Colonial America: Jamestown, Tobacco, and Slavery

British Colonization

Efforts by Britain to establish control in the Americas.

Jamestown

First permanent English settlement, founded in 1607.

Tobacco

Cash crop that became economically vital for Virginia.

Iberians

First Europeans to explore and colonize the Americas.

Conquistadors

Spanish conquerors of Aztec and Inca empires.

Population Decline

From 112 million in 1492 to 6-8 million by 1650.

Northwest Passage

Sought-after route for trade through North America.

Virginia Company

Joint-stock company that funded Jamestown settlement.

Headright System

Land grant system to encourage colonization in Virginia.

House of Burgesses

First elected assembly in America, established in 1619.

Powhatan

Chief of local tribe, sought peace with colonists.

Bacon's Rebellion

1676 uprising against Virginia's elite landowners.

Race-based Slavery

Legal system discriminating against and enslaving Black Americans.

Partus Sequitur Ventrem

Legal doctrine stating children follow mother's status.

Elizabeth Key

Enslaved woman who fought for her freedom in court.

John Punch Case

First documented case of lifelong servitude for a Black man.

Mercantilism

Economic policy favoring mother country through colonies.

Enclosure Acts

Laws that evicted small farmers, increasing social unrest.

Starving Time

Period of extreme food shortage in Jamestown (1609-1610).

Cannibalism in Jamestown

Desperate measure taken during the Starving Time.

Slave Codes

Laws enforcing racial discrimination and control over enslaved people.

Tobacco Plantations

Large farms that fueled Virginia's economy and social hierarchy.

Social Crisis in England

Population growth and economic hardship led to emigration.

Anthony Johnson

First Black landowner in Virginia, fought for his rights.

Spanish Borderlands

Regions in Florida and New Mexico with sparse populations.

Religious Doctrine

Used to justify sub-human treatment of African Americans.

Spanish Landposts

Structures for soldiers and converting natives to Christianity.

Pueblo Revolt

1680 uprising against Spaniards by Popé and Pueblo Indians.

Barbados Colony

Founded in 1630 for profitable sugar cultivation.

Carolina Colony

Established by Barbadian immigrants in 1663 for agriculture.

Tobacco Planters

Benefited from slave labor for continuous production.

Yeoman

Free farmer owning land to support a family.

William Berkeley

Governor of Virginia during colonial period.

Navigation Acts

1650-1651 laws regulating colonial trade with England.

Nathaniel Bacon

Led a rebellion against Virginia's elite planters.

Bacon's Laws

Legislation granting settlers voting rights and tax voice.

Grandees

Wealthy elite planters in colonial Virginia.

Popé

Leader of the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico.

John Colleton

Barbadian planter who founded the Carolina colony.

Chesapeake Slave Labor

Adopted for economic advantage in tobacco farming.

Slave System Differences

Chesapeake maintained white majority; Barbados had large black population.

1680 Revolt Causes

Lack of unity among Indians led to delayed uprisings.

Sugar Market

Barbados sugar exports were highly profitable.

Frontier Outpost

Carolina became a hub for West Indian sugar economy.

Declining Death Rate

Led to more landless free individuals in Chesapeake.

Bacon's Rebellion Consequences

Increased inequality and racial distinctions in society.

Political Control of Slaves

Slaves could be controlled to prevent rebellions.

Indian Revolts

Failed until 1680 due to lack of unity.

Rice Cultivation

Carolina developed rice as a significant crop.

Christianity Conversion Efforts

Spanish aimed to convert natives to their religion.

Economic Inequality

Grew in Chesapeake due to tobacco price drops.

mercantilism

belief in the benefits of profitable trading

grandees

Elite planters

yeoman

A free farmer who owned a small plot of land sufficient to support a family and worked largely by servants and few family members.

James I

King of England during the 1600s

Algonquian Indians

Tribe of Indians in the Chesapeake bay.

joint stock company

Companies owned by shareholders.

Pocahontas

Native American from Powhatan tribe in virginia.

Captain John Smith

Leader of the settlers and colonist in Jamestown

Opechancanough a.k.a. "Mr. O"

Powhatan's brother who replaced him as the tribal chief and organized the mass assaults.

royal colony

Colony owned and governed by England

John Rolfe

Colonist who planted tobacco

headright

Grant of free land from English given to settlers

indentured servants

Servants who agreed to work for a certain amount of time as a form of payment.

freedom dues

Things the owner gave to servants after their time working was over.

Lord Baltimore

King Charles friend who was gifted 6.5 million acres of land. He wanted to create safespace for catholics

Maryland

Colony which was granted and supposed to be a safe haven for catholics.