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Christopher Columbus
Italian explorer who arrived in the New World in 1492
Norse
European group that arrived in modern Canada around 1000
Contact Period
Period of sustained contact between Europe and the Americas
Bering Land Bridge
Land bridge that connected Eurasia and North America, allowing ancestors of Native Americans to cross from Siberia to Alaska
Native Americans
Indigenous people of North and South America
Pre-Columbian era
Period before Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas
Culture clash between European settlers and Native Americans
Conflict between European settlers and Native Americans due to different cultures, religions, and technologies
European Colonization
Process of European settlers establishing colonies in the Americas
Enslaved Africans
Africans who were forcibly brought to the Americas as slaves
Forced Relocation
Policy implemented by the US government to move Native Americans from their ancestral lands
Assimilation
Policy implemented by the US government to make Native Americans adopt European culture
Native American resistance
Resistance by Native Americans against European colonization and expansion
Conquistadors
Spanish explorers and conquerors of the Americas
Great Basin
A 400,000-square-mile area between Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada Mountains
Native American societies
Complex societies and cultures of Native Americans before European contact
Native American permanent settlements
Communities established by Native Americans for economic development
Native American nomadic hunting and gathering tribes
Native American tribes that retained a nomadic lifestyle for hunting and gathering
Caravel
Improved ships that allowed for longer exploratory voyages
Age of Exploration
Period when European explorers set sail to the New World in search of gold, land, and religious purposes
Columbian Exchange
Period of rapid exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old World and the New World
Flow of Trade
Trade between the Old World and the New World, introducing new crops to Europe that helped increase food production
Old World
Refers to Africa, Asia, and Europe
New World
Refers to the Americas
Colonization
Process of establishing colonies in the Americas
Encomienda system
System in which colonists were granted authority over native people in exchange for their labor by the Spanish crown
Roman Catholic Church
Church established in western Europe during the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages with its head being the bishop of Rome or pope.
Bacon's Rebellion
A rebellion lead by Nathaniel Bacon with backcountry farmers to attack Native Americans in an attempt to gain more land
Slave Trade
European trade agreement with Africa dealing with slaves brought from Africa. Integral part of Triangle Trade between the Americas, Africa, and Europe.
Middle Passage
A voyage that brought enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to North America and the West Indies
End of the Atlantic Slave Trade
Mounting criticism of the Middle Passage led Congress to end American participation in the Atlantic slave trade on January 1, 1808
Competition for global dominance
Rivalry among European nations to establish dominance in the New World
Navigational advancements
Improvements in navigation that made transatlantic voyages safer and more efficient
sextant
navigation tool that determines latitude and longitude
Joint-stock companies
Corporate businesses with shareholders that settled and developed lands in North America
Juan de Onate
Spanish explorer and conquistador. He claimed New Mexico for Spain in 1598 and served as its governor until 1607
Voodoo
Haitian version of traditional African religious beliefs that are blended with elements of Christianity
Haitian Revolution
A major influence of the Latin American revolutions because of its successfulness; the only successful slave revolt in history; it is led by Toussaint L'Ouverture.
Pilgrims
English Separatists who settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts
Roanoke Island
Sir Walter Raleigh's failed colonial settlement off the coast of North Carolina
Jamestown, Virginia
the first permanent English settlement, founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company for economic reasons
John Rolfe
Jamestown colony leader who showed that tobacco could be grown successfully in Virginia
Chesapeake
The region of Virginia and Maryland. In contrast to New England, this region was distinguished by indentured servants, cash crops, and African slavery.
Indentured Servants
Colonists who received free passage to North America in exchange for working without pay for a certain number of years
Headright System
The Virginia Company's system in which settlers and the family members who came with them each received 50 acres of land
House of Burgesses
Elected assembly in colonial Virginia, created in 1618.
French and Indian War
War fought in the colonies between the English and the French for possession of the Ohio Valley area. The English won.
Edict of Nantes
document that granted religious freedom to the Huguenots
Puritanism
The religion of a group of religious dissidents who came to the New World so they would have a location to establish a "purer" church than the one that existed in England
Separatists
People who wanted to have a separate, or different church. Also known as Pilgrims.
Plymouth Colony
A colony established by the English Pilgrims, or Seperatists, in 1620. The Seperatists were Puritans who abandoned hope that the Anglican Church could be reformed. Plymouth became part of Massachusetts in 1691.
William Bradford
A Pilgrim, the second governor of the Plymouth colony, 1621-1657. Developed private land ownership and helped colonists get out of debt. Helped the colony survive droughts, crop failures, and Indian attacks.
Mayflower Compact
The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony.
Congregationalists
Puritans who wanted to reform the Anglican church from within
John Winthrop
As governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, Formed the colony's government and shaping its legislative policy. He envisioned the colony, centered in present-day Boston, as a "city upon a hill" from which Puritans would spread religious righteousness throughout the world.
