Key Figures and Events in Early American History

These flashcards cover major figures, events, and concepts from early American history, highlighting European exploration, religious movements, colonial governance, and the path to independence.

Hernán Cortés

Spanish explorer who conquered the Aztec Empire in the early 1500s.

Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

Explorer who documented Native American cultures after surviving a failed expedition.

Christopher Columbus

Sailed for Spain in 1492 seeking a westward route to Asia but reached the Caribbean instead.

Tenochtitlan

Capital of the Aztec Empire, conquered by Cortés in 1521.

Missions

Religious settlements aimed at converting Native Americans to Christianity.

Presidios

Military forts protecting Spanish territories and missions.

Villas

Civilian towns that supported economic and social life in Spanish colonies.

René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle

Explored the Mississippi River and claimed the Louisiana territory for France.

John Winthrop

Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony who promoted a model Christian society.

Puritans

Group of English Protestants seeking to purify the Church of England.

Congregationalism

A system where each church governs itself independently, common among Puritans.

Presbyterianism

A Protestant system of governance led by elected elders.

John Knox

Leader of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland who founded Presbyterianism.

John Calvin

Developed Calvinism, emphasizing predestination and God's sovereignty.

TULIP

A summary of Calvinist beliefs: Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, Perseverance of the saints.

Henry VIII

Broke from the Catholic Church to form the Church of England.

King James Version of the Bible

A widely used English translation of the Bible commissioned in 1611.

William Shakespeare

Influential playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era.

Book of Common Prayer

Guide to worship in the Church of England, standardizing religious services.

Oliver Cromwell

Led Parliament during the English Civil War and ruled as Lord Protector.

New Amsterdam

Originally a Dutch colony that became New York, known for diversity and trade.

Maryland

A colony founded as a refuge for Catholics, emphasizing religious tolerance.

Lord Baltimore

Cecil Calvert, who founded Maryland and supported religious tolerance.

William Penn

Founded Pennsylvania as a haven for religious freedom.

Society of Friends

Quakers who believed in equality and promoted peace and tolerance.

Philadelphia

City founded by William Penn, known for religious tolerance and diversity.

Virginia

First permanent English colony in North America, heavily reliant on tobacco cultivation.

Jamestown

Colony founded in 1607, the foundation of English America.

Bacon's Rebellion

A 1676 uprising against elite control and Native American policies.

Georgia

Last of the original colonies, founded as a buffer against Spanish Florida.

Rhode Island

Founded on principles of religious freedom and separation of church and state.

Salutary Neglect

British policy of loosely enforcing colonial laws, allowing self-government.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights.

John Locke

Philosopher who argued for natural rights and government by consent.

Smallpox inoculations

An early method to prevent smallpox by exposing people to a mild form.

Thomas Paine

Wrote Common Sense, urging independence from Britain.

Benjamin Franklin

Writer, scientist, and diplomat who contributed to Enlightenment ideas.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Ended the Revolutionary War, recognizing U.S. independence.