APUSH Period 2 (1607-1754)

Act of Toleration

Passed in 1649 in Maryland, it granted religious freedom to all Christians but provided for the death penalty for Jews and atheists.

Anglicization

Adoption of English customs and traditions that shaped colonial culture and politics in 18th century North America.

Anglo-Powhatan Wars

Series of conflicts in the 1620s between the Powhatan Confederacy and English settlers in Virginia and Maryland.

Antinomianism

A theological doctrine that asserts that faith alone is necessary for salvation, and that moral law is of no use or obligation.

Bacon's Rebellion

Uprising in 1676 in Virginia led by farmers upset over the governor's unwillingness to send troops to protect them from American Indians and their lack of representation in the House of Burgesses.

Calvinism

A new sect of Protestantism based on the beliefs of John Calvin in which civil judges and reformed ministers ruled over a Christian society.

cash crop

A crop produced for profit rather than subsistence, like tobacco or indigo.

Charter of Liberties

A document granted by William Penn to the colonists of Pennsylvania, providing them with rights and privileges.

Church of England

National church established by King Henry VIII after he split with the Catholic Church in 1534; becomes predominant faith in England by law.

colonization

The process of settling and controlling an already inhabited area for the economic benefit of the settlers, or colonizers.

common law

Law established from custom and the standards set by previous judicial rulings.

Corporate colonies

Colonies operated by joint-stock companies, such as the Virginia Company.

Covenant Chain

An alliance of Iroquois leaders and colonists made in Albany in 1677 in hopes of salvaging their lucrative fur trade and preventing further conflict.

Dominion of New England

A unified government imposed by King James II on several New England colonies in 1686.

enclosure movements

A push in the 18th & 19th centuries to take communal land use by several people in a village and change it to privately-owned land, usually with walls, fences or hedges around it.

English Civil War

A series of civil wars between Royalists and Parliamentarians in England & Wales from 1642-1652.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in Europe and America during the 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by a focus on reason, science, and individual rights.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Considered the first written constitution in America, established a representative government in Connecticut.

Glorious Revolution

The peaceful overthrow of King James II of England in 1688, leading to increased parliamentary power and the ascension of William and Mary to the throne.

Great Awakening

A religious revival movement in the American colonies during the 1730s and 1740s, characterized by emotional sermons and a focus on personal piety.

Halfway covenant

A Puritan practice in New England allowing partial church membership to the children of church members who had not yet experienced conversion.

Headright system

A land distribution system in colonial America that granted 50 acres of land to settlers who paid for their own or others' passage to the colony.

Hereditary aristocracy

A social system in which elite status and power are passed down through family lines.

Holy Experiment

Term associated with William Penn's vision for the Pennsylvania colony as a place of religious tolerance and social equality.

household mode of production

Communal system of exchange in which men and women shared skills and resources to benefit the community as a whole.

Huguenots

French Protestants

imperialism

A policy of expanding the border and increasing the global power of a nation, typically by military force.

Indentured servants

Laborers who worked for a set period of time (usually 4-7 years) in exchange for passage to the New World and, often, eventual freedom and land.

indulgences

Documents which absolved the buyer of sin; 'get out of Hell free card' that many reformers opposed the practice of selling.

inflation

Decreased value of national currency; causes costs to rise.

Iroquois Confederacy

A group of American Indian nations that included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and later the Tuscarora; dissolved in the 1700s.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in Virginia in 1607.

joint-stock company

Groups in which large numbers of investors owned stock, allowing for the quick accumulation of funds with great risk and reward; used to fund ventures to the New World.

King George's War

War between France, Spain, and England fought in North America during 1739-1748; secured Georgia for the English.

King William's War

Beginning as a conflict over competing French and English interests on the European continent but soon spread to the American frontier during 1689-1697; both sides depended on American Indians as allies.

Leisler's Rebellion

Class revolt in New York in 1689 led by merchant Jacob Leister; urban artisans and landless renters rebelled against new taxes and centralized rule.

libel

A false written statement designed to damage the reputation of its subject.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement signed by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, establishing a form of self-government in Plymouth Colony.

Mercantilism

Economic theory that a nation's wealth is measured by its stock of gold and silver, and that a country should export more than it imports to accumulate wealth.

Metacom's War

conflict between New England settlers and the region's American Indians during 1675-1676; settlers emerged victorious but both sides suffered numerous casualties

Middle Passage

the brutal second leg of the forced journey of enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas, millions of which were abused, neglected, and/or died before their arrival

Navigation Acts

Series of British regulations restricting colonial trade to benefit the British economy

New England Confederation

A military alliance between several New England colonies formed in 1643 for defense against Native American and French threats

Nonsectarian

Not affiliated with any particular religious sect or denomination

patriarchal family

model of family in which the fathers (or eldest male) have absolute authority over wives, children, and servants; widely accepted by colonial Americans

Pequot War

conflict between New England settlers, their Narragansett allies, and the Pequots during 1636-1637; English settlers saw the Pequots as a threat to their current and future settlements

Pilgrims

Separatist Puritans who migrated to North America on the Mayflower and established the Plymouth Colony in 1620