Religious Tolerance
Willingness to let others practice their own beliefs
Calvinists
Doctrine was similar to that of Lutherans' except Calvinists also believed in predestination and the insignificance of humanity.
Roger Williams
A dissenter who clashed with the Massachusetts Puritans over separation of church and state and was banished in 1636, after which he founded the colony of Rhode Island to the south
Anne Hutchinson
A Puritan woman who was well learned that disagreed with the Puritan Church in Massachusetts Bay Colony. Her actions resulted in her banishment from the colony, and later took part in the formation of Rhode Island. She displayed the importance of questioning authority.
Oliver Cromwell
English military, political, and religious figure who led the Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War (1642-1649) and called for the execution of Charles I. As lord protector of England (1653-1658) he ruled as a virtual dictator.
Massachusetts Bay Company
Joint-stock company that established the Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Great Puritan Migration
Migration of Puritans to New England
Salutary neglect
Period preceding the French and Indian War characterized by minimal British interference in colonial affairs.
Autonomy
The degree of self-governance and independence enjoyed by the colonies.
Mercantilism
Economic theory that emphasizes the importance of a favorable balance of trade and control of specie.
Navigation Acts
Laws passed by the British government requiring colonists to buy goods only from England, sell certain products only to England, and import non-English goods via English ports.
Wool Act of 1699
Law forbidding the export of wool from the American colonies and the importation of wool from other British colonies.
Molasses Act of 1733
Law imposing a high tax on the importation of sugar from the French West Indies.
Colonial governments
Governments in the colonies consisting of a governor appointed by the king or proprietor, and bicameral legislatures modeled after the British Parliament.
New England Confederation
An attempt by colonists to establish a centralized government for the northeastern colonies, providing a forum for discussion and problem-solving.
Puritan Immigration
Movement of English Puritans to the New World, bringing with them republican ideals of revolution.
Proprietorships
Colonies owned by individuals who received land as a gift from the king.
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Set up a unified government for the towns of the Connecticut area (Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield). First constitution written in America.
Cecilius Calvert
was given a charter by King Charles I, founded Maryland (also known as "Lord Baltimore")
Act of Toleration (1649)
Passed in Maryland, it guaranteed toleration to all Christians but decreed the death penalty for those, like Jews and atheists, who denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. Ensured that Maryland would continue to attract a high proportion of Catholic migrants throughout the colonial period.
William Penn
A Quaker that founded Pennsylvania to establish a place where his people and others could live in peace and be free from persecution.
Carolina Colony
English-owned proprietary colony that was eventually split into North and South Carolina.
James Oglethorpe
Founder and governor of the Georgia colony. He ran a tightly-disciplined, military-like colony. Slaves, alcohol, and Catholicism were forbidden in his colony.
Proprietary Colonies
Colonies in which the proprietors (who had obtained their patents from the king) named the governors, subject to the king's approval.
Royal Colonies
Colonies owned by the king, with greater control over their government.
Stono Uprising
Slave rebellion in South Carolina in 1739, resulting in stricter laws governing the behavior of enslaved people.
Salem Witch Trials
Mass hysteria in Salem in 1692, resulting in the execution of accused witches and increased fear of slave rebellions.
Jonathan Edwards
American theologian whose sermons and writings stimulated a period of renewed interest in religion in America (1703-1758)
George Whitefield
English clergyman who was known for his ability to convince many people through his sermons. He involved himself in the Great Awakening in 1739 preaching his belief in gaining salvation.
Benjamin Franklin
Enlightenment thinker and inventor who played a crucial role in diplomacy and the American Revolution.
Poor Richard's Almanac
Widely read annual pamphlet edited by Benjamin Franklin. Best known for its proverbs and aphorisms emphasizing thrift, industry, morality, and common sense.
Democratic-Republicans
Followers of Jefferson, favoring weaker federal government.
Seven Years' War
worldwide struggle between France and Great Britain for power and control of land
George Washington
1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1732-1799)
William Pitt
English Prime Minister who supported the colonists in the French and Indian War.
Pontiac's Rebellion
Native American attack on colonial outposts in response to English actions.
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin's proposal for intercolonial government and taxation system.
Taxation without Representation
British laws and policies imposing taxes on colonists without their consent.
Sugar Act
1764 act imposing duties on molasses to deter smuggling.
Currency Act
prohibited colonies from issuing paper money, destabilized colonial economy
Stamp Act
1765 act imposing taxes on legal documents and licenses.
Proclamation of 1763
A proclamation from the British government which forbade British colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, and which required any settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east.
Sons of Liberty
Protest groups formed by colonists against British policies.
Boston Massacre
The first bloodshed of the American Revolution (1770), as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans
First Continental Congress
September 1774, delegates from twelve colonies sent representatives to Philadelphia to discuss a response to the Intolerable Acts
Townshend Acts
Taxes imposed on goods imported from Britain.
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