AP U.S. History
Unit 1
European Colonization
1492 to 1700
As you read focus on:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Emergence of Native American
Civilization
Causes of Imperialism
Inter-Imperialist Competition
Effect of military conflict on interimperialist relationships
Clash of Cultures
Introduction
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Prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Western
Hemisphere it had been settled by hunter-gatherers from
Asia that crossed into North America across a land bridge
that arose during the Ice Age.
The Viking were the earliest Europeans to reach the “New
World” but their colonization efforts failed.
As Spain and Portugal began searching for a water route to
China (new technology such as the compass, caravel, and
printing press were causing a boom in the navigational
sciences).
The emergence of powerful monarchs and wealthy
businessmen led to new exploration efforts in the “New
World” and were inevitably followed by colonization
projects.
Ultimately England would emerge with the upper hand in
North America and her colonies would pave the way for the
emergence of the United States of America.
Unit 1.1: Spanish Colonization of the
New World
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Was the New World “discovered” by Europeans?
What factors made the Native Americans so easy
to conquer?
Why would the rest of the world have scoffed at
the Treaty of Tordesillas?
What was mercantilism and what role did it play
in Spanish colonization of the New World?
What factors ultimately caused the degradation
of Spain to a “Second-rate Empire”?
Unit 1.1: Spanish Colonization of the
New World

Was the New World “discovered” by Europeans?

One could certainly make the argument that if history is written from
the European perspective then “yes”.
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Through much of Europe’s development North and South America did not
exist.
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The Vikings were the first Europeans to arrive in North America.
They were followed by the Spanish and Portuguese.
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They happened to stumble across this massive land mass trying to find a less
expensive route to China.
Despite the Vikings’ efforts, Christopher Columbus made the first known discovery of
the Americas, but even he did not know what he had “discovered”.
Later the English, French, and Dutch would take an active interest in the
“New World”
However, if we see the world through the eyes of the Native American
then “no”.
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The first “Americans” arrived on the Continent many millions of years ago
during the Ice Age.
They developed 100’s of cultures, including the powerful civilizations of the
Maya, Inca, and Aztec.
They produced Agricultural science the would lead to corn, potatoes,
tomatoes (which were thought poisonous by many Europeans: imagine
Italian food without the tomato), and tobacco.
These civilizations were in full bloom when the Spanish arrived in the “New
World”
“Discovery”?
Unit 1.1: Spanish Colonization of the
New World

What factors made the Native Americans so easy for the
Europeans to conquer?

Spain’s lust for gold and silver made any civilization that stood
between them and that objective expendable.
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Spain possessed more advanced military technology.
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The gun and Spanish armor proved too much for the primitive weapons of the
Native American population.
The exposure to the Small Pox virus severely weakened the Native
American population.
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Spain’s desire to attain wealth in the New World trumped their respect for the
human life that already existed their.
When we can dehumanize our foe it allows us to justify horrific and immoral
actions.
The Native Americans had never experienced the Small Pox virus and, thus,
had no immunity to the disease.
Nearly 90% of the Native American population was wiped out by Small Pox.
The Native Americans had no political or military figure that could unite
the disjointed tribes to present a formidable front against Spanish
aggression.

Because the Native Americans lacked unity and leadership, the Spanish were
able to play one tribe against another and easily conquer any civilization that
stood in their way.
Spanish Guns and Small Pox
Unit 1.1: Spanish Colonization of the
New World

Why would the rest of the world have scoffed at the Treaty of
Tordesillas?

The Treaty was drafted with significant influence of the Pope at time
when much of Europe had come under Protestant leadership.
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The Treaty of Tordesillas created a partitioning of the world between Spain
and Portugal (the two leaders in exploration at the time).
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Spain was given much of North and South America with the exception of Brazil
Portugal was allowed to explore much of Asia

Many other nations coveted the gold and silver that Spain was plundering from the
New World.
They also desired to discover a fabled “Northwest Passage” to China, which led the
British, French, and Dutch to concentrate their efforts in North America.
As other nations became more powerful they saw know reason why this
agreement should prevent them from seeking their “fair share” of the wealth
available in North and South America.
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As these nations began to compete over influence in North American it led to
a wave of colonization and tense conflict in Europe.
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St. Augustine (Florida) was the first permanent Spanish colony in North America
The English settled at Jamestown and Plymouth
The French settled at Montreal (Canada)
The Dutch settled New Amsterdam (New York)
Unit 1.1: Spanish Colonization of the
New World

