HY 103 American Civilization to 1865, The University of Alabama

Walter Raleigh and the Roanoke colony

Responsible for the attempted colonization of Roanoke Island in the 1580s. Roanoke was the first attempted colony in North America

Powhatan

Powerful chief for Native American tribes and father of Pocahontas. Powhatan tribes helped settlers upon their first arrival

John Smith

English settler sent to North America to gather information about the land. He was vital in the survival of Jamestown

Staple crop

The staple crop for the colonies was maize (corn), which fed people and livestock and could be cultivated for the future

Indentured servants

Incarcerated individuals were shipped to the colonies to do labor in exchange for their freedom, which delayed the use of slavery in the colonies

Puritans

English Protestants wanted to follow only the Bible strictly. They founded the Massachusetts Bay colony

John Winthrop

Puritan lawyer from England who became the first governor of Massachusetts Bay colony

Predestination

Puritans believed your fate is decided before you are born, and you cannot change it (Heaven vs Hell). This religious belief was an essential factor in shaping colonies like Massachusetts

Congregationalism

A tradition that the Puritans started where each person was required to go to church. This influenced the early development of democratic institutions in the New England colonies

"The New England Way"

Puritans led the 'Great Migration' to the colonies, which changed religious practices in the colonies

Anne Hutchinson

Puritan in Massachusetts who went against church authority, advocating for the separation of church and state

Iroquois League

United multiple Native American tribes and brought peace among them, which caused problems for the colonists

New Netherland

Dutch colony in North America that was seized by the English and became New York colony

William Penn

Founder of Pennsylvania and English Quaker who promoted religious freedom and good relations with Native Americans, serving as a "Model of Tolerance"

Quakers

A group of Christians in Pennsylvania that believed in the "inner light" between God and the individual. This radical group was vital to the establishment of Pennsylvania

Charles Town

A city in South Carolina that became wealthy due to its rice plantations

Glorious Revolution of 1688

The overthrow of James II, which showed colonists that the monarchy could be defeated

Navigation Acts

Restricted European trade for colonies to only trade with Britain, which hurt the colonies economically

Triangular trade

International trade between the colonies, Britain, and Africa that was responsible for importing enslaved people to the colonies

Great Awakening

Significant Christian movements throughout the world and the colonies. These ideas formed the basis of shared religion going forward in the colonies

Jonathan Edwards

Preacher from Connecticut who was a key person in the Great Awakening and influenced many

George Whitefield

Preacher and Anglican minister who was a leader in the Great Awakening

William Pitt

Supporter of the revolution who introduced a bill to suppress the extreme measures Britain was enforcing

Pontiac's "Rebellion"

War between Native Americans and colonies, where many tribes united against the British

Proclamation Line of 1763

A boundary line marked by Britain to keep expansion under control, which colonists saw as an infringement of their rights and ignored

Sugar Act (1764)

A law that taxed sugar imported into American colonies to pay off the French and Indian War debt. The colonies protested it as "taxation without representation"

Stamp Act (1765)

A tax imposed by the British government on any document or paper, which sparked the colonists' outcry of "taxation without representation" and pushed them toward independence

Sons of Liberty

A secret organization made by the colonists to oppose Britain. They led to the repeal of the Stamp Act and defended colonists' rights

Boston Massacre (5 March 1770)

British soldiers opened fire on a crowd in Boston, killing colonists and providing propaganda to fuel resistance

Samuel Adams

Organizer of the Sons of Liberty and essential in the Boston Tea Party. He signed the Declaration of Independence and united the colonies against British rule

Boston Tea Party (16 December 1773)

Colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor in protest of taxes and "taxation without representation," leading to the Intolerable Acts

Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)

Harsh laws passed by Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party, including closing Boston Harbor and revoking Massachusetts' charter. These acts led directly to the American Revolution

Continental Congress (First - 5 September 1774)

The first meeting of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies to address British policies, marking the beginning of unified colonial action against British rule

Lexington and Concord (19 April 1775)

The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, marking the start of open armed conflict between the colonies and Britain

Thomas Paine and Common Sense

Published in 1776, this pamphlet argued for American independence from Britain and persuaded many colonists to support the revolutionary cause