Exam Preparation for American History

Exceptional character of American Slavery

The unique and complex nature of slavery in America, which differs in various aspects from global practices.

12 million slaves

The estimated number of Africans forcibly brought to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade.

Mamakomba

An enslaved person who participated in the first known community dinner in Louisiana history, using diverse culinary techniques.

Fictive kinship

A socially constructed family bond created by enslaved people to foster support and survival.

3:1 ratio

The proportion of enslaved individuals transported to the New World compared to Europeans.

Root of the word 'slave'

Derives from 'Slavic,' highlighting the historical context of enslavement.

Crusades

Religious wars during which Christians, Muslims, and Africans were enslaved.

Debt slavery

A form of servitude where individuals become slaves to pay off debts.

Legal paths to freedom

Various legal mechanisms through which enslaved people could gain freedom.

Status inherited

In U.S. slavery, the condition of being enslaved was passed down through generations.

Sugar plantations

Agricultural systems in the Caribbean that became primary markets for enslaved labor.

Triangle Trade

The transatlantic trade system that exchanged enslaved people, goods, and raw materials.

Global Spanning trade

The extensive trade networks that involved the transportation of enslaved people across continents.

Commodities traded for slaves

Goods such as guns and cloth used in exchange for enslaved individuals in Africa.

British trade for Indian cloth

The practice of exchanging Indian textiles for enslaved individuals in Africa.

Atlantic Creoles (1450-1650)

Individuals of mixed heritage in America, showcasing a blend of cultures and languages.

Sojourner Truth

An enslaved woman who became an influential activist for abolition and women's rights.

Plantation Revolutions (1650-1750)

Changes in labor demands that increased reliance on enslaved labor for cash crops.

Working out

The brutal practice of overworking captives until their death.

Barbados

A crucial island for sugar production and British capitalism in the 17th century.

Black Rice

An important agricultural product similar in economic status to sugar.

James Oglethorpe

Founder of Georgia, established as a social experiment and buffer against Spanish Florida.

Stono Revolt

A significant slave uprising in South Carolina that raised awareness of enslaved people's resistance.

Malcontents

Discontented colonists in Georgia who wanted the importation of slaves.

Improvement to Self-Improvement

A shift in social identity, emphasizing self-betterment rather than fatalism.

Navigation Acts

Laws regulating colonial trade and requiring certain goods to be shipped on English ships.

Consumer Society

18th-century American society characterized by increased material wealth and consumerism.

Great Awakening (1740s)

A religious revival that emphasized emotional faith and self-directed spirituality.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement promoting reason and individualism over tradition.

Seven Years War

A global conflict wherein British colonizers faced off against French territories.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

An uprising led by Native Americans against British expansion post-Seven Years War.

The Walking Purchase

A controversial land acquisition in Pennsylvania based on deceptive treaties with Native Americans.

Declaratory Act (1766)

An act passed by Parliament asserting its legislative authority over the colonies.

Somerset Case (1772)

A court case that questioned the legality of slavery in England.

Republicanism and Virtue

Political ideologies promoting public virtue as essential to a functioning republic.

Natural Rights

The philosophical idea that individuals are entitled to fundamental rights by virtue of being human.

Moral economy vs Liberal economy

Competing economic philosophies addressing the relationship between governance and social justice.

Sons of Liberty

An organization formed to oppose British policies and protect colonial rights.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

A pamphlet advocating for independence from Britain, widely read and influential.

Revolutionary Committees

Groups formed by colonists to organize resistance against British rule and manage local governance.

Dunmore’s Proclamation

A declaration offering freedom to enslaved people who fought for the British during the Revolutionary War.

Underground Telegraph

Secret communication methods used by enslaved people to share information.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution.

Yorktown

The decisive battle in the American Revolution where British forces surrendered.

Proclamation Line of 1763

A boundary established by Britain preventing colonial expansion westward.

Economic and religious autonomy

The desire for self-governance and separation from British economic and religious influence.

Revolutions vs 'The Revolution'

Differences between smaller, local uprisings and the recognized American Revolution.

Massachusetts Small r Revolution

Post-Revolutionary War uprising characterized by elite control and social unrest.

Pennsylvania's Unique Revolutionary Context

An early loss of elite control leading to a radical democratic governance model.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States