American Colonization, Social Structures, and the Road to Independence

Colonization

The process of taking over lands and people, historically through violence.

Indigenous Communities

Groups of people who were the first to live on a land and faced colonization.

Descendents of British Colonizers

Individuals whose ancestors were among the first colonizers from Great Britain in the 13 colonies.

Indentured Servants

People who signed an agreement to work without pay for a number of years in exchange for passage to the colonies.

Enslaved Persons

Individuals who were kidnapped and forced to work without pay, particularly from West Africa.

Transatlantic Human Trade

The process of kidnapping millions of individuals from Africa and selling them into slavery in the Americas.

Middle Passage

The dangerous journey enslaved people took to the Americas, during which many suffered or died.

Maroons

Communities of escaped enslaved individuals who formed their own societies in difficult-to-reach areas.

Economic

Relating to money and jobs.

Political

Relating to government, laws, leaders, and power.

Social

Relating to the relationships between people, including respect and equality.

Social Class

A person's position in society relative to others, often based on wealth, occupation, land ownership, or education.

Protest

A public action or statement to show disagreement with a rule or decision.

Govern

To lead and make decisions for a group of people, state, or country.

Act

A law made by a government.

Propaganda

Information used to influence opinions, often by omitting the full truth.

Revolution

A rapid and significant change in government or leadership.

Grievance

A complaint about something considered unfair.

Tax

Money individuals must pay to the government for public services.

Levy

A term used to refer to a tax.

Tax Resistance

Refusing to pay taxes to show disagreement with the government.

Representation

Having someone speak or vote for you in government.

Loyalist

A person who supported Britain during the American Revolution.

Patriot

A person who wanted independence from Britain during the American Revolution.

Treaty

An official agreement between countries to resolve conflicts.

Declaration of Independence

A document written in 1776 declaring the colonies' intention to be free from Britain.

Boycott

Refusing to buy certain products to protest unfair actions.

Legislation

Laws made by the government.

Repeal

To cancel or eliminate a law.

Tyranny

A government characterized by cruelty and unfairness.

Proclamation

An official government announcement treated like law.

French & Indigenous War

A war between Britain and France (1754-1763) over land control in North America.

Proclamation of 1763

A British rule that restricted colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Pontiac's War

A conflict led by Chief Pontiac against British settlers encroaching on Native territories.

Quartering Act (1765)

A law forcing colonists to house and feed British soldiers.

Sugar Act (1764)

A British tax on sugar and other goods imported into the colonies.

Stamp Act (1765)

A British tax on printed materials that sparked colonial protests.

Tea Act (1773)

Legislation granting sole tea sales control to a British company, angering colonists.

Boston Massacre

An event where British soldiers killed colonial residents during a protest.

Boston Tea Party

A protest against the Tea Act where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States, which proved ineffective.