Key Figures and Events in Early American Colonization and Revolution

Christopher Columbus

Made four voyages, brought Spain to the Americas, and began enslaving Native peoples.

Pedro Álvares Cabral

Claimed Brazil for Portugal, leading to Portuguese settlement under the Treaty of Tordesillas.

Juan Sebastián Elcano

Completed Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe.

Hernán Cortés

Defeated the Aztecs in Mexico after burning his ships to prevent retreat.

John Cabot

Explored North America's east coast for England.

Henry Hudson

Explored New York harbor and the Hudson River for the Dutch.

Sir Francis Drake

English privateer who raided Spanish gold ships.

Sir Walter Raleigh

Attempted the failed Roanoke settlement.

Spanish Model for Colonization

Colonies tightly controlled by the king with wealth based on extraction and exploitation of Native labor.

Columbian Exchange

Europe → New World: domesticated animals, plants, and diseases; New World → Europe: precious metals, crops, and diseases.

Samuel de Champlain

Founded Quebec in 1608, known as the 'Father of New France.'

Quebec

First permanent French settlement in North America, center for fur trading.

French Colonization

Focused on fur trade and waterways, with generally better relations with Native Americans.

New Netherlands Colony

Founded by the Dutch; known for religious toleration and some self-government.

Jamestown

Founded in 1607 as the first permanent English settlement, suffered 'starving time.' Known for tobacco by John Rolfe and the House of Burgesses.

Plymouth Colony

Founded in 1620 by Pilgrims, signed Mayflower Compact for self-government.

William Bradford

Governor of Plymouth Colony, helped establish the Mayflower Compact.

Myles Standish

Military leader of Plymouth Colony, trained settlers in defense.

Massachusetts Bay Colony

Founded in 1630 by Puritans, aimed to be a 'City upon a Hill.'

John Winthrop

Puritan leader and first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Roger Williams

Banished for advocating religious freedom, founded Providence.

Anne Hutchinson

Held religious meetings, exiled for her beliefs, founded Portsmouth.

Cultural Differences between the Native Americans and Europeans

Native Americans had communal land use; Europeans emphasized private property.

King Philip's War

Bloodiest war per capita in American history, led by Metacom against colonists.

Metacomet (King Philip)

Sachem(A cheif) of Wampanoag who led an alliance against colonists.

Freedom Dues

Land, tools, or money received after service by indentured servants.

Gang System

Labor system on large plantations with close supervision from sunrise to sundown.

Task System

Labor system where slaves complete specific tasks and have free time afterward.

William Penn

Quaker founder of Pennsylvania who promoted religious toleration and peaceful relations.

French and Indian War

Conflict between Britain and France over Ohio River Valley, leading to British control of Canada.

Treaty of Paris

Ended French and Indian War; ceded Canada to Britain. (1763)

Dominion of New England

King James II combined several colonies into one royal province.

Puritans

English Protestants seeking to purify the Church of England.

Sugar Act

Tax on molasses aimed at stopping smuggling.

Stamp Act

Required tax stamps on printed materials; first direct tax on colonists.

Declaratory Act

Asserted Parliament's authority over colonies after Stamp Act repeal.

Jonathan Edwards

Preacher during First Great Awakening known for his sermon on God's wrath.

Samuel Adams

Leader of Boston radicals and organizer of protests like the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Tea Party

Protest against Tea Act where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts

British laws punishing Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party.

1. close Boston port til tea paid for

2. replace colony's elected gov with one appointed by the king,

3. Allowed British officials accused of crimes to be tried in Great Britain or another colony, rather than Massachusetts.

4.Quartering Act: Required colonists to house British troops

Battles of the Revolutionary War

Key battles including Lexington & Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown.

Yorktown

Final major battle; British surrender. (1781)

Declaration of Independence

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, adopted July 4; declared colonies independent from Britain. (1776)

Grievances against King George III

Listed complaints in the Declaration of Independence.

Natural rights

Emphasized life, liberty, pursuit of happiness.

