APUSH Unit I vocab terms

Jamestown, Va

The first permanent English settlement in North America was established in 1607. Located in Virginia, Jamestown was founded by the Virginia Company of London. It played a key role in the colonization of America and was a center for tobacco cultivation. Jamestown faced challenges including disease, conflicts with Native Americans, and food shortages.

Head-right system

Allowed landowners to purchase fifty acres of land for every immigrant whose journey they sponsored.

House of Burgesses

The elected representative element of the Virginia General Assembly. The legislative body of the Colony of Virginia’s purpose of passing laws, and maintaining order.

Joint-stock company

An organization which is owned jointly by all its shareholders.

Proprietary Charter

Granted to an individual as a direct relationship with the king. This resulted in the individual or lord Proprietor governing the colony in their own way, but still under the flag of the Mother.

George Calvert

aka Lord Baltimore. Granted a proprietary charter by King Charles I to establish the colony of Maryland. Promoted religious tolerance and sought to create a haven for Catholics.

Toleration act

passed in Maryland; granted religious freedom/tolerance in colonial America.

Indentured servant

Individuals who signed contracts or indentures, to work for a specified number of years, in exchange for passage to America and eventual freedom.

Nathaniel Bacon

Leader of Bacon's Rebellion, a 1676 uprising in colonial Virginia. Bacon, a wealthy planter, led a group of discontented settlers against the colonial government's policies. They protested against Native American raids and lack of representation. The rebellion highlighted tensions between the elite ruling class and the lower classes.

Pilgrims

Group of English settlers who sailed on the Mayflower to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 seeking religious freedom; celebrated the first Thanksgiving with Native Americans.

Mayflower Compact

The agreement signed by Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower in 1620, establishing a self-governing colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It laid the foundation for democratic principles in America.

Puritans

English Protestants who sought to “purify” the church of England from what they saw as remaining Roman Catholic elements. Played a significant role in the settlement and development of New England colonies.

Anglicanism

branch of Christianity associated with the church of England. Official religion of England and influenced the religious practices of early American colonies.

The Stono Rebellion

Slave revolt in 1739 South Carolina. Largest uprising before the American Revolution. Led by Jemmy, a literate slave. Rebels killed whites, freed slaves, and burned plantations. Resulted in stricter slave codes and limited rights for slaves.

Praying Towns

Settlements were established by English Puritans in 17th century Massachusetts to assimilate Native Americans into European culture and Christianity.

John Winthrop

Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630-1649). Promoted Puritan ideals and established a theocratic government. Led the Great Migration of Puritans to New England.

Great Awakening

Religious revival in colonial America during the 18th century. Led by evangelical preachers, it emphasized personal spiritual experiences and challenged established religious institutions. It sparked social and political changes, promoting individualism, religious freedom, and a sense of equality among believers.

Halfway Covenant

A 1662 agreement in Puritan New England that allowed partial church membership to those who hadn't experienced a conversion.

Roger Williams

English theologian and founder of Rhode Island. Advocate for religious freedom and separation of church and state. Established the first Baptist church in America. Known for his belief in fair treatment of Native Americans and his promotion of tolerance and acceptance.

Anne Hutchinson

Prominent Puritan dissenter in 17th century Massachusetts Bay Colony. Challenged religious authorities, advocating for individual interpretation of scripture. Banished for her beliefs, she established the settlement of Portsmouth in Rhode Island. Important figure in the development of religious freedom in America.

Atlantic World

The interconnected network of trade, migration, and cultural exchange among Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the 15th to 19th centuries.

Pequot War

Conflict between English colonists and the Pequot tribe in 1637. Sparked by competition over land and fur trade. Ended with the near extermination of the Pequot tribe and solidified English control over the region.

Harvard

Founded in 1636, oldest institution of higher learning in the US. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ivy League university known for its rigorous academics and prestigious reputation. Notable alumni include eight US Presidents, numerous Nobel laureates, and successful entrepreneurs.

William Penn

Founder of Pennsylvania, a Quaker who sought religious freedom and peaceful relations with Native Americans. Signed a treaty with the Lenape tribe in 1682, establishing fair land purchases and respect for their culture. Promoted democratic principles and religious tolerance in his colony.

Massachusetts Bay Colony

Established in 1629, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was a British settlement in North America. It was founded by the Puritans seeking religious freedom. The colony became a major center for trade and commerce, with Boston as its capital. It played a significant role in the development of American democracy and the spread of Protestantism.

John Peter Zenger

A colonial printer who published The New York Weekly Journal. His trial in 1735 established the principle of freedom of the press in America.

John Rolfe

English settler in Jamestown, Virginia. He introduced tobacco cultivation, which became a major cash crop for the colony. Married Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan, improving relations between settlers and Native Americans. Rolfe's efforts helped establish the economic success of Jamestown and the English colonies in North America.

Encomienda system

Spanish colonial labor system granting land and indigenous people to Spanish settlers. Settlers were responsible for their welfare and converting them to Christianity, but often abused their rights. The system contributed to the exploitation and decline of indigenous populations in the Americas.

Salem Witch Trial

Infamous witch trials in colonial Massachusetts during 1692-1693. Accused people of practicing witchcraft based on spectral evidence and testimonies. Resulted in the execution of 20 people, mostly women. Caused by religious hysteria, fear, and social tensions. Ended when doubts arose about the validity of the trials.

Dominion of New England

administrative union of several New England colonies in the late 17th century, created by King James II to strengthen royal control over the colonies.