What was mercantilism and what role did it play in the Spanish
colonization of the New World?
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Mercantilism is an economic system based on building a nation’s power
and wealth through the acquisition of colonies.
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Mercantilism creates an exclusive trade relationship between an
Imperialist and their colonies.
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Under mercantilism a nation’s power was directly tied to its wealth.
In order to gain more power you needed to acquire and hold onto more and
more colonial possessions.
The raw materials possessed by the colony would be sent to the Imperialist
where they would be turned into finished manufactured products.
Those products could then be turned around and sold in the colonies, which
then provide a new market for the Imperialist’s exports.
This relationship is not meant to be mutually beneficial, obviously the profit
of the Imperialist is paramount.
The King’s authority in these colonies was supreme, the native people
and settlers were considered his subjects.
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Oftentimes the colony was given little to no voice in the government of the
Imperialist. They could be taxed, forced into military service, or be restricted
in trade with little say in the matter.
This is what would ultimately cause the American Revolution: “No taxation
without representation”.
Unit 1.1: Spanish Colonization of the
New World

What factors ultimately caused the degradation of Spain to a
second-rate Empire?
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Increased pressure from other Imperialist nations.
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Domestic problems in Spain itself.
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Spain faced a rebellion in the Spanish Netherlands.
Spain found herself the tip of the Catholic Sword in numerous wars of
religion, including the famous debacle of the Spanish Armada.
The Spanish rulers that followed King Philip II were ineffective and
inefficient.
Declining profits because of the expense of maintaining its colonies.
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By the 1700s, although Spain was continuing to play the role of powerful
Imperialist in Europe, real power in Europe had shifted to England and
France.
The illusion of Spanish greatness was once and for all destroyed in 1898 with
their defeat in the Spanish-American War.
Spain never intended to colonize the Americas, but to keep their clutches on
the riches of the region they had to put down roots (The French, English, and
Dutch came intent to colonize and compete).
Enormous military expenditures for the protection of its colonies and a
fleet to protect its trade ships.
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Declining colonial profitability combined with increasing costs of defending
them equals economic decline.
Spain had the largest Empire in the world up to the 1700s, ineffective leaders
allowed this to become a source of enormous debt.
The failure of the Spanish Armada
Unit 1.2: Dutch Settlements and a
French Empire in North America
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What were some disadvantages faced by early
Dutch and French settlements?
Describe French success in the New World.
What were some advantages held by English
settlers in the New World?
What factors led to the virtual disappearance of
the French from North America?
What impact did the Native American population
have on these settlement efforts?
Unit 1.2: Dutch Settlements and a
French Empire in North America

What were some disadvantages faced by the
early Dutch and French settlements?
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Both the Dutch and the French came to North America
hoping to cash in on the lucrative fur trade.
The Dutch settled New Netherland and New Amsterdam
in what is today the Hudson River Valley in New York.
The French settled in Montreal, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Neither government gave much support to these
colonization efforts, consequently they eventually gave
way to stronger English efforts.
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The Dutch did offer large land grants, but few citizens took
advantage of them, consequently they were severely
outnumbered by local Native American tribes.
The French refused to allow the people that desperately
wanted out of France to leave and come to America (The
Huguenots (French Protestants being persecuted by the
Catholic leadership of France).
Many of the French who settled in North America eventually
went back to France although Quebec is still today distinctly
“French Canadian”.
Leave me alone, I was here before the
Native Americans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unit 1.2: Dutch Settlements and a
French Empire in North America
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Describe French success in the New World.
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In 1682 things took a turn for the better for the French
when they laid claim to the Mississippi River Valley,
naming it Louisiana after King Louis XIV.
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Louisiana was rich in fur trade.
The territory was also an immense territorial grab for
France running north from the mouth of the Mississippi to
Canada then West from the Mississippi to the Rocky
Mountains.
In 1712 the French established the City of New Orleans
at the mouth of the Great Mississippi River.
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New Orleans became a key economic and military location
in the Gulf of Mexico.
New Orleans made the Mississippi River Valley a viable
center for economic growth in both the fur trade and
agriculture.
Louisiana is immense!
Unit 1.2: Dutch Settlements and a
French Empire in North America
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What were some advantages held by English
settlers in the New World?
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The English definitely had the support of a
Government that was encouraging and supporting
colonization.
by 1763, British settlers outnumbered French
settlers 3 to 1.
Although both sides turned to the Native
Americans for alliances, the French depended
heavily on Native American tribes to secure their
North American possessions.
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These alliances were not enough for the French who
were defeated by the English and their Native
American allies in the French and Indian War.
By 1776 the English controlled most of the Atlantic
Seaboard, the Ohio River Valley, and Canada.
Unit 1.2: Dutch Settlements and a
French Empire in North America

