Colonial Foundations and Key Figures in Early American History

Motivations for Settlement of British Colonies

the pursuit of religious freedom, economic opportunities, and the desire for land.

Sir Walter Raleigh

English explorer and writer, sponsored the Lost Colony of Roanoke in North America

Lost Colony of Roanoke

English settlement on Roanoke Island, disappeared, leaving 'Croatoan' carved into a tree.

John Smith

English soldier and explorer, played a crucial role in the establishment of Jamestown, known for his leadership and interactions with Native Americans.

John Rolfe

settler of Jamestown, introduced tobacco to Virginia, helped become a cash crop improve the economy

Joint Stock Companies

Business's formed by investors to bring resources for colonization efforts, sharing both the risks and profits of establishing and maintaining colonies.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, founded in 1607 in Virginia, struggled but eventually thrived due to tobacco cultivation.

Importance of Tobacco

cash crop that became the backbone of the Virginia economy, driving demand for land and labor, and leading to the expansion of plantations and the use of enslaved Africans.

Anglican Church

Church of England, the state church, played a big role in the religious and political life of the colonies.

House of Burgesses

The first elected legislative assembly in the American colonies, established in Virginia in 1619, allowing colonists to have a voice in governance.

Pilgrims

group of English Separatists who sought religious freedom and established the Plymouth Colony in 1620, known for their Mayflower Compact.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement by the Pilgrims in 1620 to form a self-governing colony based on majority rule, laying the groundwork for democracy.

Town Meetings

Local gatherings in New England where community members discussed and decided on issues, reflecting the region's commitment to direct democracy.

Puritans

religious group aiming to reform the Church of England, who founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony and stressed a strict moral code and community governance.

John Winthrop

the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who envisioned it as a "City upon a Hill," representing a model of Christian charity and governance.

City upon a Hill

phrase used by John Winthrop to describe the Puritan vision for their colony as a moral example for the world, emphasizing their religious mission.

Praying Towns

Settlements established by Puritans in New England to convert Native Americans to Christianity and impose European customs.

William Bradford

The governor of the Plymouth Colony and a key leader among the Pilgrims, known for his writings that provide insight into early colonial life.

Great Migration

The mass movement of Puritans from England to the American colonies in the 1630s, driven by religious persecution and the desire for a new life.

Harvard University

Founded in 1636, the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, established to train clergy and promote education.

Covenant Chain

A series of alliances and treaties between the Iroquois Confederacy and the British colonies, aimed at maintaining peace and regulating trade.

Lord Baltimore

George Calvert, founder of the Maryland colony, sought to create a haven for Catholics facing persecution in England.

William Penn

founder of Pennsylvania, known for promoting religious tolerance and establishing a Quaker colony based on principles of equality and peace.

James Oglethorpe

The founder of Georgia, who envisioned it as a refuge for debtors and a buffer against Spanish Florida.

Roger Williams

A Puritan minister who advocated for religious freedom and the separation of church and state, leading to his exile from Massachusetts and the founding of Rhode Island.

Anne Hutchinson

A Puritan woman who challenged traditional gender roles and church authority in Massachusetts, leading to her banishment for her beliefs.

Pequot War

A conflict in 1636-1637 between the Pequot tribe and English settlers in New England, resulting in the near destruction of the Pequot tribe.

Metacom's War/King Philip's War

A violent conflict in 1675-1676 between Native American tribes led by Metacom (King Philip) and English settlers, resulting in significant casualties and territorial losses for Native Americans.

Salem Witch Trials

A series of hearings and prosecutions in 1692 in Massachusetts where several people were accused of witchcraft, highlighting social tensions and religious zeal.

Headright System

A land grant policy used in the Virginia colony to encourage settlement, granting land to individuals for each person they brought to the colony.

Indentured Servants

Individuals who agreed to work for a specific number of years in exchange for passage to America and eventual land or freedom.

Bacon's Rebellion

A 1676 uprising in Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkeley's administration, highlighting class tensions and conflicts over land and Native American policy.

Great Awakening

A religious revival movement in the 1730s and 1740s that emphasized personal faith and emotional connection to religion, challenging established church authority.

Navigation Acts

laws forced by Britain to regulate trade and ensure that it benefited England, requiring certain goods be shipped only to England.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that focuses on government control of the economy, encouraging exports, and building wealth through trade.

Salutary Neglect

A British policy of limited interference in colonial affairs, allowing colonies to self-govern and grow independently until the mid-18th century.

Dominion of New England

A union of several New England colonies established in 1686 to enforce the Navigation Acts and consolidate control, governed by Sir Edmund Andros.

Sir Edmund Andros

governor of the Dominion of New England, known for his unpopular leadership and the cancellation of colonial charters, which sparked resistance from colonists.

Glorious Revolution

The overthrow of King James II of England, which led to the establishment of constitutional monarchy and had repercussions in the American colonies.

Leisler's Rebellion

A rebellion in New York led by Jacob Leisler against the Dominion of New England, reflecting colonial resistance to British authority.

Zenger Trial

A key case in 1735 where newspaper editor Peter Zenger was found not guilty of libel, setting a precedent for press freedom in America.

Transatlantic Print Culture

The exchange of printed materials, including newspapers and pamphlets, between Europe and the American colonies, fostering communication and the spread of ideas.

Enlightenment Ideals

Philosophical ideas that stress reason, individualism, and questioning traditional authority, shaping colonial thought and the drive for independence.

American Exceptionalism

The belief that the United States has a unique mission to spread democracy and freedom, rooted in its founding principles and history.

Revival

A renewed interest in religious faith, often characterized by emotional preaching and large gatherings, as seen during the Great Awakening.

Deism

a belief that stresses reason and observation of the natural world, viewing God as a creator who does not intervene in human affairs.

Jonathan Edwards

A preacher during the Great Awakening known for his fire-and-brimstone sermons that emphasized personal salvation.

George Whitefield

An influential evangelist during the Great Awakening, known for his charismatic preaching style and ability to draw large crowds.

Old Lights

Traditionalists within the church who opposed the revivalist movements of the Great Awakening, favoring established religious practices.

New Lights

Supporters of the revivalist movements during the Great Awakening who embraced new religious ideas and practices, leading to the formation of new denominations.

Halfway Covenant

A form of partial church membership adopted by some Puritan congregations in the 1660s, allowing the children of baptized but unconverted church members to be baptized.

Protestant Evangelism

A movement within Protestantism that emphasizes spreading the Christian faith and converting others, often through revival meetings and personal testimony.