Colonization of the New World Study Guide

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the colonization of the New World.

European exploration (1450s)

A period during which European nations sought new trade routes to Asia, spurred by the desire for trade and the dangers of overland routes.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the New World and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that trade generates wealth, advocating that colonies exist to benefit the mother country by providing raw materials and markets.

Encomienda System

A Spanish labor system that granted colonists the right to demand tribute and forced labor from Indigenous populations.

Viceroyalty System

A hierarchical administrative system used by Spain in its colonies, where viceroys governed regions on behalf of the crown with no self-rule.

Joint-Stock Companies

A way to pool resources for financing colonial ventures, reducing individual risk for investors.

Bacon's Rebellion (1676)

A revolt led by Nathaniel Bacon against Native Americans and the colonial government in Virginia, highlighting tensions between classes.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement for self-governance signed by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, establishing a civil government.

House of Burgesses (1619)

The first elected legislative assembly in the New World, established in the Virginia colony.

Great Awakening

A religious revival in the 1730s and 1740s characterized by widespread fervor and the questioning of traditional authority.

Anglicization of colonies

The process by which colonial society in America began to adopt English customs, laws, and ways of governance.

Pequot War (1636)

A conflict between the Pequot tribe and English settlers in New England, resulting in the near destruction of the Pequot nation.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that challenged the practices of the Catholic Church, leading to the formation of Protestant churches.

Tobacco cultivation

The primary cash crop in colonial Virginia, which led to the expansion of plantations and the demand for labor.

Pilgrims

English settlers who sought religious freedom and established the Plymouth Colony in 1620.

Quakers

Members of a radical religious group known for their belief in equality, peace, and social justice, influential in Pennsylvania.

Indentured Servants

Individuals who contracted to work for a specified number of years in exchange for passage to America and basic needs.

Sugar and Tobacco Plantations

Large agricultural systems in the South that produced high-demand cash crops, relying heavily on slave labor.

Pueblo Revolt (1680)

A revolt by Pueblo peoples against Spanish colonizers in New Mexico, successfully driving them out temporarily.

Diverse Middle Colonies

Colonies characterized by ethnic and religious diversity, including Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.

Spanish Armada (1588)

A naval fleet sent by Spain to invade England; its defeat marked the decline of Spanish power and the rise of England.