Queen Elizabeth I
Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603, known for her strong leadership and impact on domestic and foreign affairs.
Protestant Church of England
Established by Elizabeth I, it positioned England within the Protestant camp while fostering relative religious tolerance.
Spanish Armada
A naval fleet assembled by Spain in 1588 to invade England, ultimately defeated by the English navy.
Elizabethan Era
A period marked by a flourishing of English culture and literature, including the works of Shakespeare.
Sir Walter Raleigh
An influential English figure known for sponsoring early American colonization efforts, including the Roanoke Colony.
Roanoke Colony
The first English attempt at colonization in North America, known as the "Lost Colony" due to its mysterious disappearance.
Primogeniture
An inheritance practice where the eldest son inherits the entire estate, impacting younger sons' opportunities and driving them to seek fortunes abroad.
Virginia Company of London
A joint-stock company chartered in 1606 to promote English colonization in North America, known for establishing Jamestown.
Jamestown
The first permanent English settlement in North America, founded in 1607, which faced initial struggles but later prospered through tobacco cultivation.
John Smith
An English soldier and explorer who played a central role in the early years of Jamestown, enforcing discipline and establishing trade with Native Americans.
Pocahontas
A Native American woman who mediated between the Powhatan Confederacy and English settlers, known for her marriage to John Rolfe.
John Rolfe
An English settler known for cultivating tobacco in Jamestown, which transformed the colony's economy and established peaceful relations with Native Americans.
Anglo-Powhatan Wars
A series of conflicts between English settlers and the Powhatan Confederacy from 1609 to 1646, leading to the decline of Powhatan power.
House of Burgesses
Established in 1619, it was the first representative legislative body in the American colonies, promoting self-governance.
The Act of Toleration
Passed in 1649, it granted religious freedom to all Christians in Maryland, protecting Catholics from discrimination.
Tuscarora War
A conflict from 1711 to 1715 between the Tuscarora tribe and English settlers in North Carolina, resulting in Tuscarora displacement.
Iroquois Confederacy
A powerful alliance of Native American tribes in the northeastern U.S., known for its sophisticated political structure and influence on regional politics.