What factors led to the virtual disappearance of
the French from North America?
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Then in 1713 the French found themselves on the
losing side of the War of Spanish Succession and had
to cough up Newfoundland, Hudson Bay, and Nova
Scotia.
 Although they still possessed Quebec and Louisiana, the
French presence in North America was greatly
diminished.
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Worse still, the French had to cede Louisiana to the
Spanish in 1763 after losing the Seven Years War.
(They would later regain the territory in 1800, but
then sold it to the infant United States in 1803 after
a rebellion in Haiti caused the French to lose interest
in North America.
The British bolstered their armed forces with
settler militia and Native American allies
Unit 1.2: Dutch Settlements and a
French Empire in North America
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What impact did the Native American population have on
these settlement efforts?
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1607 – The first real conflict between Native Americans and
Colonists occurs at Jamestown.
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Led to the famous incident of Captain John Smith being captured
and saved by Pocahontas.
An initial period of peace was later ended by 12 years of war with
the Powhatans
1621 – The Plymouth Settlers sign a Treaty with the local
Native American tribe with the aid of English-speaking
Squanto.
1636 – The Pequot War led the massacre of 700 Pequot
Indians and the sale of many more into slavery.
1675 – King Philip’s War (Metacom’s War) was a brutal
campaign fought in New England.
1711 – The Tuscarora War in North Carolina was settled when
James Moore and Native Allies defeated the Tuscarora Indians.
1763 – The French and Indian War settled control of North
America between the British and French but also pitted the
Algonquian (aligned with the French) vs. the Iroquois (aligned
with the British).
The Pequot War and King Philip’s War were very
destructive to the Native American population of New
England
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World
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What factors motivated British efforts to explore
and colonize the New World?
What characteristics of Mercantilism made
exploration and colonization appealing to the
British?
Describe early British Colonial efforts.
What were some distinctions between the various
regions of the “American Colonies”?
What motivated people to come to the American
Colonies and how would this shape the future
development of the United States of America?
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World

What factors motivated British efforts to explore and
colonize the New World?
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The final resolution of the Catholic/Protestant conflict in
England during the Reformation.
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As did the Dutch and the French, the British desired to
discover the fabled Northwest Passage.
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Settled when Henry VIII separated from the Catholic
Church and Queen Elizabeth I defeated the Spanish
Armada.
Freed the English from conflict so that they could refocus
attention on colonization of the New World
Develop an economic link with the vast resources of China.
A new type of business component called the JointStock Company offered English citizens the opportunity
to make huge profits off colonization efforts.
The vast resources of raw materials and new markets
for goods lured British investors as the Industrial
Revolution blossomed in England.
The Fabled Northwest Passage
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World
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What characteristics of Mercantilism made exploration and
colonization appealing to the British?
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The desire to accumulate gold, silver, and other precious
resources.
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The opportunity to develop a “favorable balance of trade”.
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Mercantilism measured a nation’s power in terms of the amount of
Gold it possessed
Spain, consequently, quickly became the most powerful nation in
the world.
The markets provided by Colonial possession meant that the British
would always have an outlet for their booming industrial growth.
The establishment of viable colonies would counterbalance the
competition from other imperialist nations.
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Colonies were often restricted from trading outside the empire.
One of the causes for the American Revolution was that Americans
desired the cheaper goods they could get from the French or
Spanish.
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World
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Describe early British Colonial efforts.
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The Jamestown Settlement
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First permanent English settlement in North America
Dependence on Tobacco for profit led to the first importation of
African Slaves by British settlers in 1619
Successes
 John Rolfe and Pocahontas created a new strand of tobacco that was
very appealing to Europeans and made the Jamestown settlement
profitable.
 The settlement ultimately grew and became the Royal Colony of Virginia
 The Virginia Colony would create America’s first representative
legislature (the House of Burgesses) and citizens were promised the
same rights as English citizens.
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Failures
 They faced obvious problems with Indian attacks, famine, and disease
 They also faced problems of their own creation
 Poor location – swampy, made agriculture difficult and disease
epidemic
 Settlers came with only their own business interests at heart – few
would work for the collective good until John Smith took over
leadership and refused food to anyone that would not work
Jamestown and the reasons for its
success
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World

Describe early British Colonial efforts.

