AP United States History Unit 2 Study Guide: 1607–1754

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from APUSH Period 2: 1607–1754.

Colonization

The act of establishing control over indigenous people and lands.

Chattel Slavery

A system where enslaved people are treated as personal property that can be bought, sold, and inherited.

Indentured Servitude

A labor system where individuals contracted to work for a set period in exchange for passage to the colonies.

Salutary Neglect

The British policy of allowing colonies to self-govern with minimal interference.

House of Burgesses

The first representative assembly in English America, established in Virginia in 1619.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement signed in 1620 by Pilgrims establishing self-governance based on majority rule.

Bacon's Rebellion

A 1676 revolt led by Nathaniel Bacon in Virginia against the governor; highlighted class tensions.

King Philip's War

A conflict between English colonists and Indigenous peoples led by Metacom from 1675 to 1676.

Great Awakening

A series of religious revivals in the 1730s and 1740s that challenged established churches.

Triangular Trade

A trade system connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas involving goods and enslaved people.

Middle Passage

The brutal transatlantic journey endured by enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas.

Covenant Theology

The Puritan belief that God entered into a covenant with believers, shaping community standards.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

The first written constitution in America, established in 1639, creating a government by compact.

Proprietary Colony

A colony granted to an individual or group by the Crown, who had full governing rights.

Royal Colony

A colony directly governed by the Crown through an appointed governor.

Charter Colony

A colony governed by a charter granted to a corporation or group of settlers.

Mercantilism

An economic theory emphasizing trade and accumulation of wealth through a favorable balance.

Slave Codes

Laws defining the legal status of enslaved people and establishing racial hierarchies.

Puritanism

A religious movement seeking to purify the Church of England, prominent in New England.

Visible Saints

Puritan term for those who demonstrated evidence of their election and could join the church.

Quakers

A religious group known for its belief in equality and pacifism, influential in Pennsylvania.

Gullah/Geechee Culture

A cultural identity formed by enslaved Africans in the South Carolina Sea Islands.

Amistad Rebellion

A notable uprising by enslaved Africans aboard the Amistad ship in 1839.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

The first written constitution in America, which established a government for the Connecticut colony.

Anne Hutchinson

A Puritan woman who challenged religious authority and was banished in 1637.

Roger Williams

A minister who advocated for religious freedom and founded Rhode Island.

Halfway Covenant

A Puritan compromise allowing children of partial church members to be baptized.

Virginia Company

A joint-stock company that established the first permanent English settlement in Jamestown.

Tobacco Economy

An economic system in Virginia based on the cultivation and export of tobacco.

Colonial Assemblies

Legislative bodies in each colony that controlled taxation and appropriations.

Educated Elite

The social class in colonial America that held significant power and influence.

Cultural Continuity

The preservation of specific cultural practices and beliefs despite external pressures.

Jeremiad

A sermon lamenting community decline and calling for renewal; common in Puritan society.

Political Culture

The set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments that shape political behavior in a society.

Democratic Traditions

Early practices in America reflecting self-governance and representation.

Cultural Pluralism

Coexistence of diverse cultural and religious groups within a society, especially in the Middle Colonies.

Plantation System

An agricultural system based on large estates and dependence on enslaved labor in the South.

Secularism

The principle of separation from religious institutions, relevant in Enlightenment thinking.

Political Self-Determination

The concept of a group governing themselves, which gained traction in Colonial America.

Atlantic World

The historical context of the relationships and interactions among people from Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement leading to the establishment of Protestant churches and reforms in Catholic practices.

Education in New England

Emphasis on literacy and education, including the establishment of Harvard College in 1636.

Diversified Economy

An economy characterized by various industries and agricultural products, typical in the Middle Colonies.

Agricultural Practices

methods and systems used for farming that varied across Colonial Regions, influencing social structures.