O'Connell Midterm American Studies Review

Henry VIII

Created the Church of England, ruled for 36 years, brought the Protestant Reformation

Sir Walter Raleigh

Explored North America from North Carolina to Florida, naming the region of Virginia after the Queen, “Virgin Queen”

Samuel de Champlain

“The Father of New France”, founded Quebec in Canada, and consolidated all French colonies

Robert, Sieur de la Salle

Explored the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico, 17th-century explorer

William Penn

A quaker at 22 yrs old, King Charles II owed his father money and received land in the New World.

James Oglethorpe

Member of parliament who founded the colony of Georgia, given a grant by King George II

John Locke

Philanthropist who created the ideas of social contract, religious toleration, and natural laws

James I

Known for religious facts, and gave the charter to the Virginia Company for the founding of Jamestown

Edward Braddock

The Commander in Chief of the thirteen colonies during the French and Indian War and the Seven Years’ War

William Pitt

A leader of the British cabinet during the Seven Years’ War, held the title “Lord Privy”

Pontiac

Chief of the Ottawa tribe, who led attacks and wars against the British

George Greenville

Politician who enforced the taxes on the colonies during the Stamp and Sugar acts which ultimately led to the start of the American Revolution

Thomas Paine

Philosopher who was for the revolution, known for writing the pamphlet called, “Common Sense”

Thomas Jefferson

Member of the House of Burgesses, Second Continental Congress, minister to France, and drafted the Declaration of Independence

John Burgoyne

The leader of the British during the Battle of Saratoga, designed the plan for invasion but was slowed down by Patriots

John Paul Jones

an American naval leader, known for defeating the British ships during the war

George III

Refused to surrender the colonies, leader of the British during the Revolutionary War, consented to the fighting of the Revolutionary war

Charles Cornwallis

British officer during the Revolutionary War, commonly known for being defeated in Yorktown, which was the significant end to the war

James Madison

Commonly known as the 4th president and ratified the Constitution, dealt with religious liberty during the American Revolution

John Adams

Philosopher, 2nd president, commonly known for his beliefs of Independence and negotiating the Treaty of Paris

Baron von Steuben

Famously commanded the Continental Army during the Valley Forge camp, led the army from then to the end of the war

Marquis de Lafayette

A general during the American Revolution, French Aristocrat

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers who came to America in search of finding gold and slaves, then creating permanent settlements.

House of Burgesses

General assembly, established in 1619 - land owners elected these reps. who est. laws for the Virginia colony. Also had control over finances, militia, etc.

“The Mayflower Compact”

The set of rules for the self-governance of the English settlers who decided to move to America in 1620. These people travelled on the “Mayflower” and landed right about at Cape Cod

Fundamental Orders

Stated limits for power of the Connecticut colony in 1639, set the government organization and colony structure

Encomienda

A grant given by the Spanish Crown to a colony in America, giving rights to demand tribute/labor from any Indian inhabitants in the area

Mestizo

People in the Spanish social class system who had the 3rd rank, were half Spanish and half Native American.

King Philip’s War

Also known as Metacom’s rebellion, final Native efforts to avoid the settlement of Englishmen on their native lands

Pueblo Revolt

The Pueblo people of present-day New Mexico, aiming to reclaim their tribal lands from the Spanish conquistadors. Wanted back their culture, religious practices, and land

Creoles

People in the Spanish colonial class system who had the 2nd rank, were born in a different country.

Stono Rebellion

The most significant slave revolt, which took place in South Carolina, revealed the tensions between the slaves and their owners.

Albany Plan of Union

The plan in which was supposed to bring together the British North American colonies into a more centralized government which could benefit the colonies individually

Proclamation of 1763

A British-produced boundary line marked in the Appalachian’s, prohibited any further settlements on land acquired by the French during the French and Indian war

The Sugar Act

Placed tax on any sugar imported into the colonies, disrupted the colonies as they needed all their sugar in order to produce rum for exports and trading

The Stamp Act

Placed tax on all legal and official papers throughout the colonies, provided money for the British army

Writs of Assistance

These were almost like search warrants issued by British American courts to empower officials to combat smuggling

Sons of Liberty

A well-organized Patriot organization placed in secret from the British, est. to undermine British rule and produced the plan for the Boston Tea Party

Declaratory Act

Asserts Parliament's full right to make laws, “to bind the colonies and people of America…” in all cases whatsoever

Coercive Acts

Also known as the Intolerable Acts, closed the Boston Harbor, the Quartering Acts, and est. Martial Law amongst the Boston colony - gov’t by military force

First Continental Congress

Sept. 1774, 56 delegates met in Philly and drew up the Declaration of Rights. Agreed to reconvene in May of 1775.

Second Continental Congress

May of 1775, Philly, had endless debates, and agreed on the militia becoming Continental Army, George Washington is to be the general, formation of a committee to handle foreign affairs, formation of Navy and post office. Starting to act as their own independent government.

Battle of Bunker Hill

Took place near Boston, Gen. Gage led his troops up Breeds Hill to attack the militia camping on top. Took hill on 3rd try and was known as the bloodiest battle of the war.

Hessians

Approximately 30,000 German soldiers who were used by the British in the Revolutionary War/American Revolution.

Redcoats

The name in which describes soldiers who are loyal to the King.

Valley Forge

The camp of the Continental Army during a brutal winter, as Gen. William Howe was camped in Philadelphia. Had terrible conditions throughout the entire winter.

Treaty of Paris 1783

This was the treaty made in Paris which confirmed American Independence and also set boundaries of the new American nation.

Columbian Exchange

The biological consequence of contact between Europeans and the New World. Things such as disease(smallpox), livestock(horses), crops(wheat, melons, etc.)

Middle Passage

This was the voyage pathway of transferring enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the New World.

Mercantilism

The idea of the colonies sending their raw products to Britain, Britain would sell them back to the colonies as manufactured goods, overall wanted succession for the mother country

Enlightenment

A true period of intellectual ferment, used to emphasize the need of reasoning rather the science over their faith

Great Awakening

A religious revival which impacted the English colonies, promoted the expansion of rights, led to more religious enthusiasm

Glorious Revolution

England being restored back to former times, no bloodshed, the timeline of events in which caused the disposing of King James II, was replaced by Mary II and her husband William of Orange