HIST 1301 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS21
What is the best-documented pre-Columbian contact between Europe and the Americas? When
did this occur? - ANSWERS-The Vikings in 986.
Why was Columbus's discovery of America more significant than any prior contact that may
have occurred between Europe and America? - ANSWERS-He made claims and contacts.
What was the Columbian Exchange? - ANSWERS-How European/African crops and animals
affected life in the Americas and vice versa.
What Spanish explorer conquered the Aztecs of central Mexico? - ANSWERS-Hernan Cortez in
1519
Who conquered the Incas of Peru? - ANSWERS-Francisco Pizarro in 1530's
Who initially led the first voyage to circumnavigate the globe? How did this voyage affect the
focus of Spain's exploratory efforts? - ANSWERS-Magellan. They could reach South America via
Asia but the distance was too great to travel frequently.
What role did Alvar Nuñez (Cabeza de Vaca) play in the background of the Coronado
expedition? - ANSWERS-He wrote a book about cities of gold and that inspired Coronado's
expedition.
The English claim to the northeastern seacoast of North America was based on the 1497 voyage
of what explorer? What factors account for the 80-year delay in following up on this claim? -
,ANSWERS-John Cabot. Few people knew about it and it took time to get financing. There was
also antagonize Spain.
What factors encouraged the English to establish and populate colonies in America? -
ANSWERS-Religion or money.
Why was there not a more thorough search for the people of the "lost colony" of Roanoke? -
ANSWERS-
When was the first successful English colony in America established? Where? - ANSWERS-
Jamestown located in Virginia.
What problems did the early Jamestown settlers face? What leader enforced the rule that those
who refused to work would not be allowed to eat? - ANSWERS-Illness, lack of skills, lack of food,
uncertain relations with the Indians. Captain John Smith
What significant events coincided in 1619 in Virginia? - ANSWERS-Implementation of the
Headright system, the first meeting of the House of Burgesses, Arrival of English women, first
journal note of slavary
What religious group established Plymouth Plantation? What American tradition did they help
to establish? - ANSWERS-They were separatists. Thanksgiving.
What were the basic facts of the establishment of Massachusetts Bay colony with regard to
their government, education, and ways of dealing with dissenters? - ANSWERS-It was a
township, they setup colleges, they governed by 1. separation of church & state 2. religious
tolerance
What other colonies were settled by people from Massachusetts? - ANSWERS-Rhode Island,
Connecticut, Maine & New Hampshire
, Which colony was established to serve as a refuge for English Catholics? Which colony was
established to serve as a refuge for English Quakers? - ANSWERS-Maryland was for the English
Catholics; Pennsylvania was for the English Quakers
What three privileges did later-established colonies offer to attract prospective settlers? -
ANSWERS-religious tolerance, free land and representative government
Which colony was last to be established? What was its purpose? - ANSWERS-Georgia buffer to
protect South Carolina from Spanish military presence in Florida.
What were the three necessities of life in the southern colonies? - ANSWERS-Agriculture,
private ownership of land and labor
What was the headright system? What was its purpose? How did it work? - ANSWERS-Each man
would be given 100 acres in Virginia and for each "head" or person entering the colony a grant
of 50 acres for each dependent. the grantee could qualify for 50 more acres for each dependent
he brought along at his expense. He could choose any land he wanted as long as it hadn't been
claimed.
How did the indentured servant system work? What categories of indentured servants were
there? Which one predominated after 1700? What were the basic facts about slavery in colonial
America? When did it begin to displace indentured servanthood as the main source of labor in
the southern colonies? Why? - ANSWERS-They were contract laborers. They received a free ride
to America in exchange for signing a labor contract. Ship Captain would sell their contract to pay
the passage across the sea. The servant would be at the disposal of the purchaser "master" to
work off the expense of bringing him to America. There were voluntary and customary servants.
There were more customary and then slaves increased. The criminals became slaves.
What were the main export crops of the southern colonies? In what region was each raised? -
ANSWERS-Virginia, Maryland & Delaware - Tobacco South Carolina & Georgia - Rice & Indigo
AND ANSWERS21
What is the best-documented pre-Columbian contact between Europe and the Americas? When
did this occur? - ANSWERS-The Vikings in 986.
