Life in the Colonies Unit Study Guide
Why did settlers leave England to establish colonies in the New World?
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To gain wealth through land acquisition
To gain wealth through the fur trade
To find religious freedom
To escape intolerance
What are the three types of colonies established?
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Corporate colony – monarch gave control of the land and its settlers to a business
Proprietary colony – control was given to a proprietor (owner) or group of proprietors
(owners)
Royal/crown colony – monarch kept control usually through appointed officials … by
1752 many colonies had been changed to a royal colony
Colonial “regions” (N.E., Middle, Southern) developed based on what?
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N.E. – wet, cold, hilly rocky: small self-sustaining farms, fishing, logging
Middle – a little longer growing season, some cash crops grown (wheat & rye), good
harbors were plentiful so shipping and shipbuilding were significant industries. Fur
trading also developed in this region.
Southern – warm climate, rich soil: perfect for large-scale farming. Large plantations
developed growing major cash crops such as indigo, tobacco, and rice.
Explain how settlers were self-sufficient in their new land?
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They were able to produce most everything that they needed.
What was the geography of New England and how did that effect their industry and way of
life?
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Cold climate and rocky soil
The New England colonies were hilly and rocky, and the climate was wet and cool. This
made large-scale farming difficult. Although, many colonists were self-sufficient
farmers.
Because of the available water and forests, fishing, ship building, and logging were the
major industries in these colonies.
Who were the Puritans? Why did they leave England?
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The Puritans came to the New World seeking religious freedom.
They wanted to purify the Church of England. They wanted to do away with the fancy
adornments and ceremonies.
The Puritan colony was named the Massachusetts Bay Colony and their main
settlement was in the city of Boston.
Who led the Puritans to the New World?
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John Winthrop
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Life in the Colonies Unit Study Guide
Name four key problems that the Puritan’s “Holy Experiment” community had.
1. Although they left England to escape religious intolerance, they themselves were
intolerant of any other views than their own.
2. They allowed slavery
3. Conflicts arose between the Puritans and the Native Americans
4. The Salem Witch Hunts – those accused of practicing witchcraft were subjected to trials
and hangings.
What does the word intolerant mean?
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Not accepting of ideas or behaviors difference from one’s own
What does the word persecution mean?
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Unjust treatment
Name three people that left Massachusetts due to religious intolerance and their
settlements.
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Roger Williams – Providence, Rhode Island
Thomas Hooker – Hartford, Connecticut
Anne Hutchinson – moved to Rhode Island
Who were the Separatists? What did they believe? What struggles did they endure?
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Separatists left England to begin their own church. They wanted to separate completely
from the Church of England.
They were blown off course and landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Were not prepared for the climate, nor used to the area, so they struggled to survive.
Who helped the Separatists?
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Squanto, Massassoit, and Samoset were Native Americans that helped the Separatists
learn how to survive in their new environment.
Who founded Providence, Rhode Island?
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Roger Williams was a dissenter (a person whose views are different from those of his or
her leaders) and was forced to leave Massachusetts.
Who was the governor of the Plymouth Colony?
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William Bradford was elected as the governor of the pilgrim’s Plymouth Colony after
the death of John Carver.
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Life in the Colonies Unit Study Guide
What was the Mayflower Compact?
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The Mayflower Compact was established as a new set of laws/rules to govern the
pilgrims (Separatists) once they realized they were no longer under British laws.
The “Lost Colony” was name _______ and established by_______.
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The “Lost Colony” was named Roanoke and was established by Sir Walter Raleigh.
What was the geography of the Middle Colonies like and how did this effect their industry
and way of life?
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The Middle Colonies had a more moderate climate and were resource rich:
o Fur Trade
o Farming – wheat and rye were grown as a cash crop
o Shipping/Ship-Building (many good harbors)
o Manufacturing
Who first settled the Middle Colonies?
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The Dutch, but England later took over the area.
The Quakers were also known as…
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“The Society of Friends”
The Middle Colonies were more tolerant of different religions because…
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…they were settled by a diverse group of people:
Dutch, Germans, Quakers… (refer to your notes & text for a complete list of people
groups that settled this area)
The Quakers believed in…
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…equal rights for all.
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Therefore:
o They opposed slavery
o They had good relationships with the Native Americans
o They welcomed all religions
The Quakers were led by _________ and founded the colony of __________.
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The Quakers were led by William Penn and founded the colony of Pennsylvania (“Penn’s
Woods).
Penn’s capital was called __________ and meant __________.
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Penn’s capital was named Philadelphia and meant “City of Brotherly Love.”
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Life in the Colonies Unit Study Guide
Who founded the colony of Maryland?
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Lord Baltimore
What was the main religious group in Maryland?
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Catholic
Who founded the thirteenth colony of Georgia? What was its purpose?
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Georgia was founded by James Oglethorpe for debtors and the poor
The House of Burgesses was located where, who were the members, and what did they do?
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The House of Burgesses is in Virginia, its members were free, male landowners
assembled to vote on matters such as:
o Taxes
o New laws
o Setting price of tobacco
Who was the leader of Virginia?
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John Smith
What was the official religion of Virginia?
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Anglicanism (Church of England)
Describe the Great Awakening and how it affected religious tolerance.
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Protestants began to develop new ideas about religion. They emphasized strong
emotions, rather than difficult idea.
People became more interested in religion
People joined new religious groups, like the Baptists or Methodist
Some religions reached out to African Americans
Growth and spread of such groups led to greater acceptance of people of different
faiths throughout the colonies.
Who were some of the leaders (preachers) of the Great Awakening?
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George Whitefield
Jonathan Edwards
Gilbert Tennent
Samuel Davies
What was the town common in New England colonies?
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An open space in the center where cattle and sheep could graze.
What is a free-market economy and why did it grow in the New England and Middle colonies?
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A system in which prices are not controlled by the government
Towns in Middle colonies served as busy trading centers, where farmers from the area
came to sell their crops and buy items like clothing and tools.
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Life in the Colonies Unit Study Guide
What is the difference between indentured servants and enslaved people?
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Indentured servants agree to work for an amount of time (usually 5-7 years) in exchange
for housing, food, and the voyage to North America
Enslaved people work in exchange for housing and food and work for free. They are
considered property and can be bought and sold.
What was the geography of the Southern colonies and how did that effect their industry and
way of life?
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Warm climate and rich soil
They had plantations (large farms) with many workers who lived on the land they
worked
Slavery increased because plantations grew
Plantation owners supported slavery because plantation owners needed them to work
the land
Why did early settlements need governments? Were they a true democracy? Explain.
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To help solve problems and make rules
The governments were NOT a true democracy because only men who owned property
could vote
The British passed laws for colonies without their knowledge or representation
Name four things that enslaved people did to rebel against their situation:
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Worked slowly
Ran away
Bought their own freedom
Sometimes they would fight back
What did the French, Spanish, and English focus on when they settled in the colonies?
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French – trade with several Indian groups
Spanish – agriculture and used enslaved people with plantations
English – agriculture (plantations) and various trades
Name five people who were influential in developing the colonies:
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John Smith – leader of Virginia
William Penn – founded Pennsylvania and created a colony of religious tolerance
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Life in the Colonies Unit Study Guide
Name three events that were influential in developing the colonies:
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Mayflower Pact – first basis of government
Great Awakening – created more interest in and tolerance for religion
House of Burgesses – first assembly (elected representatives) gathering for a specific
purpose
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