The Plymouth Colony
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The Puritans (Separatists) were dissatisfied with efforts to
reform the Anglican Church of England and wanted a whole
new church free of Royal control.
Landing far north of where they were supposed to be, the
“Pilgrims” chose to form a new colony at Plymouth.
Successes:
 The Plymouth settlement created the Mayflower Compact
(named for the ship they traveled the Atlantic with)
 They established a government based on the will of the people
and based on the concept of majority rule.
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Failures:
 They suffered a terrible famine that wiped out half their
numbers in the winter of 1620.
 The colony rebounded under the leadership of Miles Standish
and William Bradford.
The Plymouth Settlement and the first
Thanksgiving
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World

Describe early British Colonial efforts.

Massachusetts Bay Colony
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Founded by Puritans (these were not Separatists)
They arrived in America in 1629 under the leadership
of John Winthrop.
Successes:
 They came in large numbers (1000 on the first mission).
 They were well-supplied and well-prepared
 After a Civil War in England some 15,000 more Puritans
came to Massachusetts (an event known as the Great
Migration)
 The founded the city of Boston and other New England
towns.
 They developed a representative assembly and voted
yearly on the Governor and his assistants. Only Male
members of the Puritan Church could vote.
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World
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What were some distinctions between the
various regions of the “American Colonies”?
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Northern Colonies (New England)
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Colonies other than Massachusetts included
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine (eventually
absorbed by Mass.), and New Hampshire (which
eventually spawned Vermont)
Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams became
significant for establishing the concept of separation
of Church and State.
 One of our nation’s most famous religious refugees
sought and received asylum in Rhode Island (Anne
Hutchinson) which espoused total religious freedom.
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Connecticut formed America’s first Constitution
 Connecticut also forged a thriving fur trade in the
region.
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World

What were some distinctions between the various regions of the
“American Colonies”?

The Middle Colonies
 New York (formerly New Amsterdam) became an English Colony through
conquest.
 The Dutch and English became locked in wars over competition over the
rich fur trade in the region.
 The Duke of York allowed only limited democracy in his colony and in
many ways inhibited the physical growth of the colony by issuing
immense land grants on the Hudson River to wealthy nobles who
supported the Duke.
 New Jersey initially belonged to the Duke of York as well, but he would
eventually parcel that out to other nobles.
 In 1702 Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a haven for Quakers.
 The Quakers belief that all people were God’s children led them to have
the most positive relationship with the Native American population of
any of the colonies.
 The City of Philadelphia is the “City of Brotherly Love”
 Originally belonging to Sweden, then ceded to the Dutch, then ceded to the
English under the supervision of the Duke of York, Delaware was eventually
sold to William Penn to insure that Pennsylvania residents would have port
access to the Atlantic.
 Being “landlocked” would have severely limited Pennsylvania’s ability to
grow economically.
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World

What were some distinctions between the various regions
of the “American Colonies”?

The Southern Colonies
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Other than Virginia, other colonies included Maryland, North and
South Carolina, and Georgia.
Maryland, much like Pennsylvania, was founded by Lord Baltimore
as a religious refuge for English Catholics who faced persecution at
home.
 In 1649 the Maryland Toleration Act allowed for religious tolerance (it
was passed out of necessity as more and more Protestants began
settling in Maryland)
 The Act also outlawed blasphemy and other religious transgressions.

The Carolinas were land grants given to supporters of the
Restoration.
 As large plantation agriculture (tobacco in North Carolina and Rice in
South Carolina) took hold the Carolinas embraced African slavery.
 In 1729 the colonies were officially split into North Carolina and South
Carolina

Georgia was founded as a Penal Colony where it was hoped the
convict population could sustain the colony and create a “buffer
zone” between the English Colonies and Spanish Florida.
 When it became clear that the convict population was not enough to
sustain a viable colony, settlement was opened up to Protestants and
Skilled Workers.
The Northern, Middle, and Southern
Colonies:
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World

What motivated people to come to the
American Colonies and how would this
shape the future development of the United
States of America?

