Chapter 2 Questions- Colonial America

Which of the following was not a reason that colonization became a major focus of European exploration in the Americas during the period from 1607 to 1763?

• Wars of religion in Europe caused many to look for an escape from religious persecution.

• Profits from cash crops such as tobacco provided economic incentives to establish colonies in the New World.

• Colonial possessions strengthened the prestige of European nations at home.

• Cooperative native populations invited colonization to increase trade.

The establishment of colonies in Jamestown by the English, in Quebec by the French, and in Albany by the Dutch is best explained by which of the following statements?

• Many European nations acquiesced to Spanish dominance in North America.

• American Indian populations in North America were successful in driving off Spanish conquistadors.

• Spain’s focus on the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America opened the door for other nations to establish footholds in North America.

• Cooperative efforts by European monarchs led to the successful colonization of North America.

The French successfully established territorial claims in

• present-day Florida

• the St. Lawrence River Valley

• the Hudson River Valley

• the Chesapeake Bay area

All of the following were ways Native Americans interacted with European countries who colonized in the Americas EXCEPT

• Allied with European countries against rival tribes

• Moved to new cities in the colonies to trade and assimilate into colonial culture

• Moved further inland away from European colonies

• Fought wars against the European colonies

All the following were factors that led to the eventual end of American Indian resistance to European explorers and colonists in North America EXCEPT

• the relatively few Europeans who came to the Americas

• divisions and competition among different groups of Native Americans

• the technological superiority of European weapons

• the American Indians’ lack of immunity to European diseases such as smallpox

What was the “Middle Passage”?

• The long-sought waterway through North America that would provide access to Asia

• The second leg of the profitable triangular trade route that transported humans from West Africa to the Americas to be sold as slaves

• The exchange of goods and services between the Americas and Europe

• The trade routes established by the French that connected Quebec to the Mississippi River

Which of the following statements regarding the African slave trade is most accurate?

• Most African slaves were sold to plantation owners in British North America.

• Brazil and the West Indies were the most common destinations for African slaves.

• Because of high mortality rates, the profits to merchants and ship owners from the slave trade were relatively low.

• The French imported slaves into their territories via the Mississippi River Valley.

What was the purpose of slave codes in the North American colonies?

• To provide a list of rights and protections for slaves

• To set laws defining the legal status of enslaved individuals

• To establish agreement between European powers on the logistics of the slave trade

• To develop better living conditions during the Middle Passage

Which of the following statements best reflects the reasons for slavery in North America?

• Labor-intensive crop production required cheap labor.

• A surplus of European laborers depressed salaries.

• The absence of economic opportunities limited Europeans’ motivation to settle in North America.

• Warfare between colonial rivals meant most colonists served as soldiers rather than as laborers.

Roger Williams founded the colony of Rhode Island after he was forced to flee Massachusetts because of his

• support of the Church of England

• status as a royally appointed governor of the colony

• treatment of neighboring American Indians

• disagreement with the established religious authorities