AP U.S. History — Periods 1-3 (1491-1800)

Front

What was the primary significance of the Columbian Exchange (1492+)?

Back

It initiated the transfer of goods, crops, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds. This caused a massive demographic collapse of Native American populations due to disease (smallpox) while simultaneously fueling European population growth through the introduction of new caloric sources like the potato and maize.

Front

Compare the Spanish and French colonial goals in North America.

Back

The Spanish focused on extraction of gold and silver, utilizing the encomienda and caste systems to convert and exploit Native labor. The French focused on the fur trade, forging alliances with Native Americans (intermarriage) and prioritizing commercial profit over large-scale settlement or rigid conversion.

Front

Joint-Stock Companies

Back

Forerunners of modern corporations, such as the Virginia Company, used to pool investor capital for high-risk colonial ventures. They allowed the British to establish Jamestown (1607), shifting colonization from state-sponsored to private investment, eventually leading to the rise of representative assemblies like the House of Burgesses.

Front

Define the 'Headright System' and its impact.

Back

A system used in Virginia and Maryland (post-1618) granting 50 acres of land to anyone who paid for their passage or the passage of others. It incentivized the importation of indentured servants, establishing a social hierarchy and economic basis for tobacco cultivation, though it also increased tensions with Native Americans over land.

Front

How did the Puritans' religious beliefs shape New England society?

Back

Puritans sought to create a 'city upon a hill,' a model Christian community. This led to a society focused on literacy (for Bible reading), communal cohesion, and strict conformity. Dissent (e.g., Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson) was not tolerated, leading to the founding of Rhode Island which embraced greater religious freedom.