Download Unit 1 Key Terms

Unit 1: Pre-Colonial Overview
Key Questions:
1. How does the geography influence settlement?
2. What are the geographical, political, and economical factors that influenced expeditions to the New
World?
3. How did the cultural differences impact the interactions between the explorers, early colonists, and Native
Americans?
Key People: Jacques Cartier, Henry Hudson, Christopher Columbus, Native American Leaders, Vikings, John
Cabot, Ponce de Leon, Hernando Cortes, Juan Pardo, Queen Elizabeth I, Walter Raleigh, Manteo, Wanchese,
Philip Amadas, Arthur Barlowe, Thomas Harriot, Richard Grenville, John White, Algonquin Tribes,
Tuscarora, Catawba, Cherokee, Croatoan, Giovanni da Verrazano, Amerigo Vespucci, Ferdinand Magellan,
Leif Erikson, Hernando deSoto
Geography: Mapping of North Carolina and United States’ regions, main cities, surrounding states, major
bodies of water, special features, rivers, coastal features, mountain ranges, and surrounding countries.
Unit’s Key Understandings:
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Early colonial governments were established under the authority of a charter, or contract, granted by
the King of England.
Many Native Americans were matrilineal, with members of the clan (extended family) tracing their
family tree through their mothers' bloodlines.
Early European explorers began to establish colonies along the coasts of North America.
The three main divisions of the Cherokee nation each spoke their own dialect of the Cherokee
language.
The English, Spanish, and French each sent a series of expeditions to North America in search of new
lands and resources.
One of the greatest threats Native Americans faced when Europeans arrived in North America was
that they had no immunity to European diseases.
European colonization in the Americas was driven by the economic movement known as
mercantilism, in which nations sought to gain global dominance through the accumulation and
absolute control of wealth and resources.
North Carolina was established as the Carolina Colony in 1663 under the leadership of eight
proprietors.
Three reasons behind the expeditions of North and South America were greed (gold and world
power), glory (fame), and God (religion).
The Columbian Exchange involved the trade of numerous animals, foods, ideas, people (including
African slaves), plants and diseases between Europeans and American Indians.
The regions of North Carolina (Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Tidewater) influenced the
development of specific societies within those regions.
In most cases, there was peaceful coexistence between settlers and Native American groups. Over
time, however, these interactions became contentious and sometimes violent as colonial populations
grew as well as their desire for land and resources.
Assessments:
Key Term Quiz (15 points-matching)
Unit Assessment (50 points-matching, multiple choice, short answer)
Term
Definition
Long-term atmospheric conditions.
climate
Gulf Stream
Ex. North Carolina has a temperate climate because on average, it doesn’t get too cold or too hot-it’s very mild.
The ocean current that runs northward along the North Carolina coast; it carries warm water
from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic.
Ex. It helps create NC’s mild temperatures as well as brings hurricanes along the coast.
A specific area where the lay of the land and the habits of the people are much the same.
region
Ex. The Piedmont region is hilly, it’s prone to ice-storms in the Winter, and its economy thrives on education, medicine, and
technology. On the other hand, the Tidewater region is flat and sandy, it’s warmer, and its economy thrives on tourism and fishing.
An official document granting a person or company specific rights.
charter
Ex. Walter Raleigh was given a charter (a contract) that stated he could send expeditions to the New World.
Resistance to disease.
immunity
Ex. Thousands of Native Americans died of European diseases because they weren’t immune to these diseases. They never had these
types of diseases (Small Pox, Measles, etc.) in their communities.
A planned journey.
expedition
Ex. Explorers planned their expeditions by having charters, men, and supplies to do so.
Old World
Today’s continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa that occupied for 1000s of years before the
discovery of the Americas.
New World
Today’s continents of North & South America that was not yet "claimed" by the Europeans.
dialect
The variations of spoken language (grammar, vocabulary, accent, etc.) heard amongst specific
regions and groups of people.
Ex. Southerners say “Y’All”. Boston “cella” (basement). Canadian “ohht” (out)
A ship route along the Arctic Coast of Canada and Alaska to get to Asia.
Northwest
Passage
Ex. It would be faster to go through a water route to Asia for trading than through land (Europe and Asia) and therefore the quicker
exchange of goods equals faster access to profits.
An economic theory that in order to build economic strength, a nation must export more than it
imports.
mercantilism
nomads
Ex. In the 1600s, Britain’s economy benefited because it passed regulatory laws giving the country control over the trading system
with the colonies. The colonies sent its raw goods to Britain so Britain could have absolute control over the manufacturing and
trading of these goods.
People/tribe who have no set home & travel from place to place in search of food or a better
climate.
Ex. When the “first peoples” arrived in the Americas over 30,000 years ago over the Bering Strait, they travelled South when it
became too cold to live and animals went to hibernate during the Winter months.
colony
A small town (settlement) of people living in one area, and eventually grew into what we now
call states.
Ex. The initial British settlements of Jamestown, Massachusetts Bay, and Plymouth eventually become the royal colonies of Virginia
and Massachusetts.
Columbian
Exchange
culture
An exchange of animals, plants, culture (including slaves), communicable diseases, and ideas
between the Old World and New World.
Ex. Europeans brought horses and guns while Native Americans contributed ideas how to successfully farm and foods such as corn
and potatoes.
A group’s way of life—their behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols and are eventually passed
from one generation to the next.
Ex. Christians may attend church on Christmas Eve while Jews go to the synagogue during Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year).