Colonialism in Early America

Flashcards covering key concepts related to colonialism, religious diversity, and economic organization in early America.

Salutary Neglect

A British policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws meant to keep the American colonies obedient to England.

First Great Awakening

A religious revival in the 1730s and 1740s that emphasized personal faith and a direct relationship with God.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that posits a finite amount of wealth and resources in the world; colonies exist to enrich the mother country.

Proprietary Colony

A type of colony owned by individuals or groups that received a charter from the Crown.

Bacon's Rebellion

A 1676 uprising in Virginia against Governor Berkeley's administration, fueled by resentment towards taxation without protection.

Quakers

A religious group known for their belief in equality and pacifism, particularly associated with Pennsylvania.

Plymouth Separatists

Pilgrims who sought to establish their own religious practices separate from the Church of England.

Encomienda System

A Spanish labor system that rewarded conquerors with the labor of particular groups of conquered non-Christian people.

Casta System

A social hierarchy in colonial Spain that categorized people based on their race and ancestry, prioritizing those born in Spain over those born in the colonies.

New Lights/Old Lights

Terms used to describe the groups emerging from the First Great Awakening; New Lights embraced emotional religious experiences, while Old Lights were more traditional and conservative.

House of Burgesses

The first legislative assembly in the American colonies, established in Virginia in 1619, which allowed settlers to create their own laws.

Leisler’s Rebellion

An uprising in 1689 in New York led by Jacob Leisler against the colonial government, reflecting tensions over British rule and colonial authority.

French fur trade

The economic activity centered around the trapping and trading of fur in the Ohio River Valley, significant during the 18th century. It involved French traders and Native American tribes, playing a crucial role in colonial competition.

Spanish Inquisiton

A religious judicial institution designed to find and eliminate beliefs that did not align with the official Catholic practices.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, disease, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

Peublo, Incan, and Mayan

Civilizations in the Americas known for their advanced societies, architecture, and agricultural practices prior to European colonization.

Trans-atlantic slave trade

The forced transportation of Africans to the Americas for labor, significantly shaping the economy and culture of the colonial period.

Puritan Great Migration

The 17th-century movement of English Puritans to the Americas, primarily to New England, seeking religious freedom and the establishment of a society based on their beliefs.

Anne Hutchinson

A New England religious leader and women’s rights advocate in the early 17th century who challenged the Puritan orthodoxy and was later exiled for her beliefs.

Roger Williams

A religious dissenter and founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams advocated for the separation of church and state and fair dealings with Native Americans.

George Whitefield

An Anglican cleric and influential evangelist in the 18th century who helped spread the Great Awakening, emphasizing personal faith and emotional religious experiences.

Algonquin Alliance

A confederation of Native American tribes in the Northeast, united to resist European colonization and defend their territories against settlers.

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God“

A famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards delivered in 1741, emphasizing the terror of damnation and the need for personal salvation through a profound religious experience.

The Black Legend

A historical narrative that portrays the Spanish (Catholics) as uniquely cruel and oppressive colonizers. Reflected the tension between English and Spanish colonization.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in 1607 in Virginia, known for its tobacco cultivation and relations with Native Americans.

Virginia Company

A joint-stock company established in 1606 to finance the settlement of Jamestown and expand English trade in the Americas.