American History U1

Civilization

A state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, and government has been reached.

Mercantilism

An economic system built on the assumption that the world's supply of wealth is fixed and that nations must export more goods than they import to assure a steady supply of gold and silver into national coffers. Mercantile thinkers saw the inflow of such wealth as the key to maintaining and enhancing national power and self‑sufficiency. Colonies were crucial for supplying raw materials and serving as markets for finished goods.

Columbian Exchange

he process of transferring plants, animals, foods, diseases, wealth, and culture between Europe and the Americas, beginning at the time of Christopher Columbus and continuing throughout the era of exploration and expansion.

Indentured Servant

In an effort to entice English subjects to the colonies, parties would offer legal bonded contracts that would exchange the cost of passage across the Atlantic for up to seven years of labor in America.

Chattel Slavery

Total ownership of one person over another.

Puritans

Religious reform movement in the 16th and 17th centuries that sought to “purify” the Church of England.

Triangular Trade

Economic exchange amongst three markets and geographies.

Encomienda System

The government in Spain gave away large tracts of conquered land in Spanish America, including whole villages of indigenous peoples, to court favorites (including many conquistadores). These new landlords were supposed to educate the natives and teach them the Roman Catholic faith, but the system was rife with abuse; landlords exploited the labor of the local inhabitants, treating them like slaves.

Southern Colonies

Colonies with a large agricultural base; focused on cash crops.

Middle Colonies

Because of location they were key distribution centers in the English Mercantile System; colonies with a large agricultural base.

New England Colonies

Colonies founded by the Puritans for religious purposes. Goal was to create a society as God intended.

New Amsterdam

This colony served two purposes. First, to protect the beaver pelt and other trade on the Hudson River for the Dutch West Indies Company. Second, to challenge the British, and to some extent the French and the Spanish, for the resources and land of eastern North America.

Philadelphia

The biggest shipbuilding center in the colonies. Key port city because of its easy access for inland farmers and other commodity goods that needed to be shipped.

New Orleans

One of the largest ports in the world. The city handled trade from the Mississippi River Valley as well as the Eastern seaboard, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

Charleston

Hub of Atlantic trade for the southern colonies; a hub of Atlantic trade for the southern colonies.

Jamestown

The first permanent, stable English settlement in North America. It provided an example of a sustainable colony to other expeditions heading to the New World.

Columbus discover “new world”

Launched centuries of European exploration and colonization of the American continents.

Conquest of tenochtitlan

Destroyed the Aztec empire, and the Spanish began to consolidate control over what became the colony of New Spain.

Roanoke Settlement

The first English attempt at a permanent and stable English settlement in North America. It failed.

King Philip’s War

War that pitted Native Americans against English settlers and their Indian allies. Paved the way for additional English settlements.

Bacon’s Rebellion

The first popular uprising in the American colonies. It was long viewed as an early revolt against English tyranny.