Question 1

What was the primary economic motive behind the founding of Jamestown in 1607?

Accepted Answer

The Virginia Company of London sought profit through the discovery of gold and other valuable resources, making Jamestown a joint-stock company venture rather than a religious or political settlement.

Question 2

What was the 'headright system' used in colonial Virginia?

Accepted Answer

The headright system granted 50 acres of land to any person who paid for their own or another's passage to Virginia, incentivizing immigration and leading to the growth of large plantations worked by indentured servants.

Question 3

How did the Maryland Act of Toleration (1649) differ from true religious freedom?

Accepted Answer

The Act protected Christians of all denominations but explicitly excluded non-Christians such as Jews and atheists, and was primarily designed to protect the Catholic minority who founded the colony.

Question 4

What distinguished the Carolinas' economy in the late 17th century from Virginia's economy?

Accepted Answer

The Carolinas developed rice and indigo as their staple crops, relying heavily on enslaved Africans with knowledge of rice cultivation, whereas Virginia's economy centered on tobacco production.

Question 5

What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact (1620)?

Accepted Answer

The Mayflower Compact established the principle of self-government and majority rule by having the Pilgrims agree to create and obey 'just and equal laws' before landing, making it an early precedent for democratic governance in America.

Colonial America – AP US History Flashcards

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