Why was Columbus's discovery of America more significant than any prior contact that may
have occurred between Europe and America? - ANSWERS-He made claims and contacts.
What was the Columbian Exchange? - ANSWERS-How European/African crops and animals
affected life in the Americas and vice versa.
What Spanish explorer conquered the Aztecs of central Mexico? - ANSWERS-Hernan Cortez in
1519
Who conquered the Incas of Peru? - ANSWERS-Francisco Pizarro in 1530's
Who initially led the first voyage to circumnavigate the globe? How did this voyage affect the
focus of Spain's exploratory efforts? - ANSWERS-Magellan. They could reach South America via
Asia but the distance was too great to travel frequently.
What role did Alvar Nuñez (Cabeza de Vaca) play in the background of the Coronado
expedition? - ANSWERS-He wrote a book about cities of gold and that inspired Coronado's
expedition.
The English claim to the northeastern seacoast of North America was based on the 1497 voyage
of what explorer? What factors account for the 80-year delay in following up on this claim? -
,ANSWERS-John Cabot. Few people knew about it and it took time to get financing. There was
also antagonize Spain.
What factors encouraged the English to establish and populate colonies in America? -
ANSWERS-Religion or money.
Why was there not a more thorough search for the people of the "lost colony" of Roanoke? -
ANSWERS-
When was the first successful English colony in America established? Where? - ANSWERS-
Jamestown located in Virginia.
What problems did the early Jamestown settlers face? What leader enforced the rule that those
who refused to work would not be allowed to eat? - ANSWERS-Illness, lack of skills, lack of food,
uncertain relations with the Indians. Captain John Smith
What significant events coincided in 1619 in Virginia? - ANSWERS-Implementation of the
Headright system, the first meeting of the House of Burgesses, Arrival of English women, first
journal note of slavary
What religious group established Plymouth Plantation? What American tradition did they help
to establish? - ANSWERS-They were separatists. Thanksgiving.
What were the basic facts of the establishment of Massachusetts Bay colony with regard to
their government, education, and ways of dealing with dissenters? - ANSWERS-It was a
township, they setup colleges, they governed by 1. separation of church & state 2. religious
tolerance
What other colonies were settled by people from Massachusetts? - ANSWERS-Rhode Island,
Connecticut, Maine & New Hampshire
, Which colony was established to serve as a refuge for English Catholics? Which colony was
established to serve as a refuge for English Quakers? - ANSWERS-Maryland was for the English
Catholics; Pennsylvania was for the English Quakers
What three privileges did later-established colonies offer to attract prospective settlers? -
ANSWERS-religious tolerance, free land and representative government
Which colony was last to be established? What was its purpose? - ANSWERS-Georgia buffer to
protect South Carolina from Spanish military presence in Florida.
What were the three necessities of life in the southern colonies? - ANSWERS-Agriculture,
private ownership of land and labor
What was the headright system? What was its purpose? How did it work? - ANSWERS-Each man
would be given 100 acres in Virginia and for each "head" or person entering the colony a grant
of 50 acres for each dependent. the grantee could qualify for 50 more acres for each dependent
he brought along at his expense. He could choose any land he wanted as long as it hadn't been
claimed.
How did the indentured servant system work? What categories of indentured servants were
there? Which one predominated after 1700? What were the basic facts about slavery in colonial
America? When did it begin to displace indentured servanthood as the main source of labor in
the southern colonies? Why? - ANSWERS-They were contract laborers. They received a free ride
to America in exchange for signing a labor contract. Ship Captain would sell their contract to pay
the passage across the sea. The servant would be at the disposal of the purchaser "master" to
work off the expense of bringing him to America. There were voluntary and customary servants.
There were more customary and then slaves increased. The criminals became slaves.
What were the main export crops of the southern colonies? In what region was each raised? -
ANSWERS-Virginia, Maryland & Delaware - Tobacco South Carolina & Georgia - Rice & Indigo
