APUSH VOCAB (chapter 1-22)

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Columbian Exchange

The transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and cultures between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages (1492).

Encomienda System

A Spanish labor system that granted colonists the right to demand labor from Indigenous people in return for supposed protection and conversion to Christianity (1500s).

Pueblo Revolt

A successful uprising of Pueblo Indians against Spanish colonization in present-day New Mexico (1680).

Black Legend

A term referring to the portrayal of Spain as uniquely brutal in its colonial conquests, particularly toward Native Americans (1500s).

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and profit, which grew alongside European colonial expansion (Emerging in 16th century).

Atlantic World

A term describing the intercontinental interactions between Europe, Africa, and the Americas through trade, migration, and cultural exchange (1450-1800s).

Epidemics

The widespread transmission of Old World diseases like smallpox that decimated Indigenous populations in the Americas (1500s-1800s).

Primogeniture

A legal principle where the eldest son inherits all family property, influencing colonization as younger sons sought fortunes elsewhere (European tradition).

Joint-Stock Company

A business structure where multiple investors pooled resources to fund colonial ventures, minimizing individual risk (1600s).

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in Virginia (1607).

Powhatan Natives

The Indigenous people encountered by the Jamestown settlers, with whom they had complex relations involving trade and conflict (Early 1600s).

Maryland Act of Toleration

An early law guaranteeing religious freedom to all Christians in Maryland, but with limitations on non-Christians (1649).

Iroquois Confederacy

A powerful alliance of Native American tribes in the northeastern United States that played a strategic role in colonial politics (1600s-1700s).

Chesapeake Colonies

Colonies in the Chesapeake Bay area, such as Virginia and Maryland, focused on tobacco cultivation and reliant on indentured and later enslaved labor (1607-1700s).

Dutch Colonization

The Netherlands established settlements in North America, most notably New Amsterdam, which later became New York (1609).

French Colonization

French efforts in North America focused on fur trading alliances with Indigenous people, especially in Canada and the Mississippi River region (Early 1600s).

Predestination

A Calvinist doctrine holding that God has predetermined who will be saved, influencing Puritan beliefs (1500s).

Puritans and Separatists

English religious groups who sought religious reform and established colonies in New England to escape persecution (1620s).

Mayflower Compact

An agreement among Pilgrim settlers aboard the Mayflower to establish self-governance in their new colony (1620).

Great Migration

A period when thousands of Puritans emigrated from England to Massachusetts to practice their religion freely (1630-1640).

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Considered the first written constitution in America, establishing a democratic government in Connecticut (1639).

Pequot Natives

A powerful tribe in New England that fought against English settlers in the Pequot War, ultimately losing their territory (1637).

King Philip’s War

A conflict between New England settlers and Native American tribes led by Metacom, resulting in significant losses on both sides (1675-1676).

Navigation Laws

English laws designed to regulate colonial trade and bolster the mercantile system by controlling exports and imports (1651, 1660, 1663).

Salutary Neglect

A British policy of relaxed tax enforcement of trade regulations in the American colonies, fostering a sense of independence(1700s).

John Winthrop

Leader of the Puritans and governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, famous for envisioning the colony as a 'city upon a hill' (1630s).

Anne Hutchinson

A religious dissenter in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who was banished for her unorthodox beliefs and challenges to church authority (1637).

Roger Williams

Founder of Rhode Island, advocating for separation of church and state and fair treatment of Native Americans (1636).

William Penn

Founder of Pennsylvania, established as a haven for Quakers and known for his policies of religious tolerance and fair dealings with Native Americans (1681).

Indentured Servants

Laborers bound by contracts to work for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the colonies, often leading to freedom and land (1600s).

Headright System

A land grant policy in Virginia granting settlers land for each indentured servant they brought to the colony (1618).

Bacon’s Rebellion

An armed rebellion in Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkeley, highlighting colonial tensions between settlers and the government (1676).