Powhatan Confederacy

large & powerful alliance of Algonquian-speaking American Indians in Virginia; had a complicated relationship with the settlers of Jamestown

Poor Richard's Almanack

A publication by Benjamin Franklin containing weather forecasts, practical household tips, and proverbs

predestination

religious belief that God has pre-determined who is worth of salvation, thus it could not be earned through good works or penance

Proprietary colonies

Colonies granted to individuals or groups by the British Crown, who had considerable autonomy in governing

Pueblo revolt

1680 uprising of Pueblo Indians against the Spanish forces in New Mexico that led to the Spaniards' temporary retreat; sparked by mistreatment and suppression of religion/culture

Puritans

English Protestants who sought to 'purify' the Church of England from within, and later settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony

Puritan Migration (first Great Migration)

the mass exodus of European Puritans to New England in the early 1600s

Quakers

Members of the Religious Society of Friends, who believe in direct communication with God and nonviolence

Queen Anne's War

(aka War of the Spanish Succession) war over control of Spain and its colonies

redemptioners

immigrants who borrowed money from shipping agents to cover the costs of transport to America, loans that were repaid (or 'redeemed') by colonial employers; similar to indentured servitude

Royal colonies

Colonies under the direct control of the British Crown, such as Virginia after 1624

Sectarian

Relating to a particular religious group or sect, often with exclusive beliefs or practices

seditious

behavior or language aimed at starting a rebellion against a government

Separatists

Radical Puritans who wanted to separate from the Church of England and establish their own independent congregations

slave code

laws restricting enslaved peoples' rights, largely due to slaveholders' fears of rebellion

Stono Rebellion

uprising in South Carolina in 1739 by enslaved Africans and African Americans which led to intense fear of future slave revolts

Subsistence farming

Farming practiced to provide for the basic needs of the farmer and their family, rather than for commercial profit

theologians

people who study religious texts and history

Triangular trade

A system of trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods

Tuscarora War

war launched by Tuscarora Indians from 1711 to 1715 against European settlers in North Carolina and their allies from the Yamasee, Catawba, and Cherokee nations; Tuscarora lost their lands when they signed a peace treaty and many joined the Iroquois Confederacy

veto

right to block a decision by a governing body

Virginia Company

A joint-stock company chartered by King James I to establish settlements in the New World

Virginia House of Burgesses

The first elected legislative assembly in the New World, established in the Virginia Colony in 1619

Walking Purchase

treaty in 1737 that allowed Pennsylvania to expand its boundaries at the expense of the Delaware Indians; likely a forgery, this document allowed the British to add territory that could be walked off in a day and a half

Yamasee War

a Pan-American Indian war from 1715 to 1717 led by the Yamasee who intended, but failed, to oust the British from South Carolina

Sir Edmund Andros

Governor of the Dominion of New England, known for his authoritarian rule and unpopular policies

Nathaniel Bacon

a Virginia colonist who led an armed rebellion against the colonial government in 1676 in response to perceived corruption and the lack of protection against Native American attacks on the frontier. The rebellion highlighted tensions between the colonial elite and settlers on the frontier

John Bartram

A colonial botanist and explorer known for his work in cataloging American plants

Sir William Berkeley

the colonial governor of Virginia during the mid-17th century; played a significant role in shaping the colony's development and was known for his policies that favored wealthy planters.

John Cabot

An Italian explorer who explored the coast of North America under the commission of King Henry VII of England in 1497 and 1498

Cecil Calvert

Also known as Lord Baltimore, he was granted the charter for the Maryland colony in 1632 and played a significant role in its settlement

John Calvin

a French theologian and key figure in the Protestant Reformation; best known for his teachings on predestination and his development of Calvinism, a branch of Protestant Christianity

John Copley

American painter during the colonial period.

Oliver Cromwell

English leader in the Civil War, ruled as Lord Protector.

John Davenport

Co-founder of New Haven, Connecticut.

Jonathan Edwards

New England preacher associated with the Great Awakening.

Benjamin Franklin

American author, polymath, founding father, and inventor

Thomas Hooker

Founder of Connecticut, advocated for democratic principles.

Anne Hutchinson

Puritan leader challenging male ministers in Massachusetts.

John Locke

English philosopher known for government and rights writings.

Martin Luther

German theologian key in the Protestant Reformation.

Cotton Mather

Puritan minister known for Salem witch trials involvement.

Metacom

Native American leader in rebellion against English settlers.

Baron de Montesquieu

French philosopher advocating separation of powers.

James Oglethorpe

Founder of the Georgia colony for debtors.

William Penn

Founder of Pennsylvania, advocate for religious freedom.

Pocahontas

Native American woman associated with Jamestown settlers.

John Rolfe

Introduced tobacco as a cash crop in Virginia; married Pocahontas.

John Smith

English leader in establishing the Jamestown colony; helped settlers survive the "starving time".

John Winthrop

Prominent Puritan leader in Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Voltaire

pen name for French philosopher François-Marie Arouet; known for advocating civil liberties and tolerance

Benjamin West

American neoclassical painter of historical scenes.

Phillis Wheatley

First African American woman poet in America.