2.3_Comparison of the Four Regions of British Colonies in North America

A detailed set of vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and concepts relating to the comparison of the British colonial regions in North America.

Colonial regions

Distinct areas in British North America, including New England, Middle Colonies, Chesapeake, and Southern Colonies.

Plymouth Colony

Established in 1620 by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom and economic opportunity.

Mayflower Compact

Agreement signed by Plymouth settlers to form a government based on majority rule.

Massachusetts Bay Colony

Founded in 1630, settled by Puritan families with a strong focus on religious governance.

Roger Williams

Critic of Puritan authority; founded Rhode Island as a refuge for religious dissenters.

Anne Hutchinson

Religious dissenter banished from Massachusetts for promoting gender equality in spirituality.

New England economy

Characterized by fisheries, timber, and trade due to limited agriculture.

Middle Colonies

Included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware with diverse populations.

New York's origins

Previously a Dutch colony known as New Amsterdam, focused on commerce.

Breadbasket colonies

Term for Middle Colonies due to grain production and agriculture.

William Penn

Founded Pennsylvania as a refuge for Quakers and proponent of religious tolerance.

Quaker beliefs

Emphasized individual religious experience and equality among believers.

House of Burgesses

First representative assembly in the Virginia colony, signifying steps toward democracy.

Chesapeake region

Centered on tobacco cultivation and characterized by large plantations.

Indentured servitude

Labor system where migrants worked for a set number of years in exchange for passage.

Tobacco

Main cash crop of Virginia, leading to economic stability but also soil depletion.

Plantation economy

Economic system based on large farms cultivating cash crops, involving slave labor.

African slavery

System that replaced indentured servitude, becoming predominant in Chesapeake by the 17th century.

South Carolina's agriculture

Focused on rice and indigo cultivation with a plantation-based economy.

Barbados slave codes

Laws established in the British West Indies to control enslaved populations.

Cultural syncretism

Combination of African religious practices with Christianity by enslaved people.

Georgia colony

Established as a buffer against Spanish Florida and a place for British debtors.

Southern colonies' hierarchy

Rigid social structure dominated by wealthy planters and enslaved Africans.

Religious intolerance

Lack of acceptance for differing beliefs, prevalent in Puritan settlements.

Urban trading centers

Developed in Middle Colonies due to diverse immigrant populations and commerce.

Majority rule

Principle where decisions are made based on the consent of the greater number of votes.

Rocky soil

Characteristic of New England, limiting agricultural productivity.

Diverse population

Feature of Middle Colonies attributable to religious tolerance and economic opportunity.

Agricultural techniques

Skills and methods taught by indigenous peoples to settlers for improved farming.

Civic participation

Involvement in governance; higher in New England compared to Southern colonies.

Economic opportunities

Reasons why many migrated to the British colonies, seeking a better life.

Royal colonies

Colonies governed directly by the British monarchy, such as New Jersey and South Carolina.

Fertile soil

Key aspect of Middle Colonies that supported agriculture and crop exports.

Democratic governance

Political systems allowing for some level of citizen participation in decision making.

Puritan society

Community structured around strict religious conformity and governance by Biblical principles.

Indigenous relations

Interactions between colonists and Native Americans, often marked by conflicts.

Spiritual equality

Quaker belief in equal access to spiritual experiences for all individuals.

Agricultural exports

Products like tobacco, grain, and indigo that formed the backbone of colonial economies.

Social fabric

The intertwined nature of community life, influenced by religion and governance.

Cannibalism in Jamestown

Desperate measure taken by settlers during severe food shortages.

Virginia's foundation

Built on profit motives and cash crop agriculture after early failures.

Political power dynamics

Distribution of influence within the colonies, often concentrated among elite planters.

Economic motivations

Primary driving force behind the settlement and development of the colonies.

Colonial governance

Systems of rule established in colonies, varying from inclusive to exclusive.

Plantation lifestyle

Way of life focused on agriculture, with significant influence from enslaved labor.

Societal structure

Hierarchy based on landownership, race, and wealth in the colonies.

Spiritual independence

The pursuit of personal religious beliefs outside of established church doctrines.

Trade and commerce

Vital to the economic success of regions, particularly in cities and ports.

Transatlantic trade

Exchange of goods, people, and ideas between Europe and the Americas.

Geographical influences

How the land shaped the agricultural practices and settlement patterns of colonies.

Self-governance

The ability of colonists to govern themselves, often through assemblies.

Tobacco's impact

Became a staple of Virginia's economy but led to soil degradation.

Cultural diversity

Characterized the Middle Colonies due to influx of various European groups.

Economic disparity

Contrast between wealthy planters and poor laborers within colonial society.

Religious diversity

Presence of multiple faiths and practices within the colonies, particularly in Pennsylvania.

Colonial resistance

Actions taken by dissenters against strict governance, often leading to new colonies.

Colonial expansion

The movement of settlers into new territories, often at the expense of indigenous peoples.

Intercolonial trade

Trade between different colonial regions, enhancing economic ties.

Political representation

How different colonies allowed or restricted voting rights among their populations.

Settlement motivations

Religious freedom, economic opportunity, and exploration drove colonization.

Cultural adaptability

Ability of enslaved Africans to merge their traditions with those of their oppressors.

Resource exploitation

How colonies utilized natural resources for economic gain.

Climate effects

Warmer temperatures in the South facilitated plantation agriculture.

Enslaved labor systems

Evolution from indentured servitude to full-fledged systems of slavery.

Colonial institutions

Established frameworks for governance, education, and religion within colonies.

Population growth

Caused by immigration and increased birth rates, particularly among colonizers.

Migrant demographics

Different backgrounds of colonizers from British aristocrats to indentured servants.

Conflicts with Indigenous peoples

Resulting from land appropriations and differing cultural values.

Plantation economies' reliance

On slave labor for profitability and expansion.

Colonial backlash

Responses to unpopular religious or political mandates, resulting in new settlements.