Unit 1 Study Guide

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams and one of the greatest thinkers and writers of the revolutionary era. She sent letters to John Adams during the war on political matters, one of which asking when Congress created a new code of laws, it would remember the ladies (improve status).

Adam Smith

Economist who wrote “Wealth of Nations,” believed invisible hand of free market directed economic life more fairly than government.

Albany Congress 1754

A failed 1754 proposal by the seven northern British colonies in anticipation of the Seven Years’ War, urging the unification of the colonies under one crown-appointed president. First attempt to unite the colonies under a single government. BEN FRANKLIN.

Anne Hutchinson

A Massachusetts Puritan woman who held meetings in her home to lead discussions of religious issues among men and women. She accused ministers that they only distinguished the elect going to heaven by moral behavior and attendance rather than inner grace. She was placed on trial in 1637 in a civil court for sedition, and banished with her family to Rhode Island and later moved to New Netherland, perishing during Kieft’s War. She fought for religious freedom, conscience, and challenged societal norms. ANTINOMIANISM.

Bacon’s Rebellion

Unsuccessful 1676 revolt led by planter Nathaniel Bacon against British Governor of Virginia William Berkeley’s administration. Important because it led to the increase of slave labor over indentured servitude, as it was more “managable.”

Battle of Saratoga

Major defeat of British general John Burgoyne and more than 5,000 British troops at Saratoga, New York, on October 17, 1777. British lost because How unintentionally abandoned General Burgoyne. This boosted American morale and persuaded the French that victory was possible.

Battle of Yorktown

Last battle of the Revolutionary War; General Lord Charles Cornwallis along with over 7,000 British troops surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 17, 1781. There were more French forces than Americans, where Washington rushed forces to Yorktown augmented by Lafayette to block escape, while French fleets prevented supplies and reinforcements from reaching Cornwallis.

Battles of Lexington and Concord

The first shots fired in the Revolutionary War, on April 19, 1775, near Boston; approximately 100 minutemen and 250 British soldiers were killed. Paul Revere and other riders warned of troops approach.

Ben Franklin

An inventor and writer from Philadelphia who made cartoons and purchased the Gazette. He also founded the first public library in Philadelphia. He also led the Albany Plan and was one of the delegates of the Second Continental Congress, as well as leading diplomats to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce.

Benedict Arnold

One of Washington’s most ablest commanders who defected and almost succeeded in turning over to the British the most important fort at West Point on the Hudson river.

Boston Massacre

Clash between British soldiers and a Boston mob, March 5, 1770, in which five colonists were killed. Propaganda spread to invoke discontent among colonists.

Boston Tea Party

The incident on December 16, 1773, in which the Sons of Liberty dumped hundreds of chests of tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act of 1773. Under the Tea Act, the British exported to the colonies millions of pounds of cheap—but still taxed—tea, thereby undercutting the price of smuggled tea and forcing payment of the tea duty. This was an act of rebellion leading up to the Revolution and led to the Intolerable Acts, further infuriating the colonies.

Chief Joseph Brant

Mohawk chief who negotiated an agreement of mutual military support with King George III, and allied with the British in the Revolutionary War. He was one of the many examples of Native Americans playing a role in the Revolution, whether with or against. Chose the side they felt would advance their own ideas of liberty.

Committees of Correspondence

Group organized by Samuel Adams to address American grievances, assert American rights, and form a network of rebellion. Communication among colonies, connected them. Coordinated resistance.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Passed after concession of the Stamp Act that rejected Americans’ claims that only their elected representatives could levy taxes. Parliament possessed the power to pass laws. This act promised further conflict, and caused dissent among colonists even more.

Defeat of the Spanish Armada

Saved England from Catholicism and made British navy dominant and superior.

Dominion of New England

Consolidation into a single colony of the New England colonies—and later New York and New Jersey—by royal governor Edmund Andros in 1686; dominion reverted to individual colonial governments three years later. First major attempt to impose centralized imperial control over autonomous American colonies. Ruled by Sir Edmund Andros. James II was enemy of freedom.

Dunmore's Proclamation

A proclamation issued in 1775 by the earl of Dunmore, the British governor of Virginia, that offered freedom to any men enslaved by rebels who volunteered to fight for the king. Significant because it provided an opportunity of freedom to slaves. Harry Washington.

First Great Awakening

Fervent religious revival movement in the 1720s through the 1740s that was spread in the colonies by ministers like New England Congregationalist Jonathan Edwards and English revivalist George Whitefield. Shifted American religion to more emotional and personal relationship to God. National shared identity and belief system.

George Grenville

Prime minister of Britain that introduced Sugar Act (end of salutary neglect, raised revenue without colonies’ consent)

George Washington

General during Revolutionary War, also fought in Seven Years’ War. Blunder caused French/Indian War in 1754.

