Colonial America
O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in! It is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath that you are held over in the hand of God... This quote best represents the views of which Congregational minister? A. Jonathan Edwards B. George Whitefield C. Cotton Mather D. John Winthrop E. John Cotton
A: Jonathan Edwards (1703-58), NE preacher, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Called for complete dependence on God's grace. First Great Awakening, emotional religious revival. - George Whitefield traveled throughout the colonies, unlike Edwards, who preached primarily to the New Englanders. - Cotton Mather was a Puritan minister involved in the Salem witch trials. - John Winthrop and John Cotton were leading figures in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The delegates who attended the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774 A. decided to establish a separate colonial government B. formed a committee to produce the Declaration of Independence C. agreed to meet with the king's Parliament to resolve the issue of taxation D. declared that Parliament had no authority over internal colonial affairs but could regulate commerce E. demanded that the king remove the American troops stationed in the thirteen colonies
D: First Continental Congress (1774) meant to figure out how colonies should react to the "threat" to their rights. - At this time, most Americans did not want independence. - All they wanted was to protest parliamentary violation of rights. - Agreed to draft official protest against Intolerable (Coercive) Acts. - Congress drafted Declaration of Rights (reaffirmed that Parliament had no authority over colonial affairs but could regulate commerce). - Did not desire independence, except for a few radicals led by Patrick Henry (VA), John and Samuel Adams (MA). - Moderates such as George Washington (VA), John Dickinson (DE) wanted null statement of protest. - Conservatives: John Jay (NY), Joseph Galloway (PA), only mildly protested. - The delegates agreed to petition the king but did not demand a meeting with him or Parliament. The Congress did not address the removal of British troops from North America.
Which was the dominant economic occupation in colonial America? A. lumbering B. fishing C. slave trading D. agriculture E. iron making
D: Agriculture was the leading industry. - southern colonies produced tobacco - middle colonies produced grain - lumbering and fishing less prevalent than agriculture, though predominant in NE - slave trade existed in southern colonies and to a lesser degree in northern colonies. - Iron forges existed in most colonies but were limited in production.
The first direct tax on colonists passed by Parliament to produce revenue was the A. Stamp Act B. Sugar Act C. Townshend Act D. Tea Act E. Intolerable Acts
A: Stamp Act, 1765: first direct tax on colonists. Tax on newspapers, almanacs, all legal documents, other types of papers. - Sugar Act, 1764. Indirect tax. - Townshend Act, 1767. - Tea Act, 1773. - Intolerable Acts, 1774.
The political leader in 1763 who insisted that colonists be put under stricter control and pay more taxes to administer the empire was A. William Pitt B. George Grenville C. Charles Townshend D. Frederick North E. James Otis
B: George Grenville, 1763, felt American colonies had to pay more taxes to pay back debts from French and Indian War. Also felt GB needed troops in NA to control new territories. Abandoned salutary neglect. - William Pitt was not head of British government in 1763. - Charles Townshend was Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1767. - Lord Frederick North succeeded Charles Townshend in 1768. - James Otis (MA) was colonial leader who opposed Townshend Acts.
Which of the original thirteen colonies was NOT established for religious or economic reasons? A. Rhode Island B. Virginia C. Georgia D. Massachusetts Bay E. Pennsylvania
C: Georgia was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe to buffer Carolina against incursion by the Spanish in Florida. - Roger Williams, RI, 1636: religious freedom from Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony. - VA, 1607, economic reasons (gold). - MB established to escape religious persecution by Church of England. - Pennsylvania was Quaker haven.
In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense:... I have heard it asserted by some that, as America has flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument. We may as well assert that, because a child had thrived upon milk, it is never to have meat, or that the first twenty years of our lives is to become a precedent for the next twenty. But even this is admitting more than is true. For I answer roundly that America would have flourished as much, and probably much more, had no European power taken any notice of her... The above passage best expresses the ideas of A. George Washington B. Thomas Jefferson C. Thomas Paine D. Samuel Adams E. John Dickinson
C: Thomas Paine, Common Sense. Accelerated move toward independence. Unlike Jefferson, Washington, Dickinson, and even Samuel Adams, Paine urged immediate break from GB to secure foreign aid and fulfill America's moral mandate to the world. Claimed it was "common sense" for America to declare its independence.
