Exploration, Colonization, and the American Revolution

Vocabulary flashcards covering colonial regions, reasons for exploration, key early governing documents, and major events leading up to the American Revolution.

Gold

Searching for faster routes and better trade opportunities as a reason for exploration.

GOD

Converting Native Americans to Roman Catholicism as a religious reason for exploration.

Glory

To claim new territory to expand an empire as a reason for exploration.

Puritans

A group that established Plymouth for religious freedom, but persecuted other groups as they enforced uniformity.

Quakers

The religious group for whom William Penn established Pennsylvania as a safe haven.

Slaves

People brought to southern colonies with transatlantic trade to harvest cash crops and work on plantations.

Mayflower Compact

The first self-government signed to give the people power.

VA House of Burgesses

First representative government established when leaders were elected.

Fundamental Orders of CT

First written constitution within the colonies.

John Locke

A philosopher whose ideas influenced colonists to create their own representative government.

New England Region

Colonial region characterized by deep harbors, forests, cold winters, and rocky soil, with economic activity centered on shipbuilding, whaling/fishing, and trade in port cities.

Middle Region

Colonial region known as the 'breadbasket' colonies, characterized by moderate climate and soil.

Southern Region

Colonial region with a hot and humid climate, fertile soil, and broad rivers, where slave labor was used to grow cash crops on plantations.

Boston Massacre

An event following Stamp Act protest rallies where British soldiers killed five colonists, including Crispus Attucks.

Intolerable Acts

Measures enforced by the King after the Boston Tea Party that closed the harbor, sent more soldiers, and united colonists against the British.

First Continental Congress

A gathering of delegates formed after the Intolerable Acts to discuss next steps against the British.

Lexington and Concord

A battle where Patriots used geography as an advantage to ambush and make the British retreat.

Common Sense

Paine's pamphlet that emphasized colonists should declare independence because of the unfair treatment of the King and Parliament.

Proclamation of 1763

Issued by Great Britain after the French and Indian War, prohibiting colonists from crossing the Appalachian Mountains into new land.