U.S. History Key Terms and Concepts for STAAR

This set of flashcards includes key vocabulary terms and definitions that are crucial for understanding concepts in U.S. history relevant to the STAAR exam.

Détente

A policy aimed at easing tensions between countries, particularly during the Cold War.

Plantation Colonies

Colonial regions characterized by large farms that grew cash crops using slave labor.

House of Burgesses

The first legislative assembly in the American colonies, established in Virginia in 1619.

Toleration Act of 1649

A Maryland law that granted religious freedom to all Christians.

Iroquois Confederacy

An alliance of six Native American tribes formed for mutual defense and trade.

Puritan Revolution

A civil war in England that led to the establishment of a commonwealth.

Metacom's War

A conflict between Native Americans and English colonists that took place in 1675-1676.

Bacon's Rebellion

A revolt led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkeley's administration in Virginia.

Salutary Neglect

An unofficial policy that allowed colonies self-governance while England benefited economically.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive trade balance.

The Middle Passage

The sea journey undertaken by slave ships from West Africa to the Americas.

Slave Codes

Laws that defined the status and rights of enslaved people.

Chesapeake Region

The area of the United States including Virginia and Maryland, known for tobacco farming.

South Carolina

A colony known for its rice plantations and reliance on enslaved labor.

Quakers

Members of the Religious Society of Friends, advocating for peace and equality.

The Great Awakening

A religious revival in the American colonies during the early 18th century.

John Locke

An Enlightenment thinker who advocated for natural rights and government by consent.

New England Colonies

Colonies characterized by a focus on trade, agriculture, and religious freedom.

American Pietism

A movement emphasizing personal faith and the emotional experience of God.

Yeoman Society

A social structure characterized by small farmers and middle class status.

African Diaspora

The forced removal of Africans from their homelands to various parts of the world.

Indentured Servitude

A labor system in which people worked for a fixed term in exchange for passage to America.

Transatlantic Slave Trade

The transportation of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean.

Urban Economy

An economic system primarily centered around cities and trade.

Cottage Industry

Small-scale production of goods in homes rather than factories.

Cultural Wars

Conflicts arising from differing cultural beliefs and practices.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism over tradition.

Resistance

Opposition to authority, control, or tradition.

Colonial Assemblies

Legislative bodies formed by the colonies to govern themselves.

Imperial Expansion

A policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition.

Royal Colony

A colony governed directly by the king or queen.

Proprietary Colony

A colony owned by individuals or groups given ownership by the monarch.

Corporate Colony

A colony established for economic gain, governed by a charter.

Religious Upheaval

A period of change and conflict in societal religious practices.

Commercial Aggression

Hostility towards competing nations impacting trade.

Trade Restrictions

Laws that limit trade in certain goods or with certain partners.

Farm Families

Households primarily engaged in agriculture and land management.

Witchcraft Trials

Historical events where individuals were accused of witchcraft, leading to moral turmoil.

West Indies

The Caribbean islands, significant for sugar trade and colonization.

The Pilgrims

Early settlers of Plymouth Colony, known for seeking religious freedom.

Anne Hutchinson

A religious dissenter who challenged the norms of Puritan society.

Thomas Paine

An Enlightenment thinker whose writings encouraged independence.

Household Mode of Production

A system in which family labor produces goods and services for both consumption and trade.

War of Jenkins's Ear

A conflict between Britain and Spain over trade rights.

Trading Post

A location established for commercial exchange, particularly in colonial economies.