I. Colonial America and I. Colonial America and the American Revolutionthe American Revolution

1.1. The British established the oldestThe British established the oldestEuropean settlements in the New World.European settlements in the New World.

• FalseFalse

• The Portuguese and the The Portuguese and the Spanish were the first to Spanish were the first to explore and settle explore and settle colonies in the New colonies in the New World.World.

• St. Augustine was St. Augustine was established by the established by the Spanish in 1565Spanish in 1565

• Only after the British Only after the British defeated the Spanish defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588 were they Armada in 1588 were they able to engage in the race able to engage in the race to establish colonies.to establish colonies.

2. The search for wealth was the 2. The search for wealth was the primary cause behind the exploration primary cause behind the exploration and colonization of the New World.and colonization of the New World.

• TrueTrue

• Other causes includedOther causes included– The search for adventure that The search for adventure that

resulted from the humanism resulted from the humanism of the Renaissanceof the Renaissance

– The new advances in ship-The new advances in ship-building and navigationbuilding and navigation

– The desire to either spread The desire to either spread Christianity or to escape Christianity or to escape religious persecution as a religious persecution as a result of the Reformation.result of the Reformation.

• The search for wealth was a The search for wealth was a byproduct of the Commercial byproduct of the Commercial Revolution.Revolution.

3. Jamestown was the first permanent 3. Jamestown was the first permanent settlement in the British colonies.settlement in the British colonies.• TrueTrue• Roanoke was settled Roanoke was settled

earlier, but it mysteriously earlier, but it mysteriously disappeared. The disappeared. The Jamestown settlement Jamestown settlement included Captain John included Captain John Smith and Pocahontas.Smith and Pocahontas.

• There were struggles with There were struggles with the land, the weather and the land, the weather and the Indians, but the Indians, but Jamestown went on to Jamestown went on to become the colony of become the colony of Virginia.Virginia.

• The next English colony The next English colony was Plymouth Plantation, was Plymouth Plantation, settled by the Pilgrims in settled by the Pilgrims in 1620. Along with the 1620. Along with the Puritan settlement at Puritan settlement at Boston, this became the Boston, this became the colony of Massachusetts.colony of Massachusetts.

4. Slavery never really took root in 4. Slavery never really took root in the British colonies.the British colonies.

• FalseFalse

• Slavery has existed since Slavery has existed since ancient times. However, in ancient times. However, in the past, slaves were either the past, slaves were either in debt or had been in debt or had been captured in a war.captured in a war.

• The rise of modern slavery The rise of modern slavery created modern racism created modern racism because it was based on because it was based on racist views.racist views.

• All of the European colonies All of the European colonies engaged in the “Middle engaged in the “Middle Passage” trade to solve Passage” trade to solve their labor shortage their labor shortage problems.problems.

5. Under the system called Mercantilism, colonies were 5. Under the system called Mercantilism, colonies were established for the economic benefit of the mother country.established for the economic benefit of the mother country.

• TrueTrue

• Mercantilism was designed to enrich kings and queens during Mercantilism was designed to enrich kings and queens during the days of absolute monarchy. This was done by taxing the the days of absolute monarchy. This was done by taxing the wealth of merchants.wealth of merchants.

• This required a favorable balance of trade.This required a favorable balance of trade.

• Colonies were therefore expected to only trade for the benefit Colonies were therefore expected to only trade for the benefit of the mother country.of the mother country.

6. The French lost to the Indians in 6. The French lost to the Indians in the French and Indian War.the French and Indian War.• FalseFalse

• By the middle of the 18By the middle of the 18thth century, France and England century, France and England were the two primary powers were the two primary powers and often competed with each and often competed with each other.other.

• From 1756 to 1763, they From 1756 to 1763, they fought the Seven Years War. fought the Seven Years War. In North America, it was known In North America, it was known as the French and Indian War.as the French and Indian War.

• The victory by the English The victory by the English temporarily drove the French temporarily drove the French out of most of North America. out of most of North America. It also led the English to It also led the English to tighten their control over their tighten their control over their 13 English colonies.13 English colonies.

7. By the dawn of the American Revolution, 7. By the dawn of the American Revolution, the British colonies enjoyed a very high level the British colonies enjoyed a very high level of freedom and wealth.of freedom and wealth.

• TrueTrue

• Each colony had its own Each colony had its own elected assembly.elected assembly.

• Taxes were low and for the Taxes were low and for the most part, the American most part, the American colonials had much colonials had much freedom.freedom.

• Due to the availability of Due to the availability of cheap land and plentiful cheap land and plentiful natural resources, the natural resources, the Americans enjoyed one of Americans enjoyed one of the highest standards of the highest standards of living in the world.living in the world.

8. Religion played the most important role in 8. Religion played the most important role in pushing the American colonies to declare their pushing the American colonies to declare their independence from England.independence from England.

• FalseFalse

• By the middle of the 18By the middle of the 18thth Century, Century, religion has declined (despite the religion has declined (despite the Great Awakening) and many people Great Awakening) and many people were influenced by the emphasis on were influenced by the emphasis on reason that came from the reason that came from the Enlightenment.Enlightenment.

• The two biggest factors behind the The two biggest factors behind the move to declare independence were:move to declare independence were:– The desire to acquire western land. The desire to acquire western land.

This was frustrated by the This was frustrated by the Proclamation of 1763.Proclamation of 1763.

– The English desire to collect taxes The English desire to collect taxes from the colonies to pay for their from the colonies to pay for their defense after the French and Indian defense after the French and Indian War. This led to the Americans to War. This led to the Americans to claim “No taxation without claim “No taxation without representation.”representation.”

9. New York was the primary “birthplace” of 9. New York was the primary “birthplace” of the American Revolution.the American Revolution.

• FalseFalse

• The radicals and the The radicals and the violence were located in violence were located in BostonBoston..

• Boston was the location of Boston was the location of the Boston Massacre, the the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Tea Party, the Coercive Acts, Lexington, Coercive Acts, Lexington, Concord, Paul Revere and Concord, Paul Revere and Bunker Hill.Bunker Hill.

• The Continental Congress The Continental Congress met in met in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia. This . This is where the Declaration of is where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Independence was signed.

10. The American Revolution was mostly characterized as a 10. The American Revolution was mostly characterized as a civil war fought with guerrilla tactics rather than a full scale civil war fought with guerrilla tactics rather than a full scale war fought through a series of major battles.war fought through a series of major battles.

• TrueTrue

• Many Americans were Tories and Many Americans were Tories and remained loyal to Great Britain.remained loyal to Great Britain.

• The war did have some battles: The war did have some battles:

– Saratoga, the “turning point” of Saratoga, the “turning point” of the war the war

– Yorktown, the final American Yorktown, the final American victory.victory.

• However, the war, which lasted However, the war, which lasted from 1775 to 1783, was from 1775 to 1783, was essentially a war fought on a essentially a war fought on a smaller scale. In addition, it is smaller scale. In addition, it is doubtful that the Americans doubtful that the Americans would have won without the help would have won without the help of the French.of the French.