George Whitefield

English minister and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening, highly emotional brand of preaching, God merciful. His sermons made him a celebrity and established revivals as first major intercolonial event in North American History, also led to traveling preachers holding revivalist meetings.

Great Puritan Migration

The migration of approximately 21,000 English Puritans to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It established a self-governing founding for New England and shaped values. Established basis for a stable and thriving society.

Half-Way Covenant

A 1662 religious compromise that allowed baptism and partial church membership to colonial New Englanders whose parents were not among the Puritan elect. It helped solve growing commercialization and declining piety, and tried to solve declining church membership by making admission easier.

Headright System

A land-grant policy that promised fifty acres to any colonist who could afford passage to Virginia, as well as fifty more for any accompanying servants. The headright policy was eventually expanded to include any colonists and was also adopted in other colonies. It solved labor shortages and boosted population growth. Also led to the establishment of House of Burgesses

Intolerable Acts

Four parliamentary measures in reaction to the Boston Tea Party that forced payment for the tea, disallowed colonial trials of British soldiers, forced quartering in private homes, and reduced the number of elected officials in Massachusetts. Seen as direct threat to political freedom and caused more discontent.

Jamestown

Early colony established in 1607, main purpose to find gold, but not much was found and inhabitants starved as a result of little farming. The colony was held together by John Smith and his strict rules. First permanent English settlement in US area, and John Rolfe brought tobacco as a cash crop in 1610.

John Adams

Lawyer, revolutionary leader, and diplomat. He was the lawyer for the troopers from the Boston Massacre, and the Massachusetts representative in the 1st Continental Congress. Also a part of the delegation for the Treaty of Paris.

John Calvin

Protestant reformer and Catholicism, believed in the elect who were worthy of going to heaven, predestination.

John Hancock

First to add name to Declaration of Independence, written big so King could see.

John Paul Jones

American naval captain, successfully fought British navy and proved they weren’t [TITLE CARD].

John Peter Zenger

Famous court case involving freedom of Press, he wrote dirt about Governor William Cosby for being tyrannical. He was put on trial and found innocent when his writings were actually true. Arrested for libel. Outcome demonstrated that idea of free expression was becoming ingrained in popular imagination.

John Rolfe

Brought tobacco, important cash crop, to America. Married Pocahontas

John Smith

Early leader of Jamestown colony, his efforts helped save it and also established relations with the Powhatans.

John Winthrop

Puritan leader and governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony who resolved to use the colony as a refuge for persecuted Puritans and as instrument of building “wilderness Zion” in America. “True freedom depended on subjection to authority, both religious and secular.”

Jonathan Edwards

One of the leaders of 1st Great Awakening, New England Congregationalist who pioneered intensely emotional style of preaching, famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” sinful men as insects.

King George III

King of Britain starting in 1760, was king during American Revolution. He declared colonies in state of rebellion.

King Philip’s War

Multiyear conflict that began in 1675 between English and Native alliance by Wampanoags Metacom (Philip) and Weetamoo. Broadened freedoms for white New Englanders and dispossession of the Wampanoags and other Indians.

Leisler’s Rebellion

Colonial uprising in New York from 1689 to 1691, seized southern part of colony. Happened as a result of James II being overthrown. Challenged elite rule.

Mercantilism

Policy of Great Britain and other imperial powers of regulating the economies of colonies to benefit the mother country.

Middle Passage

Hellish and deadly middle leg of the transatlantic “triangular trade” in which European ships carried manufactured goods to Africa, then transported slaves to Americas and Caribbean, and finally conveyed American agricultural products back to Europe. Some 12 million Africans transported along passage, millions dying on route. Slaves important to Southern economy.

New England Confederations

Military alliance formed in 1643 by Puritan colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven, created during English Civil War for defense against Natives, first colonial union.

Olive Branch Petition

signed on July 8, 1775 as final attempt to avoid war with Britain, however the King refused to read it, and this marked a shift to full independence.

Patroons

Wealthy Dutch landowner in 17th Century New Netherland.

Paxton Revolt

Phyllis Wheatley

Plymouth Colony

Pocahontas

Pontiac’s Rebellion

Proclamation of 1763

Issued after 7 Years War & Pontiac War prohibiting settlement, surveys, and land grants west of Appalachians. Ended Salutary Neglect as Britain gained involvement in colonies again.

Puritans

English Religious group sought to purify Church of England; founded Massachusetts bay colony under John Winthrop in 1630

Quartering Act (1765)

Regulator Protests

Roger Williams

Salem Witch Trials

Samuel Adams

Separatists

Stamp Act (1765)

Sugar Act (1764)

The Association

Thomas Paine

Townshend Acts

Treaty of Paris 1763

Triangular Trade

Virginia Company

A joint-stock enterprise that King James I chartered in 1606; the company was to spread Christianity in the Americas as well as find ways to make a profit in it.

Virtual Representation

Walter Raleigh

William Bradford

William Penn

William Pitt