U.S. Colonial History: Key Concepts and Figures

Tobacco

A cash crop that framed the early success of Virginia, with regular shipments sent to London and soaring profits.

John Smith

An important leading settler in Jamestown who took charge when the colony was at risk of falling apart and drew an early map of Jamestown.

Pocahontas

The daughter of Chief Powatan, a peace broker who married John Rolfe, converted to Christianity, traveled to London, and was treated as a celebrity.

Characteristics of early New England colonies

First settlers arrived around 1620, with no cash crops, focused on fishing, hunting, and small-scale farming, settled by families, and strong religious institutions.

Life expectancy

In early colonies, ⅘ settlers died, children lost a parent by age 12, and settlers were unprepared for the challenges they faced.

Rice

Main crops farmed by enslaved people in the lower South.

Slave majority

In the Lower South/Carolinas, Georgia, a small number of wealthy, white planters/landowners relied on enslaved people for labor, crucial for the development of indigo and rice.

Puritans

Sought religious freedom for themselves but could not tolerate differing beliefs, came to New England and formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony, wanting to reform the Church of England.

Indentured servants

Most of the Chesapeake's early settlers worked for a period of 4-7 years in exchange for passage to the New World, supposed to receive Freedom Dues at the end of their term.

Roger Williams

Broke away and formed Rhode Island.

Characteristics of Early Virginia/Jamestown

Founded in 1607 as the first permanent English colony.

Great Migration

Led to an influx of settlers known as the Great Migration; Thousands of English Puritans moved to the New England colonies.

Tituba

Enslaved woman from Barbados living in Salem, Massachusetts; Owned by Reverend Samuel Parris; One of the first accused of practicing witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials.

Dissent

Disagreement; Issue for Puritans in New England as the settlement 'matures' over the generations.

Generations

Different religious groups; Settlers were there for different reasons; E.g., Roger Williams, Anne Hutcherson.

William Penn

William Penn received a grant to form a new colony; granted religious freedom in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Characteristics of early Middle colonies

Many early settlers were Quakers; Religious freedom in PA and NJ; Early settlement (Philadelphia) from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River; Grain farming was a big part of the economy; An early peaceful relationship between settlers and Native Americans.

Religious freedom/tolerance

For themselves, but could not tolerate those who had different beliefs.

Proprietary colonies

New colonies in the lower south were called Proprietary Colonies (ruled by their owners); colonies owned and ruled by one or more individuals, called proprietors.

Freedom Dues

What they were supposed to receive at the end of their service (4-7 years) by indentured servants in early Jamestown, Virginia, as part of the early labor system in the colonies.

Headright system

A way of bringing more settlers to the colony, developing in early Jamestown, offering 50 acres per settler.

Lost Colony

Who: English Settlers (John White); What: England's first attempt at colonization was a failure; When: 1580s; Where: present-day NC; Why: not certain as to what happened. Possible theories are that settlers came into conflict with Native Americans, possibly moved to live with Native Americans, were attacked by Storms, and were attacked by the Spanish.

Indigo

Purple dye; Cash crop; Harvested by indentured servant.

Reasons for the Salem Witch Trials

Strict religious beliefs; Economic problems; Anxieties about being in the wilderness; Conflicts between generations; Wars with Native Americans.

Characteristics of the Lower South

Based on large plantations growing cash crops like rice, indigo, and tobacco; Relied heavily on enslaved African labor.

Cash crop

Example: Tobacco (Virginia), Rice and Indigo (Carolinas); Made a lot of money for the colonies.

Three Lower Counties

They were originally part of Pennsylvania; Later became the colony (and state) of Delaware.

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