AMSCO APUSH Chapter 1-15 Questions and Answers 1
American Indian Societies 1491 – correct answer Some time between 10,000 and
40,000 years ago, people may have migrated from Asia to the Americas, across a land
bridge that connected Siberia and Alaska. Over a long period of time, successive
generations migrated southward to the southern tip of South America. They evolved to
hundreds of tribes, spoke different languages, and practiced different cultures. In the
1490s it is estimated that the Native American population was from 50 million to 100
million people.
European incentives for exploring and settling of America - correct answer In the 15th
century (1400s) there were three primary motives for Europeans to explore and settle
America were political, economic, and religious.
Political: In the 15th century Europe was changing politically. Nation states were
forming, where the majority of people shared a common culture and a common loyalty
toward a central government. The monarchs of these countries such as Spain, Portugal,
France, England, and the Netherlands depended on trade to bring in needed revenue
and they wanted to expand trade.
,Economic: In the past merchants had traveled a long, slow, and expensive land route to
Asia. In 1453, this route was blocked when the Ottoman Turks seized control of
Constantinople. In order to find a route to the rich Asian market, European nations
funded exploration by sea. In 1492, Spain financed Christopher Columbus who sailed
across the Atlantic in search of a route to Asia. He landed on an island in the Bahamas.
Religious: In the early 1500s, many Christians in northern European countries had
revolted against the Roman Catholic church, in the Protestant Reformation. The conflict
between the Catholics and the Protestants caused them to want to spread their version
of Christianity to other parts of the world.
Columbian Exchange correct answer - The Europeans and the original inhabitants of
the Americas had developed vastly different cultures over thousands of years. This term
refers to the transfer of plants, animals and germs from one side of the Atlantic to the
other for the first time. Europe received beans, corn, potatoes tomatoes, and tobacco.
America received sugar cane, bluegrasses, pigs, horses, the wheel, iron implements,
guns, and most importantly diseases.
triangular trade - correct answer In the 17th century New England merchant ships would
follow a triangle route. Starting from a New England port they would carry rum across
,the Atlantic to West African. There the rum would be traded for hundreds of African
slaves. Next, the ship would sale to the West Indies (Caribbean), trade the slaves, and
take on a cargo of sugar cane. The last part of the journey, they would return to a New
England port and sell the sugarcane, which was used to make rum.
Middle Passage correct answer - Voyage from West Africa to the West Indies. It was
miserable for the slaves transported and many died.
mercantilism - correct answer In the 17th century (1600s) most European kingdoms
adopted the economic policy of mercantilism. Under mercantilism, colonies were to
provide raw materials to the parent country for the growth and profit of the parent
countries industries. Colonies existed only to enrich the parent country. Spain and
France had applied mercantilistic policies with their colonies from the beginning, but
England began to apply mercantilistic policies in the mid 17th century.
Jamestown (cooperation, conflict, identity, leaders, failures, success, reasons for
settling) - correct answer In 1607, the first permanent English colony in America was
founded at this location. The Virginia Company, was a a joint-stock company chartered
by England's King James I. The settlement was located in a swampy area which
, resulted in fatal outbreaks of malaria and dysentery. Many of the settlers were not
accustomed to farming and hunting. Trade with the American Indians was important to
the settlement and conflicts would halt trade and settlers went hungry. By 1624, the
Virginia colony was near collapse, so King James I took direct control and turned it into
England's first royal colony.
indentured servitude - correct answer Young people from England under contract with a
master who paid for their passage. Worked for a specified period for room and board,
then they were free.
Plymouth Colony (cooperation, conflict, identity) - correct answer This colony was
started by the Pilgrims at Plymouth (Massachusetts). Originally known as Separatists,
they wanted to organize a church separate from the Church of England. Several
hundred of them left England and moved to Holland. In Holland they experienced
economic hardship and cultural differences. In 1620, they sailed aboard the Mayflower
to Plymouth. In the first winter nearly half of them perished. They were eventually
helped by friendly American Indians and celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621.