Middle Passage

The brutal sea journey enslaved Africans were forced to endure as part of the Atlantic slave trade to the Americas (1600s-1800s).

New York Slave Revolt

An uprising of enslaved people in New York City, reflecting tensions in northern colonies over the institution of slavery (1712).

Stono Rebellion

One of the largest slave uprisings in the colonies, taking place in South Carolina, leading to stricter slave laws (1739).

Half Way Covenant

A policy adopted by Puritans allowing partial church membership for descendants of church members, reflecting changing religious fervor (1662).

Salem Witch Trials

A series of prosecutions in Salem, Massachusetts, where accusations of witchcraft led to hysteria and multiple executions (1692).

Atlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic trading of enslaved Africans, central to the economies of the American colonies and European powers (1500s-1800s).

African Chattel

A term describing enslaved Africans as property, bought and sold in the American colonies (1600s-1800s).

Triangular Trade

A trade route connecting the Americas, Africa, and Europe, with each leg involving the exchange of goods, enslaved people, or raw materials (1600s-1800s).

Molasses Act

A British law imposing a tax on imported molasses, aimed at curbing colonial trade with the French West Indies (1733).

Great Awakening

A religious revival movement in the colonies emphasizing individual piety and questioning established authority (1730s-1740s).

Zenger Trial

A landmark trial for freedom of the press in which John Peter Zenger was acquitted of libel, setting a precedent for press freedom (1735).

Jonathan Edwards

A preacher and central figure of the Great Awakening known for his fiery sermons, including 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' (1730s-1740s).

Benjamin Franklin

A Founding Father, inventor, and advocate for colonial unity, famous for his diplomacy and contributions to the American Enlightenment (1706-1790).

George Whitefield

An influential preacher of the Great Awakening known for his charismatic sermons that attracted large audiences across the colonies (1730s).

Phyllis Wheatley

The first published African-American poet whose work garnered acclaim in both the colonies and Britain (1773).

French and Indian War

A conflict between Britain and France in North America, which resulted in British dominance but set the stage for colonial discontent (1754-1763).

Albany Congress

A meeting of colonial representatives in Albany to discuss unity and defense against French threats, leading to an early proposal for a unified government (1754).

Pontiac’s Uprising

A Native American revolt led by Pontiac against British control following the French and Indian War, leading to the Proclamation of 1763 (1763).

Proclamation of 1763

A British edict prohibiting colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflict with Native Americans (1763).

Republicanism

A political ideology emphasizing liberty and civic virtue, influential in colonial resistance against British rule (1700s).

Mercantilism

An economic theory where colonies existed to enrich the mother country, central to British colonial policy (1500s-1700s).

Sugar Act

A British tax on sugar and molasses aimed at raising revenue from the colonies, which heightened tensions over 'taxation without representation' (1764).

Quartering Act

A British law requiring colonial assemblies to provide housing and supplies for British troops stationed in America (1765).

Stamp Tax

A British law imposing a tax on printed materials in the colonies through a stamp, sparking widespread protest and leading to calls for independence (1765).

Nonimportation Agreements

Colonial boycotts of British goods in response to taxation policies, helping to unite colonists in opposition to British rule (1765).

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

Patriotic groups that protested British policies, including the Stamp Act, often through organized resistance and boycotts (1765).

Declaratory Act

A law affirming British authority over the colonies 'in all cases whatsoever,' following the repeal of the Stamp Act (1766).

Townshend Acts

A series of British taxes on colonial imports like tea, glass, and paint, intensifying colonial resistance (1767).

Intolerable Acts

British punitive laws passed in response to the Boston Tea Party, including closing Boston Harbor and restricting colonial government (1774).

Continental Congress

A series of assemblies where colonial representatives coordinated responses to British policies and ultimately declared independence (1774-1789).

Virtual Representation

The British claim that Parliament represented all British subjects, even those in the colonies who had no elected representatives (1760s).

