Module 1 Readings: Early American Literature and History

Vocabulary flashcards covering key authors, historical events, literary works, figures, and cultural concepts from early American settlement.

Captain John Smith

An English explorer and adventurer born in 1580 who helped establish Jamestown in 1607, served as president of the colonial council in 1608, and authored early colonial writings.

The Generall Historie of Virginia

A 1624 six-book work written in the third person by John Smith that encouraged settlement, emphasized hard work, and detailed early colonial history.

A Description of New England

A 1616 text by John Smith that coined the term 'New England' and promoted settlement by highlighting farming, fishing, and natural resources.

Pocahontas (Matoaka)

The daughter of Chief Powhatan who assisted Jamestown colonists, converted to Christianity taking the name Rebecca, and married John Rolfe.

William Bradford

A Separatist leader born in 1590 who arrived on the Mayflower, signed the Mayflower Compact, and served thirty terms as governor of Plymouth Colony.

Mayflower Compact

The foundational governing agreement signed in 1620 aboard ship by Pilgrim and non-Pilgrim settlers to establish order and law in Plymouth Colony.

Geneva Bible (1592 Edition)

The translation owned and read by William Bradford, preferred by Puritans over the King James version for its plain style and textual commentary.

Of Plymouth Plantation

A two-book historical journal written by William Bradford between 1630 and 1650 that details the Pilgrims' time in Holland, voyage on the Mayflower, and life in Plymouth.

Massasoit

The Wampanoag leader who formed a peace treaty with William Bradford and Plymouth Colony that lasted for 24 years.

Anne Bradstreet

A colonial poet who arrived on the Arabella in 1630 and became the first woman to have a published volume of poetry in the American colonies.

The Tenth Muse

Anne Bradstreet's collection of poetry published in London in 1650 without her prior knowledge by her brother-in-law.

Mary Rowlandson

A minister's wife from Lancaster, Massachusetts, who was captured during King Philip's War in 1676, held for 11 weeks, and authored a famous captivity narrative.

Removes

The term used by Mary Rowlandson in her narrative to structure chapters according to each relocation or leg of travel during her captivity.

Metacomet (King Philip)

The Wampanoag chief who declared war on the New England settlers in 1675 to resist land encroachment, launching King Philip's War.

A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

A 1682 prose work recounting Mary Rowlandson's traumatic captivity, observations of Native American life, and faith in God.

Predestination

John Calvin's belief adopted by Puritans stating that God has already determined who is saved or damned, independent of faith or good works.

Plain Style

The clear, direct, and unadorned writing style favored by Puritans to emphasize clarity and practical biblical truth.

Puritans

The Puritans were Protestants who wanted to “purify” Christianity. They believed in predestination, that humans were naturally sinful, and that God controlled salvation. They valued the Bible, education, hard work, and plain living. They believed women were secondary to men and should be devoted to their husbands, families, and God. The Puritans influenced America through education, community involvement, individual responsibility, and their plain style of writing.

John Rolfe

An English settler at Jamestown who successfully introduced tobacco curing to make the colony profitable and married Pocahontas in 1614.

The Author to Her Book

A poem by Anne Bradstreet addressing her own literary work as a child, expressing both pride and critique of its imperfections.

To My Dear and Loving Husband

A poem by Anne Bradstreet that expresses deep affection and devotion to her husband, celebrating their love and the strength of their bond.