Study Guide

Social Studies Final

Early Civilizations

Mayas –Early civilization that lived between AD 250 and AD 900.

Built their cities in now Mexico and Central America.

They developed arts, a system of government, and a written language.

They also developed a calendar and carved stories into stones of their buildings.

Incas

Lived in the 1400s in South America.Cuzco was the capital.Constructed buildings of huge stones

carefully shaped to fit together.Built canals and bridges.Produced fine weavings and metal work

Aztecs

Built their great capital city Tenochtitlan in present-day Mexico City.

Farmers raised crops on floating gardens.Used human sacrifices to appease the

Gods.

Mansa Musi Ruled Mali at its height

The Land Bridge Theory

Scientists believe that the land bridge connected Siberia and Alaska and it is now the Bering Strait. They believe early people crossed it to begin civilization in North America.

Explorers

John Cabot and Henry Hudson both vanished in the Americas never to be found.

Magellan discovered a strait and it was named “The Strait of Magellan.”

Henry Hudson – vanished in 1611 when his crew mutinied.

Juan Ponce de Leon – gave Florida its name Leif Erikson – may have reached America before

Columbus did.

Europeans come to the Americas

The Crusades exposed Europeans to new ideas and possibilities.

The Columbian Exchange – the transfer of people, goods, and ideas between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Middle Passage – The sea route connecting Africa to the Americas. Enslaved people experienced a brutal voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.

Native Americans

Hunted buffalo on the Great Plains Native Americans began to die off because of diseases

spread by Europeans. This caused the greatest number of Native American fatalities.

The harsh treatment of the Europeans. They also died because the Native Americans did not

have the weapons, advanced technology, or horses during battles.

Native Americans had many traditions that reflected their beliefs in spirits.

Spanish established missions in order to convert the Native Americans to Christianity.

Jamestown

The first permanent settlement in Virginia.When settlers raided Native American

villages for food Powhattan turned against the Jamestown settlers.

Pilgrims

Left England because they wanted to split from the Church of England

Were headed toward Virginia and were blown off course by a storm.

They landed in Plymouth Massachusetts.They felt that they did not have to follow

the king’s rules.They created the Mayflower Compact to

help them govern their new colony fairly.

John Winthrop

“We must consider that we shall be seen on the Hill.” The eyes of all people are upon us. (John Winthrop) with this quote John Winthrop was saying that we must provide a good example to others.

Puritans

The main religion in Massachusetts was Puritan (A reformed version of Church of England.)

Thomas Hooker and Anne Hutchinson both disagreed with the Puritan leaders and left Massachusetts to start their own colonies.

Thomas Hooker went to Connecticut Anne Hutchins went to Rhode Island Every Puritan town with at least 50 families was

required to star an elementary school.

Protestant Reformation

Protestants were people who protested the Christian beliefs.

They began their own religion in order to reform many of the Christian practices.

The leader was Martin Luther.

The Colonies

New England Colonies – Cold climate, short growing season

Middle Colonies – Warmer climate, longer growing season then New England Colonies. Pennsylvania is known as the bread basket because they grew grains (wheat, barley etc.)

Southern Colonies – warm climate, long growing season – grew tobacco and rice

Colonial Times

In colonial times, young men learned a trade by becoming an apprentice.

Classes –- Poor – They had the ability to move up the

social ladder in the Americas whereas in England once your born poor, you stay poor.

- Middle Class – farmers, merchants, tradesmen- Gentry – Upper class – plantation owners, -

Southern gentry hired tutors to teach their children.

Life in the Colonies

Most women in Colonial America were expected to marry men chosen by their parents.

Colonial public schools included instruction in religion, unlike modern public schools.

Colonists take more land

Proclamation of 1763 – declared that colonial settlers had to remain East of the Appalachian Mountains and any settler that lived East of the line, had to move. It was established in order to prevent fighting between settlers and Native Americans.

French and Indian War

Fought between France and Britain because Britain was moving West and taking over Native American and France’s land.

England won the war and Britain took over their land. Spain was given back Florida.

