U.S. History to 1877 Lecture Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering Native American societies, European colonization motives, legal concepts, and Portuguese exploration based on lecture notes.

Periodization

The act of breaking the past into distinct chronological periods.

Colonial Period

The historical era spanning from 1492 (marked by Columbus) to 1763 (the end of the French and Indian War).

American Revolution Period

The era in U.S. history spanning from 1763 to 1783.

Early Migration Theory

The theory that people migrated from Asia to America at least 12,000 to 13,000 years ago during an ice age with lower sea levels by walking across land.

Clovis Points

Artifacts associated with early Native migration to America dating back at least 12,000 to 13,000 years ago.

Post-1990s Migration Discoveries

Discoveries made since the late 1990s suggesting that people migrated 30,000 to 50,000 years ago through likely multiple migrations in different forms.

Native Farming Division of Labor

An economic division where men engaged in fishing and hunting game, while women cultivated corn, beans, and squash.

Native Hunting and Gathering

A practice where women harvested wild plant foods such as roots and berries, and fire was used to maintain food-producing areas.

Native Social Organization

Societal structure consisting of many different peoples and tribes with varying leadership forms (some emperors, some multiple leaders) that often lacked coercive power.

Vacuum Domicilum

A concept under English Common Law stating that unused land is not owned and is open for the taking.

European Introduced Diseases

Pathogens introduced by Europeans—originating from domesticated animals which Natives largely lacked—that devastated Native populations.

Native Gender Roles

Work roles divided by gender but intertwined, where both men and women possessed influence, power, and balanced roles.

Two-Spirits

Additional forms of gender identity beyond two binary forms recognized by many Native cultures.

Rise of the New Monarchs

The process of political centralization in European powers such as Spain, France, and England.

Reformation

A 1500s movement of growing religious dissent that split the Christian Church into Catholic and Protestant branches (including Lutherans, Calvinism, Methodists, Baptists, Quakers, and Anglicans).

Era of the Renaissance

A period from the 1300s to 1600s marked by a desire to know more about the world, serving as a motive for European colonization.

Era of the Enlightenment

A period from the late 1600s to 1700s defined by a strong scientific tradition, serving as a motive for European colonization.

Commercial Motives for Colonization

The desire to increase trade with Asia by using easier, lower-cost water transport routes.

Mercantilism

An economic idea that wealth is a fixed sum, driving nations to gain power by exporting more than importing to acquire hard currency.

Prince Henry the Navigator

A Portuguese leader who spearheaded maritime exploration efforts and technological advancements like astrolabes along the African coast.

Madeira Island

An island off the coast of Africa colonized by Portugal for fruit and sugar production.

Vasco de Harma

Portuguese explorer who sailed around Africa and reached India in 1498.