Unit1 terms

Abigail Adams

Early advocate for women’s rights who urged her husband to “remember the ladies” when forming the new nation.

Adam Smith

Economist who wrote The Wealth of Nations; supported capitalism and free markets over mercantilism.

Albany Congress

Meeting to plan colonial unity during the French and Indian War; proposed Franklin’s Albany Plan of Union.

Anne Hutchinson

Banished Puritan from Massachusetts who challenged religious leaders and promoted her own interpretations of the Bible.

Bacon’s Rebellion

1676 Virginia revolt of poor farmers led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkeley’s rule.

Battle of Saratoga

1777 American victory that persuaded France to join the Revolution.

Battle of Yorktown

Final major battle of the Revolution; British General Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in 1781.

Battles of Lexington and Concord

First battles of the American Revolution

Ben Franklin

Founding Father

Benedict Arnold

American general who betrayed the Revolution by attempting to surrender West Point to the British.

Boston Massacre

1770 clash where British soldiers killed five colonists

Boston Tea Party

1773 protest where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to oppose the Tea Act.

Chief Joseph Brant

Mohawk leader who allied with the British during the Revolution to defend Iroquois land.

Committees of Correspondence

Colonial communication networks that coordinated resistance to British policies.

Declaratory Act

Stated that Parliament had full authority to make laws for the colonies.

Defeat of the Spanish Armada

1588 English naval victory over Spain

Dominion of New England

1686 British effort to centralize control over colonies under Governor Andros.

Dunmore’s Proclamation

1775 offer of freedom to enslaved people who joined the British army.

First Great Awakening

1730s–1740s religious revival that emphasized emotional preaching and equality before God.

George Grenville

British Prime Minister who imposed the Sugar and Stamp Acts to raise revenue.

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army and first U.S. president.

George Whitefield

Traveling preacher who inspired thousands during the First Great Awakening.

Great Puritan Migration

1630s movement of English Puritans to Massachusetts seeking religious freedom.

Half-Way Covenant

1662 policy allowing partial church membership for descendants of Puritans.

Headright System

Land grant program rewarding colonists for paying passage to America.

Intolerable Acts

1774 British laws punishing Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party.

Jamestown

First permanent English settlement in North America (1607).

John Adams

Patriot leader

John Calvin

Protestant reformer whose ideas shaped Puritan beliefs about predestination.

John Hancock

Patriot leader and first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

John Paul Jones

Naval hero famous for saying, “I have not yet begun to fight!”

John Peter Zenger

Newspaper editor tried for libel; his case established freedom of the press.

John Rolfe

Jamestown colonist who developed tobacco cultivation and married Pocahontas.

John Smith

Leader of Jamestown who helped the colony survive through discipline and trade.

John Winthrop

Puritan leader and first governor of Massachusetts Bay; called it a “city upon a hill.”

Jonathan Edwards

Preacher of the First Great Awakening

King George III

British king during the American Revolution.

King Philip’s War

1675 conflict between New England settlers and Native Americans led by Metacom.

Leisler’s Rebellion

1689 revolt in New York against royal authority after the Glorious Revolution.

Mercantilism

Economic system where colonies existed to enrich the mother country.

Middle Passage

Harsh voyage that brought enslaved Africans to the Americas.

New England Confederations

1643 alliance of colonies for mutual defense against Natives and threats.

Olive Branch Petition

1775 last colonial attempt to make peace with King George III.

Patroons

Wealthy landowners in New Netherland who controlled large estates.

Paxton Revolt

1763 Pennsylvania uprising by settlers against local Native Americans.

Phyllis Wheatley

Enslaved African American poet who wrote about liberty and faith.

Plymouth Colony

1620 settlement founded by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom.

Pocahontas

Powhatan woman who helped Jamestown settlers and married John Rolfe.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

1763 Native uprising against British forts after the French and Indian War.

Proclamation of 1763

Banned colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Puritans

Religious reformers who sought to purify the Church of England; settled in New England.

Quartering Act

Required colonists to house and feed British soldiers.

Regulator Protests

1760s backcountry revolts in the Carolinas against corrupt officials.

Roger Williams

Founder of Rhode Island; promoted religious freedom and separation of church and state.

Salem Witch Trials

1692 mass hysteria in Massachusetts leading to executions for witchcraft.

Samuel Adams

Patriot leader and founder of the Sons of Liberty.

Separatists

English Protestants (Pilgrims) who wanted total separation from the Church of England.

Stamp Act

Tax on printed goods; first direct tax on the colonies.

Sugar Act

Tax on sugar and molasses to raise money for Britain after the French and Indian War.

The Association

Continental Congress agreement to boycott British goods.

Thomas Paine

Author of Common Sense

Townshend Acts

1767 taxes on imports such as glass

Treaty of Paris

Ended the French and Indian War; France lost most North American land.

Triangular Trade

Trade system between Europe

Virginia Company

Joint-stock company that founded Jamestown.

Virtual Representation

British idea that Parliament represented all citizens

Walter Raleigh

Explorer who sponsored the failed Roanoke Colony.

William Bradford

Leader and longtime governor of the Plymouth Colony.

William Penn

Quaker founder of Pennsylvania who promoted tolerance and peace.

William Pitt

British leader whose policies helped win the French and Indian War.