After the French and Indian War, colonists began to see themselves separate from Britain.

Townshend Acts

Because England was in debt, the King issued taxes for the colonists to pay.

Stamp Act – Passed in 1765, Taxed legal documents (wills, marriage licenses) by requiring the colonists to buy stamps.

Sugar Act – Taxed molasses Quartering Act – Forced colonists to house soldiers. Navigation Acts – A way for Britain to attain money from

the colonists by setting up ways to regulate trade. Colonists got around the Navigation Acts by Smuggling. Writs of Assistance – Allowed port authority to search

ships for no reason. Helped to stop smuggling.

The Olive Branch Petition

The colonists sent the Olive Branch Petition to the King of England stating that they would remain loyal to him.

It was their last effort to avoid war.

Declaration of Independence

The main purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to declare separation or independence from Britain.

The Declaration has 3 parts.The Preamble or introductionList of Grievances – included colonists

being taxed w/out their consent.Statement of Independence

American Revolution

Revolution lasted almost 8 years. Revolution is between the patriots and the loyalists. Nobody knows who fired the first shot at Lexington that

started the Revolution. It is known as the shot heard ‘round the world.

Bunker Hill was the first major battle of the Revolution. It proved that the Americans were going to be hard to beat.

The Battle of Saratoga is known as the turning point of the War. It was fought in the Middle Colonies.

Inspired the French and Spanish Revolutions.

Revolution continued The greatest contribution to the American victory at

Yorktown was the aid of the French fleet. John Paul Jones led Americans in the greatest sea

victory against the battleship Serapis. France was the first country to sign a treaty of alliance

with the United States Nathan Hale was captured by the British while he was

collecting information about British battle plans. He is known for saying “I only wish I had but one life to live for my country.”

Francis Marion led Patriots and used guerilla warfare against the British.

Friedrich von Steuben, Thaddeus Kosciusko and Marquis de Lafayette all came from Europe to help the Americans’ cause during the Revolutionary War.

Treaty of Paris

The signed document that officially ended the Revolutionary War.

After the Revolution, most loyalists property was to be returned to them, but no states abided by this ruling.

The Articles of Confederation

The “original” constitution Daniel Shays was a colonist who helped fight in

the Revolutionary War and was also a farmer. He went around the colony attacking court houses in order to prevent them from taking over other farmer’s land.

Shay’s Rebellion was instrumental in showing the government that the Articles of Confederation were not working. It persuaded the government leaders to revise the Articles of Confederation.

3/5ths Compromise

Stated that Southern states could only include 3/5ths of the enslaved people in order to determine representation in Congress.

The Great Compromise was when Congress allowed larger states to have more representatives in the lower house and 2 senators in the Senate. This was a compromise in representation between large and small states.

The Constitution

Document that set out laws and principles of a government.

“We the People” written in the preamble of the constitution gets its authority from the citizens of the United States.

Federalists vs. Anti-federalists

Federalists are people for a stronger government. The were for creating the constitution.

Anti-federalists are people who were against creating a new constitution because they felt that a strong government would create a similar situation to what they had in England.

They also opposed ratification of the constitution because it did not include protection of individual rights.

French Revolution

After the American Revolution, France was inspired to seek independence.

France’s Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, was modeled in part on America’s Declaration of Independence.

Washington

The First President of the United StatesA great leader who was directly

responsible for the American’s winning the Revolutionary War.

In his farewell address, George Washington advised against becoming involved in European affairs because he did not want the United States to be dragged back into war.

Jefferson

Wrote most of the Declaration of Independence.

Jefferson wanted to cut federal spendingHe did this because he was determined to

reduce the size and power of the federal government.

When in office, Jefferson released the people who had been imprisoned under the Sedition Act.

Louisiana Purchase

Jefferson felt he did not have the constitutional power to buy the Louisiana territory.

Natural features that mark the boundary of the Louisiana Purchase are the Mississippi River and the continental divide.

Spain felt most threatened by American explorations of Louisiana purchase.