Chapter 1

Christopher Columbus

man who sailed from Spain to find a faster route to Asia from the Old World. He is credited with ‘discovering America’ even though it was by accident in 1492. He enslaved Native Americans and is seen as a hero by some, but as a person who would ultimately wipe out many Natives by disease.

Encomienda System

Spanish labor system where Indians were exploited by the Spanish. Indians had to pay tributes to Spanish representatives in exchange for military protection. Often times, it was very similar to a system of slavery.

Pueblo Revolt

1680 revolt of Native Americans in the American Southwest against the Spanish. The Natives revolted when they felt their religious practices were being infringed on by Catholics. After the Spanish took back over, they became a little more tolerant.

Columbian Exchange

spread of goods, animals, disease, crops, and ideas from the Old World to the New world and vice versa.

Mercantilism

Economic policy or belief that all economic activity should support the whole country or empire. It created competition between imperial powers in Europe, especially with regards to colonies in America.

Predestination

religious, Calvinist idea that people’s fates were determined. Some would go to heaven or hell, and the belief was that people’s behavior was evidence of their fate.

Puritans / Puritanism

Religious group or belief that the Church of England needed to be purer. Some extreme people in this group believed they had to separate from the Church of England.