European Colonization and Early Colonial Society

These flashcards cover key concepts and events related to European colonization, early American colonies, and the complexities of colonial society.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in 1607.

Pueblo Revolt

An uprising coordinated by Pope in August 1680 to drive the Spanish out of New Mexico.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes the role of government in managing the economy through trade regulations.

Transatlantic Trade

A system of trade across the Atlantic Ocean, also known as Triangular Trade, that included the exchange of goods, slaves, and raw materials.

Samuel de Champlain

The French explorer who founded Quebec in 1608.

Middle Passage

The sea route taken by slave ships from West Africa to the Americas.

Salutary Neglect

A period of British policy that allowed the American colonies relative independence in their economic affairs.

Beaver Wars

A series of conflicts between Native American tribes and the Iroquois over fur trade and territory in the 17th century.

First Great Awakening

A religious revival in the 1730s that emphasized personal faith and emotional connections to God.

Anglicization

The process through which the British colonies adopted English customs, language, and governance.

Indentured Servants

Individuals who worked for a certain number of years in exchange for passage to America and eventual freedom.

Chattel Slavery

A form of slavery where individuals are treated as personal property and sold.

Bacon's Rebellion

A 1676 uprising led by Nathaniel Bacon against the Virginia colonial government.

Leisler’s Rebellion

An uprising led by Jacob Leisler in 1689 against the colonial governor in New York.

French Colonial Goals

To develop trade in the New World and establish close ties with Native Americans.

Spanish Colonial Goals

To develop wealth for the Spanish crown and convert Indigenous populations to Christianity.

Dutch Colonial Goals

To develop trade in the New World, emphasized by the establishment of New Amsterdam.

Economic Hearth of Spanish Colonies

Cattle and sheep ranching in colonial Santa Fe.

Relations with Native Americans

Varied by colonial power; often characterized by trade, alliances, and conflict.

Iroquois Confederacy

An alliance of Native American tribes that played a significant role in trade and war.

Cultural Assimilation

The process through which one culture is absorbed into another.

Roger Williams

A Puritan minister banished from Massachusetts in 1635 for advocating religious tolerance.

Anne Hutchinson

Puritan woman banished from Massachusetts for her religious beliefs and hosting meetings.

Plymouth Colony

The second permanent English settlement in North America, established by Pilgrims in 1620.

Sugar Plantations

Large scale agricultural operations typically utilizing slave labor to produce sugar, prevalent in the southern colonies.

New England Colonies

Included Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, characterized by small towns and a mixed economy.

Middle Colonies

Included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, known for their diversity and 'breadbasket' agriculture.

Southern Colonies

Included Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, focused on cash crop agriculture.

Mestizos

Individuals of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry.

First Africans in Virginia

20 Africans arrived in Jamestown in 1619 as unfree laborers.

Impact of European Diseases

Diseases such as smallpox and measles decimated Native American populations.

Intermarriage

The practice of marrying between different cultural or ethnic groups, used by French settlers to establish relations with Native Americans.

Colonial Population Growth

By 1650, the population of the English colonies had reached 50,000, surpassing other colonial powers.

Harsh Climate in New England

Characterized by cold winters and rocky soil, affecting agricultural practices.

Cash Crops

Crops grown for direct sale, such as tobacco, rice, and indigo in the Southern colonies.

Praying Towns

Settlements established by Puritans for Native Americans to convert them to Christianity.

Religious Stratification

The differences in social status often based on religious affiliation, particularly in colonial New England.

Triangular Trade

A trade route that linked Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of goods and slaves.

Colonial Trade Laws

Laws imposed by Britain that regulated colonial trade practices to benefit the mother country.

Conflict Over Land

Struggles that arose between colonists and Native Americans over territorial claims.

Equality Between Ministers and Laypeople

A key aspect of the First Great Awakening that fostered democratic sentiments.

Royal Colonies

Colonies directly governed by the British crown, appointed administrators, and subjected to greater control.

Diverse Religious Practices

Colonial society exhibited a variety of religious beliefs, contributing to pluralism.

Colonial Assemblies

Representative bodies that helped establish self-governance in the colonies.

Puritan Influence

The religious and cultural impact of Puritan settlers in early New England.

Competition for Resources

The primary driver of conflict between colonists and Native Americans.

Pueblo Resilience

The ability of Pueblo peoples to maintain cultural practices despite Spanish efforts at assimilation.

Naval Power in England

The dominance of the British navy that supported mercantilism and colonial expansion.

Initial Economic Goals of Jamestown

To discover gold and establish a profitable extractive colony for England.

Mayflower Compact

A governing agreement signed by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony in 1620, establishing a form of self-government based on majority rule.

Navigation Acts

A series of English laws beginning in the mid-17th century that aimed to regulate colonial trade to benefit the mother country through mercantilism.

Key exports of New France

Beaver pelts and other furs, central to their economic model and alliances with Native American tribes.

Long-term outcome of the Pueblo Revolt

Although the Spanish returned, they adopted more accommodating policies towards Pueblo culture and religion to maintain peace.

Motivations for Indentured Servitude

Poor Europeans seeking passage to the Americas, land, and a fresh start in exchange for temporary labor.

Prominent figures of the First Great Awakening

Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, who used passionate sermons to promote emotional religious experiences.