British wanted to expand west over the Appalachian colonies, but there were 2 groups there already: the French and the Natives
What’s The Albany Congress?
When Great Britain called a meeting of all colonial leaders, o0f which 7 showed up. They did this to ask them to support the war effort and fight collectively under one government. They also tried to make allies with the Iroquois, but the refused because they thought the French would win.
What was the effect of the French and Indian war (seven years war)(1756-1763)
-The British defeated the French, and they ceded French Canada to Great Britain.
-They also ceded East of the Mississippi, and Spanish Florida.
-It also caused the Proclamation of 1763.
-Post war, 10,000 British troops were stationed to colonies, and due to this, Britain raised colonial taxes, which they didn’t like.
-This was later a contributing factor to the American revolution.
What’s the Proclamation of 1763?
It was an act issued to avoid fighting natives.
No colonists were allowed west of the Appalachian mountains
Why is the Proclamation of 1763 important?
It shows that the British were out of touch, and is an example of a unpopular law.
-it also created the first Indian reserves in America.
What are the 4 economic causes of the American revolution?
Mercantilism
The Sugar Act (1764)
The Stamp Act (1765)
The Townsend Acts (1767)
What is mercantilism
It was the economic system in the 16th-18th centuries.
-Colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country (GB)
-Colonies used to supply mats and were used to market for goods, while restrictions were placed on colonial manufacturing and trade.
What is The Sugar Act (1764)
Duties on imports to try to stop smuggling
Affected merchants and trades; led to writs of assistance (blanket search warrant)
British officials able to search suspected colonial ships or homes involved in smuggling, which sparked colonial outrage
What is the Stamp Act (1765)
Tax on printed material
Affected more colonists directly, a direct tax
Resistance groups like the Sons of Liberty founded by Sam Adams led to boycott of British goods, led by NY, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Was repealed by parliament in 1766
What is the Townsends Acts (1767)
indirect taxes on import
-Glass, wine, lead, paper, 3 penny tax on tea
-Caused more boycotts, and led Mercy Otis Warren to write plays, letters and pamphlets to tell women to stop buying luxury goods.
What is salutary neglect (1607-1763)
Unofficial policies in colonies
Didn’t strictly enforce restrictive trade laws
Main idea: the colonies would best flourish without intervention from Royal officials
This ended after the Seven year war in 1763.
Was reversed after 1763, and everything was enforced strictly
Whats the navigation acts
Laws governing colonial trade
Foreign ships were banned from trading in colonies, mostly targeted at the Dutch.
Colonies couldn’t export to any nation aside from GB
The navigations acts were to punish British competitors, not the colonists
Was unfair and gave all advantage to the British, and went ignored for 150+ yrs.
Whats the Boston Massacre (1770)
In 1770, a group of angry colonists attack some British soliders, and they fire into the crowd killing 5 people.
What propaganda was formed after the Boston massacre
Propaganda created by Paul Revere circulated about the “massacre” and colonists seethed in anger.
This caused the Committees of Correspondence to be formed by Sam Adams, to establish contact between colonies to inform each other of British actions via letter.
