Indentured Servitude
Person who agreed to work for a colonial employer for a specified time in exchange for passage to america.
Middle Passage
A voyage that brought enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to North America and the West Indies
Stono Rebellion
1739; South Carolina slave revolt that prompted the colonies to pass stricter laws regulating the movement of slaves and the capture of runaways
Great Migration to Massachusetts
1630-1640; A great migration of Puritans led that began with 700 people led by John Winthrop. Brought over 20,000 people (mostly families) to New England over a ten-year period.
Puritans
A religious group who wanted to purify the Church of England. They came to America for religious freedom and settled Massachusetts Bay. Wanted to have a "city upon a hill". Believed in pre-destination.
Chesapeake
Virginia-Maryland bay area, site of the earliest colonial settlements
Quakers
Religious group that settled in Pennsylvania. "Society of friends". Quakers believed in an "inner light" that would guide them toward religious truth.
Benjamin Lay
A Quaker who believed that slavery was wrong and spread the news to try and stop it throughout Quaker communities in North America.
headright system
Grant of 50 acres of land for each settler brought to Virginia by a colonist. Benefits the wealthy.
Wool Act
1699; English law made it illegal to ship wool from the American colonies. The law was designed to assist the British wool industry.
Molasses Act
1733; Law that established a tax on imports of molasses, sugar, and rum from non-British colonies.
King Phillip's War
1675-1776; Last significant effort by the Indians of Southern New England to drive away English settlers. The Indians were led by Metacom, the Pokunoket chief whom English settlers called "King Phillip
Pueblo Revolt
1680; An uprising of Indians in Santa Fe against Spanish colonization
Casta system
A social hierarchy based on race.
mulatto
A person of mixed white and black ancestry, esp. a person with one white and one black parent.
mercantilism
Economic system based on trade in which a nation establishes colonies for its own economic benefit.
triangular trade
A three way system of trade during 1600-1800s Africa sent slaves to America, America sent Raw Materials to Europe, and Europe sent Guns and Rum to Africa
House of Burgesses
1619; An elected lawmaking body, established by the Virginia Company to allow representative government in Virgina
Mayflower Compact
1620; First social contract for New England colony. Drafted and signed by 41 male separatists fleeing religious persecution by King James of England. Granted political rights to all male colonists that would abide by the colonies laws.
Maryland Toleration Act
1649; Act that was passed in Maryland that guaranteed toleration to all Christians, regardless of sect but not to those who did not believe in the divinity of Jesus. Though it did not sanction much tolerance, the act was the first seed that would sprout i
established church
A church that is supported by taxes from citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs. The Church of England (Anglican church) became the established church in several colonies
Navigation Acts
1651-1696; Attempt by England to assert its control over American trade by passing a series of laws that regulated colonial trade to England's benefit.
salutary neglect
An English policy of not strictly enforcing laws in its colonies. Lasted throughout most of the 1600's and 1700's
Bacon's Rebellion
1676; Nathaniel Bacon and other western Virginia settlers were angry at Virginia Governor Berkeley for trying to appease the Doeg Indians after the Doegs attacked the western settlements. The frontiersmen formed an army, with Bacon as its leader, which de
Great Awakening
1730's-1760's; Evangelical religious revival that swept through Britain's North American colonies. The Great Awakening strengthened beliefs in religious freedom and challenged the status of established churches. Can be tied to the Revolution
George Whitefield
Christian preacher whose tour of the English colonies attracted big crows and sparked The Great Awakening
Jonathan Edwards
Pastor and revivalist who served as the most important leader of The Great Awakening. His sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", became representative of the evangelical beliefs of The Great Awakening
John Locke
English philosopher and political thinker who believed in government based upon the will of the people. Locke's republicanism influenced American colonists in the 18th century.
Pilgrims
Separatists who left England in search of religious freedom and sailed to America on the Mayflower in 1620, established the colony of Plymouth.
Pequot War
1636; Conflict between Pequot Indians in Connecticut and the colonists of Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut. The Pequot were defeated and driven from the area.