United States & France during Revolutionary War

France supplied weapons and formed an alliance with U.S after The Battle of Saratoga (France vs England fight for Canada)

Treaty of Aranjuez

Spain joined France against Britain, not a direct U.S. ally. (1779)

U.S. Advantages during Revolutionary War

On home ground, want independence, guerrilla tactics, French support (navy at Yorktown).

Foreign Policy during Revolutionary War

Sought alliances, especially with France; used Franklin’s diplomacy for supplies.

Richard Hakluyt's Reasons for Colonization

Northwest Passage, attack Spain, spread faith, jobs, trade.

Cultural Differences (Natives vs. Europeans)

Natives: communal, oral tradition; Europeans: private land, written law.

Quakers

Pacifist group advocating equality, inner light, and anti-slavery.

Aztec Empire

A powerful Mesoamerican empire centered in Tenochtitlán (modern-day Mexico City). Known for engineering feats like chinampas (floating gardens), human sacrifices, and a large, clean city.

Bacon's Rebellion

Armed rebellion in VA led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor William Berkeley. Caused by tensions abt land, frontier defense from Indians, and accusations of government corruption. (1676)

Black Death

A devastating pandemic in 14th-century Europe that killed about one-third of the population.

Dominion of New England

A failed attempt by King James II to centralize control over New England by combining several colonies under one governor, Edmund Andros.

First Great Awakening

A Protestant religious revival that emphasized personal faith, emotional sermons, and individual connection with God. (1730s-1740s)

Glorious Revolution

A bloodless overthrow of King James II of England, replaced by William and Mary. (1688)

House of Burgesses

The first representative legislative assembly in the American colonies, established in Virginia. (1619)

Maya Civilization

A Mesoamerican civilization known for calendar, mathematics, hieroglyphics, + agriculture. Make large city-states across south Mexico + Central America b4 the Spanish conquest.

Mayflower Compact (1620)

A social contract signed by the Pilgrims before landing at Plymouth. It established a self-governing colony based on majority rule and was a foundational document for American democracy.

Navigation Acts

A series of British laws regulating colonial trade to benefit England's economy. These laws restricted trade to English ships and required that valuable goods pass through England. Widely ignored and resented in the colonies.

Omlec Civilization

Considered the 'mother culture' of Mesoamerica, the Olmecs (1200-400 BCE) developed a complex society known for large stone head sculptures, early writing, and math systems.

Peroquot War (1636-1637)

Conflict between the Pequot tribe and English settlers (with Narragansett and Mohegan allies). The war ended with the massacre at Fort Mystic, where hundreds of Pequot were burned or killed. Marked a shift in colonial-native relations. (1636-1637)

Quakers (Society of Friends)

Founded by George Fox, they emphasized inner light, equality, pacifism, and religious tolerance. Rejected formal churches and sacraments. Persecuted in England and settled mostly in Pennsylvania under William Penn.

Shakers

A religious group that splintered from the Quakers. Known for simple living, celibacy, communal living, and innovative furniture and architecture. Their work blended religious belief with economic production.

Indentured Servants

Labor system where individuals worked four-seven year terms in exchange for freedom.

Giovanni da Verrazano

Italian explorer sailing for France in voyages to North America

Ferninand Magellan

Spanish explorer sailing for Portugal; started the first circumnavigation of the Earth

Declaration of Rights and Grievances

Issued by the Stamp Act Congress, with 11 articles covering legal arguments and economic concerns.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

Met in New York City (October 9-25); 9 of 13 colonies attended; chaired by Timothy Ruggles of Massachusetts.

Indirect and Direct Taxes

Indirect tax: Taxation on goods, services, trade + effects consumers ; Direct tax: taxation on revenue/profits

James Otis

Author of 'The Rights of the Colonies Asserted and Proved.'

Proclamation of 1763

Author of 'The Rights of the Colonies Asserted and Proved.'

Alliances during the French and Indian War

Austria allies France & Spain; Prussia allies with England.