IB History of the Americas Unit 2 Vocab

Asiento System

Contracts provided by the Spanish to trade enslaved Africans to the Spanish colonies.

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Brutal system that transported Africans to the New World.

Triangle Passage

Refers to the Middle Passage, where many Africans were transported across the ocean to the Americas

Royal African Company

Company made by the British to exchange goods along the East Coast

West Indies

The term that was used to describe the Caribbean Islands

Abolition

The movement to end slavery and the slave trade.

John Brown

Abolitionist that helped to push slavery by killing 5 pro-slavery settlers

Nat Turner

Enslaved abolitionist who led a 4-day rebellion.

Quakers

Protestant Christian movement led by George Fox

George Fox

Founder of the Quakers (Religious Society of Friends)

London Society of Friends

Movement in Britain that emphasized inner light of spiritual truth

The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade (SEATS)

Campaigners against slavery like Thomas Clarkson, and Granville Sharp

Fugitive slave act

Requirement to report fugitive enslaved Africans To their territory 

Dred Scott

An enslaved man who sued for his freedom, led to the famous Stanfords v. Scott, and the outcome of that was that enslaved people had no rights.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Author of the book Tom Sawer which exposed the harsh aspects of slavery, and pushed the abolitionist movement forward. 

Compromise of 1850

Series of laws made by the government to divide the territories from the Mexican-American war.

3/5’s compromise

3 out of every 5 enslaved people were counted for tax purposes, and Congressional representation. 

Bleeding Kansas

Series of violent protest between 1854-1861 between pro and anti slavery people

Pottawattmie Massacre

The violent killings of 5 pro slavery farmers by John brown

Fredrick Doughlass

Enslaved African born into slavery who then escaped, and became an abolitionist and advocate for women’s rights.

Harriet Tubman

Enslaved African who escaped and the helped others escape through the Underground Railroad.

Underground Railroad

A network of secret routes and safe houses organized by abolitionists that helped slaves escape

Hatian Revolution

Only successful slave revolt, which started the push for the end of slavery. 

Cotton Gin

Invention by Eli Whitney that was able to separate the seedfrom the cotton, and made the production of cotton much faster.

Olaudha Equiano

Nigerian writer, abolitionist, and political figure that played a key role in the ending of slavery.