APUSH TERMS LIST #1

12 terms 8/27/25

Pueblo

A Native American village or community characterized by adobe houses and often organized as agricultural societies. These communities are primarily found in the Southwestern United States.

Iroquois Confederation

A historical alliance of six Native American tribes in northeastern North America, known for their political and military organization. It played a significant role in the history of the region, influencing the American democratic ideals.

Mound Builders

Ancient Native American cultures known for constructing large earthen mounds for religious, ceremonial, and burial purposes, primarily located in the Mississippi River valley.

Maize

A staple crop cultivated by many Native American societies, particularly in Mesoamerica and the Southwestern US, valued for its nutritional content and agricultural importance.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that aimed to reform the Roman Catholic Church, leading to the establishment of Protestant denominations and significant changes in Christian beliefs and practices.

Joint-Stock Company

A business organization where investors pool their resources and share profits and losses. In the context of colonization, joint-stock companies like the Virginia Company funded expeditions to the New World. They allowed for the spread of risk and helped finance early colonies such as Jamestown (founded in 1607).These companies were crucial in the establishment of English colonies in America, enabling large-scale ventures that individual investors could not sustain alone.

Primogeniture

The legal right of the firstborn child to inherit the family's entire estate, often practiced in noble families.

Capatalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership of resources and the pursuit of profit. In colonial America, capitalism encouraged investment in colonies, trade (including the transatlantic slave trade), and resource exploitation. It laid the foundation for the economic development of the United States.

Encomienda System

A Spanish colonial system in which Spanish settlers were granted control over local Indigenous communities. The Indigenous people were forced to provide labor and tribute in exchange for supposed protection and Christianization. In practice, the system led to widespread abuse and exploitation of Native populations.This system allowed Spanish settlers to exploit Indigenous labor under the guise of protection and conversion to Christianity, effectively serving to enrich the colonizers.

Bartolome de Las Casas

A 16th-century Spanish priest and former encomendero who became a passionate advocate for the rights of Indigenous peoples. He wrote extensively about the brutal treatment of Native Americans under Spanish rule, especially in his work A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies. He is often considered one of the first human rights activists in the Americas. He ultimately renounced the encomienda system, advocating for the abolition of forced labor and the humane treatment of Indigenous populations.

Middle Passage

The forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, characterized by horrific conditions, overcrowding, and high mortality rates. It was a central component of the transatlantic slave trade, connecting Africa to the colonies and contributing to the growth of plantation economies.</span>

Spanish Caste System

A racial and social hierarchy used by the Spanish Empire to categorize people in the Americas based on their race and heritage. At the top were peninsulares (Spaniards born in Spain), followed by creoles (Spaniards born in the Americas), mestizos (mixed European and Indigenous), mulattos (European and African), and at the bottom were Indigenous people and Africans. This system institutionalized racial inequality in colonial Spanish America. The Spanish Caste System was a hierarchical structure that classified individuals based on race and ethnic ancestry, reinforcing social stratification within colonial society and privileging those of Spanish descent over others.