apush period 2

Jamestown

1607. First permanent English settlement in Virginia. Founded for profit as a joint-stock venture. Tobacco (introduced by John Rolfe) saved the colony as a cash crop. Settlers had a charter so they only answered to the English government, not the Church of England.

Plymouth

Settlement in Massachusetts created by Pilgrims arriving on the Mayflower. Founded for religious freedom, though some settlers were brought for skills and profit. Later became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Mayflower Compact

Agreement among Pilgrims to establish a self-governing colony. First legal document in the colonies to outline self-government and a step toward the Constitution.

Puritans

English Protestants who wanted to purify the Church of England of remaining Catholic practices; sometimes called Separatists.

Pilgrims

English Separatists who wanted to separate from the Church of England. Intended to go to Jamestown but ended up in Plymouth, where they created their own government after losing their charter.

King Philip's War

1675–1676 conflict between New England Native Americans (led by Metacom/King Philip) and English settlers. One of the deadliest colonial wars; destroyed many frontier towns.

Joint-Stock Company

Business in which investors pool money to fund colonial ventures for profit. Example: Jamestown.

Massachusetts Bay

Puritan colony established mainly for religious freedom and community unity.

Corporate/Royal/Proprietary Colonies

Corporate colonies were owned by joint-stock companies (e.g., Jamestown). Royal colonies were under direct control of the king (e.g., Virginia). Proprietary colonies were granted to individuals by the king (e.g., Maryland, Carolinas).

Lord Baltimore

Cecil Calvert; founded Maryland as a proprietary colony for Catholics.

Roger Williams

Founded Providence (later Rhode Island). Advocated for religious freedom and fair treatment of Natives; former Puritan who became a Baptist.

Triangular Trade

Trade route between Britain, West Africa, and the West Indies exchanging goods, enslaved Africans, sugar, rum, and more.

Anne Hutchinson

Puritan who promoted religious tolerance and said clergy weren’t required for prayer. Banished from Massachusetts Bay; helped found Rhode Island.

Antinomianism

Belief that people under divine grace do not need to follow moral or religious laws.

Indentured Servants

Europeans who worked for a set number of years in exchange for passage to America. System declined due to abuse and contributed to rise of slavery.

Rhode Island

Colony founded by Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson; offered complete religious freedom.

Halfway Covenant

Allowed children of Puritan church members partial membership and participation.

Act of Toleration

1649 Maryland law granting religious freedom to all Christians.

John Locke

British political theorist; drafted the Fundamental Constitution for the Carolinas; influenced ideas about natural rights and government by consent.

Quakers

Members of the Society of Friends; believed in equality and the “inner light” in each person.

William Penn

Founded Pennsylvania as a refuge for Quakers; promoted religious freedom and fair dealings with Natives.

Rice/Tobacco

Major Southern cash crops requiring large land areas and intensive labor.

John Winthrop/City on a Hill

Puritan leader and first governor of Massachusetts Bay. Wanted the colony to serve as a moral example (“city on a hill”).

Chesapeake

Colonial region consisting of Virginia and Maryland.

Mercantilism

Economic system where colonies exist to benefit the mother country; Britain controlled colonial trade to ensure more exports than imports.

Bacon's Rebellion

1676 uprising in Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkeley’s Native American policies; rebels burned Jamestown.

Stono Rebellion

1739 slave uprising in South Carolina; largest in mainland colonies; led to harsher slave codes.

Leisler's Rebellion

1689 uprising in New York led by Jacob Leisler after James II was removed from the throne; ended with Leisler’s execution.

James Oglethorpe

Founder of Georgia; banned slavery, alcohol, and Catholicism; strict rules led to dissatisfaction.

Middle Passage

Brutal sea journey enslaved Africans endured from Africa to the Caribbean; many died due to horrific conditions.

Headright System

System granting 50 acres of land to colonists for each indentured servant they brought; used in Virginia.

Zenger Trial

Trial of John Peter Zenger for libel; acquittal established early precedent for freedom of the press.

Phillis Wheatley

Enslaved African American poet; became famous for her writings.

Albany Plan

Benjamin Franklin’s 1754 proposal to unite the colonies; associated with “Join or Die” cartoon; not adopted.

Great Awakening

1730s–1740s religious revival emphasizing emotional preaching and personal faith; helped unify the colonies.

George Whitefield

Evangelist who helped ignite and spread the Great Awakening.

Jonathan Edwards

Influential Great Awakening preacher known for sermons on sin and salvation.

Old Lights/New Lights

Old Lights were traditional churches; New Lights were revivalist groups formed during the Great Awakening.

Enlightenment

European movement emphasizing reason, science, and logic over religion and tradition.

Ben Franklin

Colonial inventor, diplomat, printer, and statesman; key Enlightenment thinker.

Navigation Acts

British trade laws restricting colonial trade to British ships and crews.

Salutary Neglect

British policy of loosely enforcing laws to encourage economic growth in the colonies.

House of Burgesses

1619; first representative assembly in colonial America (Virginia).

Slavery

System of forced labor practiced throughout the colonies, especially the South.

Establishment of 13 Original Colonies

Process of founding British colonies along the Atlantic coast; early discussions of unity included plans like the Albany Plan.

Separatists

Believed the Church of England was beyond reform and created their own congregations; included the Pilgrims.