American History Unit 1 Topics

Front 1

Conquistadors

Back 1

15th and 16th Century Spaniards, Cortes-conquered the Aztecs, and Pizarro-Incas, Motivated by the three G's- God, Gold, Glory

Front 2

Treaty of Tordesillas

Back 2

1494 – This treaty, negotiated between Spain and Portugal by the Pope, divided the world between Spain and Portugal. In the New World, the treaty line separated Portuguese Brazil from the rest of Spanish South America. In the Far East, the East Indies, on one side of the line, became Portuguese controlled and the Philippines, on the other side of the line, became a Spanish colony.

Front 3

The "Black Legend"

Back 3

This refers to the dismal record of the Spanish in their relations with the indigenous people they conquered in the New World. It particularly applies to Spanish relations with the Caribs, the native people of the islands of the Caribbean, who were pretty much wiped out by the Spanish within a hundred years of Columbus’ arrival.

Front 4

Joint-Stock Companies

Back 4

Originated in the 16th century by the Dutch, joint-stock companies became one of the prime ways that capital for business purposes was raised during the 17th and 18th centuries (particularly in Protestant countries). Just as modern public corporations raise money by selling stock, joint-stock companies raised capital by attracting investment from many small investors, which spread risk around to enough people so that no one was necessarily ruined by the failure of a joint-stock company.

Front 5

Roanoke Colony

Back 5

The "Lost Colony", Failed attempt to set up an English colony in 1587, unable to get supplies in 1588 and mysteriously "disappeared"

Front 6

Jamestown

Back 6

Named for King James I, established in 1607 in Virginia. Founded by the London Company as a way to create wealth for it's investors, although there really were no valuable resources.

Front 7

Plymouth Colony

Back 7

Founded in 1620 in Massachusetts by settlers led by Separatists who sought religious freedom from the Church of England.

Front 8

Mayflower Compact

Back 8

Not an actual contract, but it provided the means by which Plymouth Colony would be governed. Only 41 of the 102 settlers signed it. Provided self government.

Front 9

Massachusetts Bay colony

Back 9

1630—The Puritan colony, established at Boston. This is the colony that would expand to become New England in later years. It started out as a religious experiment to become a model religious commonwealth. John Winthrop was governor for almost 2 decades.

Front 10

The Three Colonies

Back 10

Chartered, Proprietary, Royal

Front 11

Chartered Colony

Back 11

The first type of colony was that founded by a joint-stock company, which obtained a charter from the king’s government authorizing the company to establish a colony on land claimed by England. Jamestown, Plymouth, and Massachusetts Bay

Front 12

Proprietary Colony

Back 12

This type of colony was actually owned by a proprietor, such as Lord Baltimore in Maryland or William Penn in Pennsylvania. It became a way for the king to settle debts with English noblemen by giving them proprietorship of a colony.

Front 13

Royal Colony

Back 13

the first royal colony was Virginia in 1624. This came about when the company that had established Virginia went bankrupt, forcing the British government to assume control of the colony even though the British government did not want to be much involved with overseas colonies.

Front 14

The Starving Times

Back 14

Refers to the early years of the first English colonies, particularly Virginia, colonists were barely surviving and usually died in the winter.

Front 15

House of Burgesses

Back 15

1619 – This was the lower house of the Virginia legislature. It was elected by the people and controlled taxes. Because the governor’s salary was paid by the legislature, the legislature could usually politically control the governor.