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History of the Americas
Explore questions in the History of the Americas category that you can ask Sparky!
- Which of the following is the best explanation for the Salem witch craze?- The accusers wanted to end English control of New England.- Real witches had arrived in Salem Village and cast spells on young girls.- The controversy reflected the social division and anxieties within the village.- An outbreak of syphilis affected the day-to-day lives of most of the community.- The community had recently converted to a religion far different than Puritanism.
- Why did American colonists prefer to own African slaves rather than Indian slaves?- Africans could not escape easily since their dark skin made them stand out.- Africans ate less food and needed fewer resources to survive than Indian slaves.- Africans resisted less and tried to escape slavery less often than Indian slaves.- Africans avoided marriage, which made them easier to control.- Africans lived longer as slaves than Indians kept as slaves.
- Which statement below best describes the way the term "Columbian Exchange" applies to changes in the ecology of the Americas?- The introduction of European plants and animals significantly changed the ecology of the Americas.- New American crops improved the health of Europeans and spurred a dramatic increase in the population of Europe.- Infectious diseases killed 80 to 90 percent of the early European settlers who came to the Americas.- European explorers changed the names of most of the physical features in the Americas, eliminating earlier Indian names.- The interbreeding of Europeans with native Indians created a new racial and ethnic human population in the Americas.
- How did the Jamestown colony survive?- French settlers arrived to show the colonists how to plant corn.- African American slaves grew food to sustain the English colonists.- John Smith imposed strict military discipline and forced everyone to work.- Disease did not spread in the new colony.- The Virginia Company relocated to New York.
- What is the concept of divine right?- As opposed to governing through constitutional authority, the monarch answers only to God.- England was destined to dominate the New World, which justified any actions against its current inhabitants.- The citizens of a country have God-given rights that their government must defend, regardless of the official religion.- The head of the Anglican Church will never declare any doctrine or teaching that is against the will of God.- Kings and queens of England can no longer suspend Parliament, create armies, or impose taxes without Parliament's consent.
- The Columbian Exchange refers to the- first transaction involving the exchange of enslaved Africans and New World resources.- deal struck between Columbus and the Spanish monarchs to fund his expedition.- global transfer of plants, animals, and diseases as a result of Europeans landing in the Americas.- division of the Americas between Spain and Portugal as a result of the Treaty of Tordesillas.- establishment of the nation of Colombia in South America as the first permanent European colony.
- The stockholders who invested in the Virginia Company were motivated primarily by what factor?- financial profit- a desire to preserve natural landmarks- opposition to Catholicism- personal loyalty to James I- countering Spanish influence in the New World
- Why was Nathaniel Bacon enraged by Governor Sir William Berkeley?- Berkeley represented the common man in Virginia, especially small farmers.- Berkeley opposed the economic dominance and political influence of large planters.- Berkeley led a revolt of the poor against the well-connected and wealthy.- Berkeley ran against Bacon for the game of governor of Maryland.- Berkeley refused to punish the Native Americans for raiding White settlements.
- The Jamestown colony exhibited which of the following characteristics during its early years?- a high percentage of slaves in its settler population- religious freedom and Native American rights- the influence of women in its local government- competition over the discovery of gold deposits- a high mortality rate from disease and famine
- What was the primary economic focus of the Dutch in New Netherland?- tobacco production- rice cultivation- fur trade- timber harvesting- corn farming
- What did the South call themselves after they seceded from the Union?
- What war had the most American casualties in US history?
- Which statement best explains the role of conquistadors in creating the Spanish Empire in the Americas?- Spanish religious leaders who converted native peoples to Catholicism and established mission towns in Spanish America- native allies of the Spanish who helped the early Spanish explorers to conquer the Mexicas and the Inca- Spanish imperial government administrators sent to America to replace the early Spanish explorers and create stable colonial governments- mostly single, unskilled Spanish men who, as soldiers, conquered and then settled and ruled the lands of Spanish America- native Mexica and Inca imperial soldiers who fiercely resisted the Spanish invaders before falling victim to infectious diseases
- How did the Jamestown colony finally attain a measure of prosperity?- land sales- trade with the Indians- gold discoveries- tobacco production- trade with Spanish Florida
- Which of the following foods did Europeans introduce to the New World?- beans- corn- potatoes- squash- wheat
- Anne Hutchinson was kicked out of Massachusetts for what reason?- challenging the authority of male ministers- championing equal rights for women- having insufficient knowledge of the Bible- believing good works would earn a place in heaven- refusing to uphold the Sabbath
- After the arrival of Europeans, the greatest number of Indians died as a result of: -suicide.-starvation.-battle.-disease.-enslavement.
- Bartolomé de Las Casas spoke out against- the religious beliefs underpinning Catholicism.- the Spanish conquest of Granada.- the system of enforced native labor adopted by Spain.- the violence shown to Spaniards by Native Americans.- the agricultural impacts of the Columbian Exchange.
- Which of the following best describes the impact in Europe of new types of foods from the Americas?- Few native American foods could be transplanted to Europe, so their impact was minimal.- The new foods improved the health of Europeans and sparked rapid population growth.- Pork from pigs soon became the dominant meat source in Europe.- The export of food to Europe soon became the dominant motivation for the creation of colonies by European nations.- The new imported foods benefited wealthy Europeans who could afford them, but it benefited few poor people.
- Columbus succeeded in:-finding a water route to Asia.-proving the world was round.-inspiring subsequent European explorations.-bringing the benefits of European civilization to the Indians.-finding rich sources of rubies and diamonds.