Studied by 89 PeopleTags & Description
Act of Toleration 1649
definition: ensured "religious toleration" in maryland for all christians significance: made blasphemy a crime
Anne Hutchinson
definition: a Puritan woman who was well-learned that disagreed with the Puritan Church in Massachusetts Bay Colony significance: after banishment, she formed Rhode Island
Atlantic Slave Trade
definition: the sale and exploitation of African slaves by Europeans that occurred in and around the Atlantic from the 15th to the 19th century significance: brought wealth to colonial empires
Bacon's Rebellion
definition: a brief yet meaningful uprising of western farmers against the government of Virginia culminating in the burning of Jamestown of 9/19/1676 significance: the last major uprising of enslaved blacks and indentured servants in colonial Virginia
Chesapeake Colonies
definition: settlements surrounding Chesapeake Bay- Virginia and Maryland significance: grew tobacco, people moved a lot, and settlements were temporary
Dominion of New England
definition: a union of several new england colonies formed by King James II of England in 1686 significance: part of a plan to tighten British administration of the colonies
Enlightenment
definition: an intellectual and cultural movement in the 18th century that emphasized reason over superstition and science over blind faith significance: promoted religious tolerance
George Whitefield
definition: a preacher and public figure who led many revival meetings both in England and the American colonies significance: spread a message of personal salvation and a more democratic Chirstianity
Great Awakening
definition: a period of religious revival promoted by religious leaders such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards significance: convinced people that religious power was in their own hands, not in the hands of the church
indentured servitude
definition: people who signed contracts in which they agreed to work for a certain number of years in exchange for transportation to the colonies significance: paved the way for slavery
Jamestown
definition: the first settlement founded in Virginia significance: the first permanent English settlement in the Americas
John Calvin
definition: a religious leader who elaborated on Martin Luther's ideas and created Calvinism significance: he was influential during the Protestant Reformation
John Locke
definition: English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people significance: believed in natural rights like life, liberty, and property
John Peter Zenger
definition: journalist who questioned the policies of the governor of New York in the 1700's significance: shaped American thought towards freedom of speech
John Winthrop
definition: an early Puritan leader and governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony significance: formed the colony's government and shaped its legislative policy
King Philip's War
definition: a series of battles in New Hampshire between the colonists and the Wompanoags, led by Metacom, a chief also known as King Philip significance: started when the Massachusetts government tried to assert court jurisdiction over the local Indians
Massachusetts Bay Colony
definition: a religious community based on Puritan beliefs and values significance: the first English chartered colony whose board of governors did not reside in England
Mayflower Compact
definition: set up a government for the Plymouth colony significance: the first agreement for self-government in America
mercantilism
definition: the economic idea that a country's wealth is measured by the amount of gold it owns significance: drove the colonial system
Middle Colonies
definition: Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, and New Jersey significance: considered the melting pot of the colonial time
Navigation Acts
definition: restricted colonial trade to England and decreased dependence of foreign goods significance: intended to promote the self-sufficiency of the British Empire
New England Colonies
definition: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Main, Plymouth, Rhode Island, and Connecticut significance: one of the earliest English settlements in the New World
Roger Williams
definition: founded Rhode Island significance: believed in the separation of church and state
Salem Witch Trials
definition: a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between January 1692 and May 1693 significance: most of the people executed were women
salutary neglect
definition: an unofficial British policy of non-enforcement of trade regulations on their American colonies significance: maximized economic output in the colonies while maintaining control
slave codes
definition: laws passed by southern slave owners to keep slaves from either running away or rebelling significance: defined slaves as property
Southern Colonies
definition: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia significance: focused primarily on cash crops
Stono Rebellion
definition: a slave rebellion that commenced on September 9, 1739 in the colony of South Carolina significance: the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies
triangular trade
definition: a series of trade routes that carried British manufactured goods to Africa and the colonies, colonial products to Europe, and slaves from Africa to the new world significance: emerged as a result of mercantilism
William Penn
definition: established Pennsylvania as a utopian society based on Quaker ideals significance: demonstrated how a free society could work
algonquian
definition: members of a North American Indian people living in Canada along the Ottawa River significance: some allied themselves with the French in the interest of battling their fur trade rivals, the Iroquois
Columbian Exchange
definition: the exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technology between the Old and New worlds significance: transformed European and Native American ways of life
conquistadores
definition: a spanish explorer/conqueror significance: claimed land for their country and subdued the natives
Encomienda system
definition: a system used by Spaniards in which Natives were given to colonists to use for labor significance: a form of forced labor in the colonies
Iroquois
definition: a confederation of five distinct tribes who maintained a permanent peace and military alliance with each other significance: played a strategic role in the struggle between French and British for supremacy in North America
joint-stock companies
definition: consisted of investors who pooled resources to fund an enterprise and, if it was successful, shared the profits significance: allowed people to limit the risk of investing
mestizo
definition: people of mixed Native and European heritage significance: made up a significant portion of Spanish America's population
Pueblo Revolt
definition: a revolution against Spanish religious, economic, and political institutions imposed upon the Pueblos significance: the only successful Native uprising against a colonizing power in North America
smallpox
definition: a deadly disease that Europeans brought to the New World significance: eliminated about 90% of the Native population
spanish mission system
definition: a chain of missions that forced Natives to convert to Catholicism and work as agricultural laborers significance: spread Catholicism and reduced Native cultures
peninsulares
definition: pure Spaniards born in Spain significance: at the top of the rankings in the colonies
Three Sisters
definition: corn, beans, and squash significance: staple crops favored by many tribes in North America
corn/maize
definition: a large grain domesticated by indigenous peoples significance: provided stable food source for natives
Johnathan Edwards
definition: American theologian and congregational clergyman significance: his sermons stirred the Great Awakening