Unit 2

Roanoke Colony

The first English attempt at colonization in America, which ultimately failed and was found abandoned.

Walter Raleigh

The individual who led the initial colonization efforts at Roanoke Island.

Spanish Armada

The defeat of this fleet in 1588 established England as a major naval power and spurred interest in colonization.

Joint Stock Company

A financial arrangement that allowed multiple investors to fund colonial ventures, limiting individual risk.

Indentured Servants

Settlers who worked for a fixed term in exchange for passage to America, comprising two-thirds of English settlers.

Cultural Changes

Native Americans were forced to adapt to English land ownership concepts and engage in trade with colonists.

Chesapeake Bay

The location of the Jamestown settlement, characterized by swampy land and disease.

Virginia Company of London

The joint-stock company that established the Jamestown settlement.

Headright System

A land grant policy that awarded 50 acres to colonists who paid for their own or others' passage.

Virginia House of Burgesses

The first elected assembly in colonial America, establishing a political precedent.

Powhatan

The leader of the Native American tribes in the Jamestown area, who interacted with the English settlers.

Puritanism

A religious movement that sought to reform the Church of England and led to the establishment of colonies for religious freedom.

Pilgrims

The first Puritans to emigrate to America, establishing the Plymouth Colony.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement by the Pilgrims to create a government based on majority rule.

Great Puritan Migration

The movement of thousands of Puritans to Massachusetts in the 1630s, establishing a stable society.

Franchise in Massachusetts Bay Colony

Voting rights were initially limited to Puritan "visible saints."

Roger Williams

A dissenting Puritan who founded Rhode Island advocating for religious freedom.

Pequot War

A conflict between English settlers and the Pequot tribe, resulting in the near extermination of the Pequot people.

Body of Liberties

The first legal code established by European colonists in New England, outlining rights and liberties.

Halfway Covenant

A religious compromise allowing the baptism of grandchildren of church members to maintain church influence.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasized the importance of accumulating wealth through trade and colonization.

Charter of Liberties and Privileges

A document that established rights and governance in New York, promoting diversity.

Bacon’s Rebellion

A revolt against colonial authority in Virginia, highlighting tensions between settlers and the government.

Glorious Revolution

The 1688 event in England that influenced colonial governance and the relationship between colonies and the crown.

Atlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans, which became a significant part of the economy in the colonies.

Stono Rebellion

A significant slave uprising in South Carolina that demonstrated resistance to slavery.

Great Awakening

A religious revival movement in the 18th century that emphasized personal faith and emotional connection to religion.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement that emphasized reason and individualism, influencing colonial thought and governance.