Slavery - Chapter 4 Key Terms

28 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Slavery - Chapter 4 and related pre-Revolution topics.

Triangular Trade

Definition: A transatlantic trading network involving the exchange of goods and enslaved people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Significance: It significantly contributed to the economic development of the Americas and established a pattern of exploitation that would last for centuries.

Middle Passage

Definition: The brutal sea journey undertaken by enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas. Significance: The horrific conditions and high mortality rates during this passage exemplified the inhumanity of the slave trade.

French and Indian War

Definition: A conflict between Britain and France in North America (1754-1763) over territorial disputes. Significance: It reshaped the balance of power in North America, leading to British dominance and ultimately contributing to colonial dissatisfaction that sparked the American Revolution.

Albany Plan of Union

Definition: A proposal by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 for a unified colonial government to coordinate defense and trade. Significance: Although it was never adopted, it represented an early attempt at unity among the colonies and foreshadowed future collaborative efforts.

Proclamation of 1763

Definition: A British decree that prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains following the French and Indian War. Significance: It aimed to stabilize relations with Native Americans but angered colonists seeking land expansion, contributing to revolutionary sentiment.

Salutary Neglect

Definition: An unofficial British policy of relaxed enforcement of trade regulations in the colonies. Significance: This policy allowed the colonies to develop their own governance and economic systems, fostering a sense of independence that would later fuel revolutionary ideas.

Sugar Act of 1764

Definition: A law that reduced the tax on molasses but strengthened enforcement against smuggling. Significance: It was one of the first acts that raised colonial discontent, leading to protests against taxation without representation.

Stamp Act of 1765

Definition: A tax requiring that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper from London. Significance: It sparked widespread protests and was a significant factor in the growing revolutionary movement against British rule.

Intolerable Acts

Definition: A series of punitive measures taken by Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party, including the closing of Boston Harbor. Significance: These acts united the colonies in opposition to British authority and led to the formation of the First Continental Congress.

Boston Massacre

Definition: A deadly confrontation in 1770 between British soldiers and Boston colonists. Significance: This incident galvanized anti-British sentiments and was used as a rallying point for colonial resistance.

Committees of Correspondence

Definition: Networks of communication among the colonies to coordinate responses to British policies. Significance: They played a crucial role in fostering unity and organizing resistance against British rule.

Common Sense

Definition: A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence from Britain. Significance: It was influential in shaping public opinion and encouraging the movement toward independence.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Definition: A protest against the Tea Act where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor. Significance: This act of defiance escalated tensions between Britain and the colonies, leading to further punitive measures.

Townshend Acts

Definition: A series of laws taxing goods imported to the colonies, enacted in 1767. Significance: These acts led to boycotts and heightened colonial resistance, contributing to the revolutionary climate.