American History Review: Colonial Era to Nation Building

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering key figures, terms, and events from the American Colonial period through the formation of the Constitution.

William Bradford

The leader of the Plymouth Colony.

Squanto (Tisquantum)

A key figure who helped the Pilgrims survive.

John Winthrop

Puritan leader known for the "City Upon a Hill" concept.

Roger Williams

Founder of Rhode Island who advocated for religious freedom.

Anne Hutchinson

A figure who challenged Puritan authority and was eventually banished.

Thomas Hooker

The founder of Connecticut.

Mayflower Compact (1620)

An early agreement for self-government and majority rule in Plymouth Colony.

Pilgrims

Separatists who founded Plymouth and wanted to completely break away from the Church of England.

Puritans

Group that founded Massachusetts Bay Colony and wanted to reform the Church of England from within.

Congregationalism

A system of local church control.

Half-Way Covenant

A measure used to increase church membership.

Jeremiad

A type of sermon warning of moral decline.

King Philip's War (1675–1678)

A major conflict between colonists and Native Americans in New England.

Salem Witch Trials (1692)

Events that reflected fear, superstition, and social tensions within the community.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement focused on reason, science, natural rights, and representative government.

John Locke

Philosopher who proposed the concept of Natural Rights (Life, Liberty, Property) and the Social Contract.

Isaac Newton

Scientist known for his work on gravity and the Laws of Motion.

Great Awakening

A religious revival movement focused on emotion and religion.

Jonathan Edwards

A Great Awakening preacher known for the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."

George Whitefield

A traveling revival preacher during the Great Awakening.

Proclamation of 1763

A British rule stating that colonists could not settle west of the Appalachians.

Sugar Act

A British act enacted for the purpose of taxing sugar.

Stamp Act

A tax imposed on printed materials in the colonies.

Townshend Acts

Acts intended to tax imports to the colonies.

Boston Massacre (1770)

An incident where five colonists were killed, including Crispus Attucks.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

A protest against the Tea Act where 342 chests of tea were dumped into Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Acts passed by Britain as punishment for the Boston Tea Party.

Lexington & Concord (1775)

The battles that marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that encouraged American independence.

Declaration of Independence

The document written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, influenced by the ideas of John Locke.

Saratoga (1777)

The turning point of the Revolutionary War which convinced France to join the American side.

Yorktown (1781)

The battle where Cornwallis surrendered, effectively ending the war.

Valley Forge

The site of a harsh winter where the Continental Army became stronger.

Articles of Confederation

The first system of government for the U.S. which lacked an executive branch and the power to tax.

Northwest Ordinance

The law establishing the process for territories to become states and banning slavery north of the Ohio River.

Shays' Rebellion

An uprising led by Daniel Shays that showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

James Madison

Commonly known as the Father of the Constitution and creator of the Virginia Plan.

Great Compromise

An agreement that created a bicameral Congress with equal representation in the Senate and population-based representation in the House.

3/5 Compromise

An agreement to count enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.

Federalism

A system of shared power between the national and state governments.

Anti-Federalists

A group that favored strong state governments and demanded a Bill of Rights.