Social Studies
Chapter 4 Study Guide
What was the Magna Carta? What was its importance? Who signed it?
Document that placed limits on English ruler’s power. No taxes w/o nobles’
permission, right to own private property, right to jury trial. King John signed.
Why was Parliament created? What is it? What are its powers? Significance?
Started as Great Council to advise king. Council developed into Parliament
(two-house legislature). Monarch could not raise taxes without consent of
Parliament (had some control over king). Made of House of Lords (nobles) and
House of Commons (elected; rich men and landowners)
What was the Glorious Revolution?
Removal of King James II from throne and replaced with daughter Mary and
husband William.
What was the English Bill of Rights? Who signed it? What did it do?
Lists of freedoms the government promises to protect. Signed by Queen Mary
and King William. Upheld habeas corpus (must be told of crime before being
imprisoned), no monarch could levy taxes/raise army w/o consent of
Parliament, trial by jury
What types(s) of colonial self-government existed?
Legal rights that Englishmen had led colonists to expect a voice in their gov’t.
Limited monarchy and representative gov’t.
Why was the House of Burgesses important?
First legislature in British North America
Massachusetts had what type of colonial representation?
General Court – MA eventually gained right to elect delegates
What type of representation did Pennsylvania have? Government?
Governor and large council made laws that assembly could accept or reject;
colonists wanted to draw up own laws. General Assembly forced Penn to agree
that only Gen. Assem. could make laws but king could overturn them.
Who could vote in the colonies? Who could not?
Could – white males (50-75% of them could vote)
Could not – women, Native Americans, Africans
Who was John Peter Zenger? Why was he important? What right did he help
establish?
Publisher of newspaper, printed articles criticizing governor (factually) and was
arrested. Lawyer argued that democracy depends on well-informed citizens.
Freedom of press.
What theory were the colonies established on? Define it.
Mercantilism – colonies existed in order to serve the economic needs of the
parent country
Why were the Navigation Acts passed? What did they state? How did they help
colonists? Why did colonists resent them?
Acts passed to support mercantilism. 1.) Shipments from Europe to English
colonies had to go through England first. 2.) Any imports to England from
colonies had to come in ships built and owned by British subjects. 3.) Colonies
could sell key (tobacco, sugar) products only to England. Colonies had sure
market for goods; shipbuilding in New England expanded. Colonists believed
they could make more money if they were free to sell to foreign markets
themselves.
What did most families consist of? How did they live? What responsibilities did
they have?
Many lived in expanded families. Large families considered advantage.
Members helped plant, cultivate, and harvest crops. Mend fences, tend animals,
chop wood.
Be able to compare the roles of men and women.
Men – Represented family in public life through voting and officeholding,
controlled family property and income.
Women – Expected to marry mates chosen by parents; property or money
earned became the spouse’s after marriage; did cooking, laundry, gardening,
and animal care.
What did children do before the age of seven? After?
Before 7 – play
After 7 – household or farm chores; fetch water and wood,
What is an apprentice?
Someone who learns a trade by working for someone in that trade for a certain
period of time
What were the four basic class distinctions? Be able to give characteristics of
each.
Gentry – upper class; middle class; indentured servants (signed contract to
work from 4 to 10 years in colonies in return for paid passage to colonies); free
African Americans
Where did slave traders go to get slaves?
West African coast
What was the Middle Passage?
Route slaves took when slaves were transported across the Atlantic (brutal
voyage)
What happened to slaves upon arrival?
Put on auction block; families often separated; majority ended up on
plantations in Spanish colonies, Brazil, or Caribbean
What was the triangular trade? Describe the 3 legs
3-way trade between colonies, islands of Caribbean, and Africa
1.) From New England with fish, lumber to Caribbean islands, or West Indies
2.) From New England with rum, guns to West Africa
3.) From Africa with slaves to West Indies
How was the slave trade a violation of the Navigation Acts?
It required colonists to buy only from English colonies. Traders smuggled cargo
(molasses) into New England
Why did slavery take root in the colonies?
Plantation profits led planters to import thousands of enslaved Africans to work
fields.
Were there any antislavery attempts? Explain.
1652 – RI passed antislavery law.
GA banned slavery until 1750s.
What is racism? How is it linked to slavery?
Belief that one race is superior or inferior to another. Most English colonists
believed themselves superior to Africans
What were slave codes? Why were they enacted? Can you list some of them?
Strict laws that restricted the rights and activities of slaves. Colonial
authorities feared more slave revolts. Enslaved people could not meet in large
numbers, own weapons, or leave plantation without permission. Became illegal
to teach slaves to read/write. Slaveowners killing slaves could not be tried for
murder.
What were the outcomes of slave codes?
Gave masters more control over slaves; made it harder for escaped slaves to
survive. However, it did not stop resistance.
How did lives of slaves differ in the north, south, and middle colonies?
North – 10% - hired as blacksmiths or house servants; small farms – might
work alongside owner; could buy freedom
South – saw few whites; spoke Gullah; kept many African traditions
Middle – craftsworkers created quilts, furniture, walking sticks; used drums for
communication; banjo
Why was education important to Puritans?
Went with religion – everyone expected to read Bible
How did education vary between wealthy and poor? Boys and girls? Slaves and
whites?
Wealthy/gentry could hire private tutors; poor – often no formal education
Boys – received more education; girls – often taught during summers or in dame
schools
Most colonial schools restricted to whites; some missionaries taught slaves to
read; some secret teaching (against slave codes)
Why were colleges created?
Educate men for ministry
Who was Anne Bradstreet? Phillis Wheatley?
Bradstreet – first colonial poet; expressed joys and hardships of life in Puritan
New England
Wheatley – enslaved African poet
What were some of Ben Franklin’s accomplishments?
Poor Richard’s Almanack, writer, businessman, community leader, scientist,
inventor, diplomat, electricity discovery
What was the Great Awakening? What impact did it have?
Religious revival that swept through colonies in 1730s and 1740s. Led to rise of
new churches and strengthened democratic ideas. Religious leaders called on
people to examine their lives. Led to split between Old and New movements in
Methodist, Baptists, and Presbyterian churches. Led to growth of more religious
diversity and tolerance.
What was the Enlightenment?
Late 1600s, European thinkers came to believe that all problems could be
solved by human reason. Challenged idea of the divine right of monarchs.
Looked for natural laws that governed politics, society, and economics.
Who was John Locke? What were his key ideas?
Argued people have natural rights (life, liberty, and property). Challenged belief
that monarchs get their authority to rule directly from God. Argued that people
formed gov’ts in order to protect rights. Believed if monarch violates rights,
people have right to overthrow monarch.
Who was Montesquieu? What did he believe? Favor? Suggest?
French Enlightenment thinker that favored separation of powers which protects
the rights of the people. Suggested gov’t should be divided into three branches.