Colonial America: Key Concepts and Events

In colonial America, families worked hard to meet their needs without modern conveniences. Men and women had distinct roles, with women managing household tasks and men handling farming and construction. Children also contributed to family labor. Society was divided into social classes, with most people in the middle class, while indentured servants and enslaved Africans formed the lower class. Colonists began to self-govern, but British laws still influenced them. The Triangular Trade connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, impacting the economy and culture. Despite hardships, colonists laid the foundation for a new nation.

What was a common living arrangement for families in colonial America?

• Single individuals in communal housing

• Families living in urban apartments

• Extended families living together

• Nuclear families in separate houses

What role did women typically have in colonial America?

• Managing household and nearby land

• Leading community meetings

• Running local businesses

• Serving in government positions

Which class did most people in colonial America belong to?

• Lower class

• Royal class

• Middle class

• Upper class or gentry

What did indentured servants receive after completing their service?

• A house in the city

• Land, tools, and supplies

• A position in government

• A permanent job

What was the significance of the Burgesses in Virginia?

• First representative assembly in the colonies

• First trade agreement with Britain

• First school for colonists

• First military unit in the colonies

How did Britain ensure financial gain from the colonies?

• By passing trade laws taxing goods

• By offering tax exemptions

• By investing in colonial businesses

• By providing free goods

What was exchanged in the Triangular Trade Network?

• Goods, slaves, and sugar

• Weapons, horses, and grain

• Gold, spices, and textiles

• Books, art, and jewelry

How did enslaved Africans contribute to colonial culture?

• By building colonial infrastructure

• By influencing language, cooking, and music

• By establishing trade routes

• By introducing new farming techniques

What challenges did farmers in the colonies face?

• Bad weather, drought, and disease

• Lack of land

• High taxes

• Competition from European farmers

What was the outcome of the settlers' resilience in the colonies?

• Formation of a new nation

• Creation of a new religion

• Abandonment of the colonies

• Return to European rule