Exploration and Colonial Beginnings Review

A comprehensive vocabulary review set covering key historical terms, groups, events, and regional characteristics from the Exploration and Colonial Beginnings unit.

Cash Crops

Agricultural products such as tobacco and cotton grown for sale rather than personal use, which formed the economic backbone of the Southern Colonies.

Lumber (wood)

A key product used for building and shipbuilding, which was NOT considered a Southern cash crop.

Bacon's Rebellion

A historical uprising that demonstrated former indentured servants were acquiring more power in the colonies.

Puritans

A religious group that settled New England looking for religious freedom and founded the Massachusetts colony.

1619

The year when the first enslaved Africans were brought to Jamestown.

Virginia Company of London

The organization that created a successful settlement in Jamestown.

Disease (sickness)

The main cause of Native American deaths after Europeans arrived in the New World.

House of Burgesses

The first elected government and assembly of leaders in the New World, located in Jamestown.

Indentured Servants

Contracted workers whose numbers in Virginia decreased over time during the 17th and 18th centuries and were eventually replaced by enslaved people.

Catholics

The religious group that settled mostly in Maryland.

Powhatan Indians

The native tribe whose relationship with Jamestown settlers led the settlers to feel they needed to build forts to protect themselves.

Triangular Trade

A historic trade system that directly led to bringing more enslaved Africans to America.

New England Colonies

The least tolerant religious region, characterized by a cold climate, rocky soil, an economy based on shipbuilding, fishing, and lumbering, and a social class based on religious standing.

Middle Colonies

The most diverse region, having a flexible social structure, warm weather for growing grain crops, and a middle class of workers, shop owners, and small farmers.

Southern Colonies

The region where Jamestown was located, characterized by an economy based on large farms (plantations) and slave labor, and a social structure based on family name and owning land.

Columbian Exchange

The sharing and exchange of crops and items like pumpkins and tobacco between the New World and Europe.

Benjamin Franklin

An important leader in the Enlightenment movement.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement established in 1607.

Great Awakening

A religious movement in the colonies that helped spark the American Revolution.

Mayflower Compact

The first written agreement for self-government created in the New World.

Massachusetts

A New England colony started by Puritans seeking religious freedom.

Middle Passage

The forced transatlantic voyage of enslaved Africans to the Americas as part of the triangular trade system.