1. What were the characteristics of colonial life in America?
LESSON 2A

2. How did geography affect America’s development as a nation?
THE EFFECT OF GEOGRAPHY ON AMERICA
Colonies
Colony: A territory or possession of another country that has limited self government (autonomy)
Nations claimed colonies to enhance their power and wealth
In the process of gaining colonies native cultures were often destroyed

3. How did geography affect America’s development as a nation?
Why thirteen colonies?
Because colonies were applied for  you had to have a "charter" (a document of permission) from the King
Separating them made good political sense and provided for smaller more manageable governments
Geography - the sheer size of the territory - made division necessary

4. How did geography affect America’s development as a nation?
Who ran the colonies?
Governors who were chosen by the King
Locally elected legislatures (EX: Virginia House of Burgesses)

5. What motivations existed to entice Europeans to come to the New World?
WHY BECOME A COLONIST?
Religious persecution
Economic opportunity

6. How did America’s makeup influence its experiences?
THE EFFECT OF GEOGRAPHY
Became a nation of farmers and traders
Made it difficult to govern
King really left the colonies alone  this policy was called "Salutary Neglect"
The colonists developed, by necessity, limited self-government
Eventually saw themselves as different, a breed apart
Contributed to the American Revolution

7. THE BRITISH CREATE A COLONIAL EMPIRE
Who were the Pilgrims, and why did they come to the New World?
Came to America in search of religious freedom
Considered themselves loyal British subjects
Proved that colonies in the New World could be successful

8. Why was the British Government interested in the New World?
British interested in pursuing mercantilist policy
MERCANTILISM: When a larger country establishes colonies intended to exist solely for the good of the mother country
Colonies meant land, power, raw materials
Colonies served as a market for finished goods
Colonists could be taxed

9. If you were a member of Parliament, how would you encourage colonization of this new land?
Charter joint stock companies that limited risk among many investors interested in the New World
HEADRIGHT SYSTEM: Joint stock company policy of freely granting acres of land to settlers and other family members (EX: Virginia)

10. How did people who couldn't afford land and berth come to America?
INDENTURED SERVANTS: Worked for seven years with no pay, then became apprentices
Often young people

11. What did the King expect from his colonies?
Gain raw materials, market for goods  goal of mercantilist policy
The colonies existed for the good of the mother country

12. Why were the colonists satisfied with colonialism until the mid-1600's?
Colonists couldn't produce too many finished goods anyway
When they did in New England, the British were unable to stop it

13. AMERICA: DIVIDED AT BIRTH
NEW ENGLAND
MIDDLE ATLANTIC
SOUTH
CLIMATE & TOPOGRAPHY
Rugged terrain
Natural harbors
Temperate, cold winters,
Shorter growing season
Flat lands, plains
Moderate growing season
Less harbors
Long growing season
ECONOMY
Industry
Shipping
Trade
Some farming
farming
Agriculture

14. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH
CULTURE
Northern economy was industrial and faced paced
Workers worked at the docks and in small cottage industries
Deadlines and production schedules needed to be met
Most workers were farmers
Slower lifestyle with greater dependence on Mother Nature
Most large Southern plantations imported slaves
Plantation owner became the "Gentleman Farmer"
Slaves provided overwhelming majority of labor
Clear difference in lifestyle and culture

15. ECONOMIC NEEDS & STRENGTHS
NORTH
SOUTH
ECONOMIC NEEDS & STRENGTHS
Centered around commerce (trade)
Hurt worse by mercantile policies than the South
Supported protective tariffs intended to help build Northern industry and hurt British imports
Able to sell Britain cotton, rice, tea, tobacco, and indigo
Opposed protective tariffs as it hurt their relationship with Britain

16. Greater in North and important for support of American Revolution
SOUTH
POPULATION
Greater in North and important for support of American Revolution
Became a crucial disadvantage for South leading into the Civil War