Those that chose to come:
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Many looked at the American Colonies as a source of
religious freedom.
Others saw economic opportunity in this new
country.
Others were so desperate to get out of England that
they came to America as indentured servants (paying
for their voyage with seven years of labor).
Needless to say the desperate search for freedom
had a dramatic impact on the principles that would
lead to the American Revolution and the formation of
a Constitution that strives to protect the equality of
all men.
Came by choice:
Unit 1.3: The British Empire in the New
World

What motivated people to come to the American Colonies and how
would this shape the future development of the United States of
America?

Those that did not chose to come or be encroached upon:

Beginning with the Spanish and Portuguese and continuing with the British,
French, and Dutch slavery became an unfortunate characteristic of colonial
economics.
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Native American populations were nearly destroyed or were forced off their
ancestral lands as a result of European contact.
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The encomienda system authorized Spanish land owners to exploit Native American
Slaves, later the Asiento system began the importation of African Slaves.
Large Plantation Agriculture in England’s southern colonies based on the production
of tobacco, rice, and indigo (later Cotton would be the driving force behind American
slavery) created a dependence of the wealthy planter class on African Slavery.
90% of the Native American population was wiped out by Small Pox and Measles,
diseases for which they had absolutely no immunity.
Still others were killed or driven off their land by wars with various groups of
European settlers.
Some were moved to the American Colonies to alleviate overcrowded
conditions in England’s prisons.
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Clearly these people were viewed as expendable as they were placed on the frontier
with Spanish Florida.
If a war with Spanish Florida was fought it would be fought on their land, not the
more valuable territory in the Carolinas and Virginia.
Those who had little choice in the
matter:
Multiple Choice Questions
1.
Which of the following best describes the impact
European colonization had on the Western
Hemisphere’s Native population?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
The native population was highly respected in terms of
territorial possessions and religious beliefs.
The Europeans for the most part did not interact with
the native populations
Spain was the only European country to successfully
create an alliance with the native population.
Spain worked in conjunction with the Aztecs and Incas
to harvest South America’s resources
Native populations were often killed off or driven away
by the Europeans
Multiple Choice Questions
2.
Which of the following imperial powers
originally settled the Hudson River
Valley?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Holland (The Dutch)
England
France
Sweden
Portugal
Multiple Choice Questions
3.
Which of the following best describes the
Colony of Georgia?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Comparatively the most democratic English
Colony
Established by Spain in order to protect its
Colony in Florida
Established by England as a penal colony and
to serve as a “buffer zone” between Florida
and her other colonies
Organized by English Catholics who had been
persecuted by the Anglican Church
Eventually ceded to Spain in return for Florida
Multiple Choice Questions
4.
Which English Colony was established by
proprietors that also had investments in
the slave trade and therefore introduced
slavery to their colony?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
The Carolinas
Maryland
Multiple Choice Questions
5.
The Duke of Baltimore established the
Colony of Maryland for which of the
following reasons?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
As an opportunity to invest in that colony’s
maritime industry
In order to prevent France from seizing that
territory
As a haven for persecuted English Catholics
For Quakers who had been evicted from
Pennsylvania
After failing to colonize the Carolinas
Multiple Choice Questions
6.
French immigrants to the New World
tended to inhabit which of the following?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Canada
Florida
Territory east of the Appalachian Mountains
The Southern Colonies
The Middle Atlantic Colonies
Multiple Choice Questions
7.
As the Founder of Rhode Island, Roger
Williams did which of the following?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Established religious freedom for Catholics
and Quakers
Supported freedom of religion for French
Huguenots
Established the concept of separation of
church and state in his colony
Required mandatory church attendance
Abolished all religious practices throughout
the colony
Multiple Choice Questions
8.
Which of the following stunted the
physical growth of the English Colony in
New York?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Most settlers refused to recognize the
Anglican Church
Native Americans laid claim to all of New York
New York relied almost exclusively on imports
from Britain
Few colonists wanted to settle in the western
part of the colony
Aristocrats controlled vast tracts of land
Multiple Choice Questions
9.
Which of the following sought to exploit
the lucrative fur trade in America?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
The
The
The
The
The
Swedish
British
French and the Dutch
Portuguese
Spanish and British
Multiple Choice Questions
10.
John Winthrop is associated with which
colony?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
New Amsterdam
Massachusetts Bay
Jamestown
Quebec
Pennsylvania
Answer Key
E
2. A
3. C
4. D
5. C
6. A
7. C
8. E
9. C
10. B
1.