APUSH Unit 2 Vocab

Important vocabulary from AP US History Unit 2 (chapters 2-4)

Quakers

A Christian denomination that believed that God spoke to every individual and that the constructs of the church were unnecessary. Also don’t believe the Bible is necessary to finding God.

Middle Colonies

These colonies (which included Pennsylvania and New York) mainly grew & sold cereal grains.

Proprietary Colonies

A colony gifted by the king of England to someone who had helped him in the past (or to one of their family members). These colonies were largely independent of English control.

The Covenant Chain

The Iriqouis’ alliance with New York. (They allied with both the French & the English in an attempt to stay neutral).

Tribalization

The adaptation of stateless people to the demands imposed on them by neighboring states. Tribes joining together or disappearing.

South Atlantic System

Also known as the triangular trade, it was a system between the New and Old worlds that exchanged raw goods from the colonies to Europe, manufactured goods from Europe to Africa, and slaves from Africa to the colonies.

Middle Passage

The brutal sea voyage from Africa to the Americas that caused the death of nearly 2 million enslaved Africans.

Chattel Slavery

A system of bondage in which a slave has the legal status of property and can be bought/sold as such.

Stono Rebellion

The largest slave uprising in the mainland colonies, occurring in South Carolina. Involved mostly African slaves but also a few Portuguese-speaking Catholics. It was unsuccessful.

Navigation Acts

A set of mercantilist policies put in place by the English to gain further control over trade & get even MORE profit from it. Included that colonists could only trade with Englishmen. They were widely ignored by the colonies.

Salutary Neglect

British colonial policy during the reigns of George I and II (1714-1760) which allowed for American self government and relaxed supervision on internal affairs.

William Penn

The proprietor of Pennsylvania, an extraordinarily wealthy young man who became a Quaker and organized a mostly tolerant, diverse, and peaceful colony.

Maritime Economy/Port City

Profit was made through trade across the sea. This caused major port cities to be urbanized & have many job opportunities.

William Byrd II

Son of a successful planter-merchant from Virginia, he was repeatedly rejected from the English gentry and eventually joined/created the Southern Gentry by building a large brick mansion among other things.

Enlightenment

A movement emphasizing the power of human reason to understand and shape the world, brought to the New World from Europe.

First Great Awakening

In part led by George Whitefield, a widespread revival of religious piety throughout the Northern American colonies.

Revival

A renewing of religious enthusiasm, an awakening to God’s presence.

Old Lights

Conservative ministers opposed to the passion displayed by evangelical preachers-. They preferred to emphasize the importance of cultivating a virtuous Christian life.

New Lights

People converted to pietism- evangelical preachers, many of whom were influenced by John Wesley and George Whitefield. Decried a Christian faith that was intellectual & emphasized spiritual rebirth.

George Whitefield

A pietist (personal relationship with God, be pious) preacher. Turned small revivals into a “Great Awakening”

Carolina Regulators

Landowning protestants who, in the 1760s/70s, demanded that the eastern-controlled gov’t provide Western districts with more courts, fairer taxation, and greater representation in assembly.

Anglican

The English Church, which was legally established in the southern colonies. Could also be used for anything from England or England-esque.

Print Revolution

Following the loosening of laws around censorship in England, many independent printers opened and the number and variety of books, pamphlets, and other written materials skyrocketed. New ideas could now spread rapidly- and all of these prints also came to the colonies.

Consumer Revolution

An increase in consumption in England and their colonies fueled by the Industrial Revolution. Raised living standards but also landed many consumers and entire colonies in debt.

Ohio River Valley

The land claim responsible for the 7-years war. It was an ideal location for trade with the Natives.

French & Indian (7 Years) War

A war over overlapping land claims in the Ohio River Valley between Britain and France. George Washington was greatly involved as a colonel. In this war, most Natives sided with the French, while the Iriquois sided with the English. This war would spread to Europe, and was eventually won by England.

Albany Congress

A meeting between the British Board of Trade and the Iriquois intended to mend their relationship.

Albany Plan of Union

Proposed by Benjamin Franklin at the Albany Congress, would’ve made a general government for the North American colonies to take care of trade, Native policy, and colonial defense. It was never seriously considered.

Benjamin Franklin

He was an Enlightenment thinker who learned through reading in his brothers’ print shop. Became a printer himself, and founded the “Pennsylvania Gazzette”, became a deist (there’s an uninvolved divine being) & opposed slavery.

Pontiacs Rebellion

An uprising of native tribes against British forts in the Ohio country and great lakes region following the French and Indian War.