KEY TERMS Key Terms and People to Know for the Regents Exam
Rivers / Colonial Geography
Water was used for transportation, so most colonial settlements were established along rivers or near the coastline. Jamestown (1607), Plymouth Colony (1620), and New Amsterdam (1625) were each established near the coastline.
Southern Geography / Plantations
Large plantations (and slavery) developed in the South during the colonial period because of geography. The Atlantic Coastal Plain in the South contains large areas of fertile soil and has a long growing season, which was perfect for plantation-style farming.
Virginia House of Burgesses
The Virginia House of Burgesses was important to the development of democracy in the thirteen colonies because it provided an example of a representative form of government.The Virginia House of Burgesses, the New York State Assembly, and the United States Senate are all examples of representative bodies.