US History exam 1
Christopher Columbus
In 1492, Columbus sailed westward from Spain and reached the Caribbean islands, mistakenly thinking he had arrived in Asia.
Spanish Conquistadors
Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico in 1519-1521, while Francisco Pizarro subdued the Inca Empire in Peru in 1532-1533.
Florida and the Southwest
The Spanish established St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565 and Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1610.
French Exploration
French explorers like Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain focused on the northern regions, including Canada, while also exploring parts of what is now the United States.
Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia, founded by the Virginia Company of London in 1607, initially struggled due to disease and conflicts with Native Americans. The leadership of John Smith and the cultivation of tobacco eventually stabilized the colony.
Plymouth
The Pilgrims, seeking religious freedom, arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 and established Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower Compact was their governing document.
Puritans in Massachusetts
Led by John Winthrop, the Puritans established the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, creating a theocratic society focused on religious purity.
Maryland
Lord Baltimore founded Maryland in 1634 as a haven for Catholics, enacting the Act of Religious Toleration in 1649.
New Netherland
The Dutch established New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the 1620s, but it was taken over by the English in 1664 and renamed New York.
Tobacco
Tobacco cultivation in Virginia became a major cash crop, and labor-intensive plantations were established.
Fur Trade
In the northern colonies, the fur trade, especially in beaver pelts, drove economic activity.
Navigation Acts
England passed a series of Navigation Acts in the 1650s and 1660s to regulate colonial trade, limiting commerce with other nations and requiring goods to be transported on English ships.
Roger Williams and Rhode Island
Roger Williams, expelled from Massachusetts for his religious beliefs, founded Rhode Island in 1636, promoting religious tolerance.
Quakers in Pennsylvania
William Penn established Pennsylvania in 1681 as a refuge for Quakers, emphasizing religious freedom.
Religious Tensions
Despite these examples, religious tensions persisted, leading to events like the Salem witch trials in 1692, fueled by superstition and fear.