American Indian Societies 1491 – correct answer Some time between 10,000 and
40,000 years ago, people may have migrated from Asia to the Americas, across a land
bridge that connected Siberia and Alaska. Over a long period of time, successive
generations migrated southward to the southern tip of South America. They evolved to
hundreds of tribes, spoke different languages, and practiced different cultures. In the
1490s it is estimated that the Native American population was from 50 million to 100
million people.
European incentives for exploring and settling of America - correct answer In the 15th
century (1400s) there were three primary motives for Europeans to explore and settle
America were political, economic, and religious.
Political: In the 15th century Europe was changing politically. Nation states were
forming, where the majority of people shared a common culture and a common loyalty
toward a central government. The monarchs of these countries such as Spain, Portugal,
France, England, and the Netherlands depended on trade to bring in needed revenue
and they wanted to expand trade.
,Economic: In the past merchants had traveled a long, slow, and expensive land route to
Asia. In 1453, this route was blocked when the Ottoman Turks seized control of
Constantinople. In order to find a route to the rich Asian market, European nations
funded exploration by sea. In 1492, Spain financed Christopher Columbus who sailed
across the Atlantic in search of a route to Asia. He landed on an island in the Bahamas.
Religious: In the early 1500s, many Christians in northern European countries had
revolted against the Roman Catholic church, in the Protestant Reformation. The conflict
between the Catholics and the Protestants caused them to want to spread their version
of Christianity to other parts of the world.
Columbian Exchange correct answer - The Europeans and the original inhabitants of
the Americas had developed vastly different cultures over thousands of years. This term
refers to the transfer of plants, animals and germs from one side of the Atlantic to the
other for the first time. Europe received beans, corn, potatoes tomatoes, and tobacco.
America received sugar cane, bluegrasses, pigs, horses, the wheel, iron implements,
guns, and most importantly diseases.
triangular trade - correct answer In the 17th century New England merchant ships would
follow a triangle route. Starting from a New England port they would carry rum across
,the Atlantic to West African. There the rum would be traded for hundreds of African
slaves. Next, the ship would sale to the West Indies (Caribbean), trade the slaves, and
take on a cargo of sugar cane. The last part of the journey, they would return to a New
England port and sell the sugarcane, which was used to make rum.
Middle Passage correct answer - Voyage from West Africa to the West Indies. It was
miserable for the slaves transported and many died.
mercantilism - correct answer In the 17th century (1600s) most European kingdoms
adopted the economic policy of mercantilism. Under mercantilism, colonies were to
provide raw materials to the parent country for the growth and profit of the parent
countries industries. Colonies existed only to enrich the parent country. Spain and
France had applied mercantilistic policies with their colonies from the beginning, but
England began to apply mercantilistic policies in the mid 17th century.
Jamestown (cooperation, conflict, identity, leaders, failures, success, reasons for
settling) - correct answer In 1607, the first permanent English colony in America was
founded at this location. The Virginia Company, was a a joint-stock company chartered
by England's King James I. The settlement was located in a swampy area which
, resulted in fatal outbreaks of malaria and dysentery. Many of the settlers were not
accustomed to farming and hunting. Trade with the American Indians was important to
the settlement and conflicts would halt trade and settlers went hungry. By 1624, the
Virginia colony was near collapse, so King James I took direct control and turned it into
England's first royal colony.
indentured servitude - correct answer Young people from England under contract with a
master who paid for their passage. Worked for a specified period for room and board,
then they were free.
Plymouth Colony (cooperation, conflict, identity) - correct answer This colony was
started by the Pilgrims at Plymouth (Massachusetts). Originally known as Separatists,
they wanted to organize a church separate from the Church of England. Several
hundred of them left England and moved to Holland. In Holland they experienced
economic hardship and cultural differences. In 1620, they sailed aboard the Mayflower
to Plymouth. In the first winter nearly half of them perished. They were eventually
helped by friendly American Indians and celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621.