Which is the best description of the political development of colonial America in the mid-eighteenth century? A. Only slaves and indentured servants were directly barred from voting. B. The chief executive or governor dominated colonial government. C. Participation in government was open to all colonists who owned property. D. Colonial democracy was limited but still more democratic than most systems in Europe. E. Members of the legislature of the colonies were directly elected by the people.
D: Colonial democracy was limited. - Only propertied, wealthy white men could vote. No blacks, women, slaves, Catholics, Jews, or poor white men. - Members of the legislature were only elected by educated white property owners. - The legislature usually controlled the government because they had the power of the purse to reject or approve new taxes. - Nevertheless, compared to other parts of the world, English colonies showed tendencies toward democracy and self government much different from Euro-style absolute monarchies.
The policy of mercantilism adopted by Great Britain in relation to the thirteen colonies was designed to A. make the colonists self-sufficient B. allow the colonists to establish trading posts with Native Americans on the frontier C. strengthen the defenses of the colonies against attacks by the French D. improve and strengthen the economy of the mother country E. promote better relations among the thirteen colonies
D: Mercantilism = economic policy stating that colonies existed for benefit of mother country. Looked on trade, colonies, and wealth as basis for country's military and political strength. Government should regulate trade and production to help the mother country; colonies should not be self-sufficient. - Colonies provided raw materials to mother country to help manufacturing to prosper. - Mercantilism was not designed to open up trade with NAs, provide defense for colonies, or promote cooperation among colonies.
Which of the following statements would be the LEAST accurate about eighteenth-century colonial society? A. English culture dominated a majority of the thirteen colonies. B. Protestantism was the dominant religion in the colonies. C. The economic structure of the colonies promoted social mobility. D. Religious tolerance was prevalent in the middle colonies. E. A hereditary aristocracy provided leadership for colonial government and the American Revolution.
E: A hereditary aristocracy or a wealthy class that inherited power did not exist in the thirteen colonies. Colonial leaders such as John Winthrop, William Penn, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Benjamin Franklin were landowners, merchants, or lawyers. They did not inherit wealth or achieve leadership positions based on birthright. Colonial America was predominantly English. Except for Maryland, the colonies followed different sects of Protestantism, from Puritanism in New England to Anglicanism in the south. The middle colonies did not establish state-sanctioned religion but promoted religious toleration. New Jersey had forty-five different congregations, and Pennsylvania provided a safe haven for the persecuted of the Old and New Worlds. Groups like the Amish and Mennonites found freedom in Pennsylvania.
Shays' Rebellion A. was a protest by farmers against the failure of the Articles of Confederation to pay bonuses to the veterans of the American Revolution B. was a violent mob reaction by westerners on the frontier in reaction to Native American attacks on their settlements C. was a slave uprising in the northern colonies against the indentured slave laws D. was organized by Anti-Federalists to prevent ratification of the Constitution E. convinced some American political leaders of the need for a stronger national or central government to maintain law and order
E: In the summer of 1786, Capt. Daniel Shays, a Massachusetts farmer and Revolutionary War veteran, led other farmers in an uprising against higher state taxes, imprisonment for debts, and lack of paper money. The farmers demanded that states issue paper money, lighten taxes, and suspend foreclosure laws. Farmers stopped the collection of taxes and forced the closing of debtor court. In January 1787, when Shays and his followers attempted to seize weapons from the Springfield armory, the Massachusetts state militia crushed Shays's Rebellion. The rebellion created fear in the propertied class, who felt that mob rule was taking over the United States. Jefferson feared elective despotism. The nation needed a strong central government to create the foundation for a stable society. Both friends and critics agreed that the Articles of Confederation needed strengthening. Shays's Rebellion was not a protest for pay bonuses or about Native American attacks on Americans living on the frontier. It was not a slave uprising, nor was it Anti-Federalist. The rebellion expressed the frustration of some Americans about a weak central government.