European Enlightenment

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism, influencing revolutionary thought in America and Europe (1600s-1700s).

American Enlightenment

A period where Enlightenment ideas shaped American political thought, especially around natural rights and government by consent (1700s).

Olive Branch Petition

A final peace effort sent by the Continental Congress to King George III, which was ultimately rejected, leading to war (1775).

Common Sense

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine that argued for American independence from Britain, influencing public opinion and the revolution (1776).

Declaration of Independence

A formal statement adopted by the Continental Congress declaring the colonies independent from Britain (1776).

Treaty of Paris

The agreement that officially ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing U.S. independence from Britain (1783).

American Revolution

The war for independence fought by the American colonies against British rule, resulting in the creation of the United States (1775-1783).

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

A law drafted by Thomas Jefferson establishing religious freedom and separation of church and state in Virginia (1786).

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, creating a weak central government with limited powers (1781-1789).

Northwest Ordinance

Legislation establishing the process for territories to become states and banning slavery in the Northwest Territory (1787).

Shays’ Rebellion

An uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting high taxes and economic hardship, highlighting weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation (1786-1787).

Great Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention creating a bicameral legislature with representation by population and equal representation (1787).

Three Fifths Compromise

A compromise at the Constitutional Convention counting each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation (1787).

Antifederalists

A group that opposed ratifying the Constitution, favoring strong state governments and protection of individual rights (1780s).

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who advocated for a stronger central government to unify the states (1780s).

The Federalist Papers

A series of essays by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay arguing for the ratification of the Constitution (1787-1788).

Constitution

The supreme law of the United States, establishing the framework for the federal government and replacing the Articles of Confederation (1787).

Republican Motherhood

The idea that women should raise children to be virtuous citizens, emphasizing women's role in shaping civic values (Late 1700s).

Separation of Powers

The division of government powers among executive, legislative, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny (1787).

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms (1791).

Judiciary Act of 1789

An act that established the federal judiciary and the Supreme Court, structuring the U.S. court system (1789).

Hamilton’s Economic Plan

Alexander Hamilton's financial plan to stabilize U.S. finances, including a national bank and federal assumption of state debts (1790s).

Federalism

A system of government dividing power between a central authority and individual states, as outlined in the Constitution (1787).

Bank of the United States

A national bank established to handle government funds and stabilize the economy, a key part of Hamilton’s financial plan (1791).

Whiskey Rebellion

A protest against a federal tax on whiskey by Pennsylvania farmers, demonstrating the power of the new federal government (1794).

Neutrality Proclamation

A statement by George Washington declaring U.S. neutrality in the conflict between Britain and France (1793).

Jay’s Treaty

A treaty with Britain that sought to settle outstanding issues from the Revolutionary War, though unpopular with many Americans (1794).

Washington’s Farewell Address

George Washington's farewell letter advising against political parties and permanent foreign alliances (1796).

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident with France, where American envoys were asked for bribes, leading to an undeclared naval conflict (1797-1798).

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws passed by Federalists limiting speech critical of the government and making it harder for immigrants to become citizens (1798).

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Resolutions arguing that states could nullify federal laws deemed unconstitutional, a response to the Alien and Sedition Acts (1798-1799).

French Revolution

A revolutionary period in France that influenced U.S. politics, with Federalists and Democratic-Republicans divided on support (1789-1799).

Democratic Republicans

A political party led by Jefferson and Madison advocating for states' rights and a strict interpretation of the Constitution (1790s).

Revolution of 1800

The peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans after Thomas Jefferson's election, marking a precedent in democratic governance (1800).

Spoils System

A practice where political supporters are rewarded with public offices, introduced at the federal level by Andrew Jackson (1820s).

Marbury v. Madison

A landmark Supreme Court case establishing judicial review, allowing the Court to declare laws unconstitutional (1803).

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of Louisiana territory from France, doubling the size of the U.S. and opening land for westward expansion (1803).