KEY TERMS Key Terms and People to Know for the Regents Exam
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.
New England Geography
New England had good harbors and abundant forests, so they based their economy on trade and manufacturing. Because of rocky soil and a short growing season, New England did NOT develop plantations like the South.
Appalachian Mountains
Because they were initially difficult to cross, the Appalachian Mountains served as a geographic western boundary for British colonial settlements during the colonial period.
John Peter Zenger
John Peter Zenger was a newspaper publisher who was put on trial in 1735 for publishing harsh truths about a colonial governor. He was not convicted because his lawyer argued that America’s laws should protect the freedom of the press.
The French and Indian War
The main cause of the war was a dispute between the French and the British over land in the Ohio River Valley. The British (and the Americans) won the war, but then the British created new taxes in America to pay for the war.
Proclamation Line of 1763
The British created a boundary along the Appalachian Mountains to keep American settlers from moving west and starting conflicts with the Native Americans. This angered the colonists who wanted to move into the western territories.