APUSH Semester 1 ID's Deck Flashcards
Jamestown and the “starving time” (1607)
First permanent settlement in the Americas. They struggled at the beginning since the land was marshy and not equipped for farming. They struggled with food supply and poor water along with violence that caused 3 out of 4 colonists to die from the winter of 1609-1610.
John Smith
Founded and governed Jamestown. Helped the colony get through the first winter.
Tobacco
The crop that helped Jamestown survive. It gave the settlers something to give back to England and led to rural societies with plantations. It was the most important crop in the Southern economy.
Headright System
A land grant system to attract people to settle in the colonies. People were typically given 50 acres as long as they worked it. It originated in Jamestown and spread to the other colonies.
Indentured Servitude
People who couldn’t afford to pay to come to the colonies would become servants to people from the colonies who paid for their trip. Servants would typically work for about seven years before being freed.
Bacon’s Rebellion
An uprising of farmers and indentured servants against the government of Virginia. Changes were made and freed people were given more land and the people had a say in government. Work shifted from servants to slaves.
House of Burgesses (1619)
First elected general assembly of the colonies. Maintained order in Jamestown and other colonies followed. This led to the beginning of a democratic government.
Maryland Toleration Act (1649)
Ensured religious protection in the colony of Maryland for Catholics. Maryland was known for being a colony that sheltered Catholics.
Mayflower Compact (1620)
Established the founding of the Plymouth Colony and created a government. First document of self-government in the New World.
“City upon a hill”
John Winthrop’s words upon leaving England as it was morally corrupt. New England was established to be an example to England and its moral corruptness. The colony was to spread religious righteousness.
Town meetings
Gathering of people from a town and the nearby countryside to vote on rules and discuss issues that affected and interested them. This included things like town officers and taxes.
Roger Williams
Founder of Rhode Island, which became a haven for religious freedom and the separation of church and state.
King Philip’s War (1675 - 1676)
A series of conflicts between Native Americans and the English. These conflicts heavily affected Native tribes as they lost many men and control over their land.
Praying towns
Towns where Natives would be forced to learn about the Puritan religion and way of life. The purpose of these towns was to have Natives adopt English customs.
New Amsterdam
A settlement established by the Dutch and taken over by the British in 1664. New Amsterdam had religious tolerance and a diverse group of people living there. After being taken over it was named New York.
Pennsylvania
William Penn received a grant from the King and was given an area of land to create a religious colony for Quakers. Pennsylvania was founded so people could live freely without religious persecution.
Quakers
A religious group that found refuge in the colonies. The Quakers supported religious tolerance and acceptance. The company of Quakers wasn’t like the Puritans who had opposite views.
Dominion of New England (1686)
Union of New England colonies that tightened the administration of British power over the colonies.
Mercantilism
The idea is that the amount of wealth a country has is based on how much gold they own. The goal is to export more than import so the country is making money.
Navigation Acts
Act passed by the British to regulate Dutch trade and an attempt to stop the Dutch from shipping. Any goods being sent to the colonies had to be sent to England first to make sure they were being taxed properly.
Enumerated Articles
Crops and items like sugar, tobacco, cotton, ginger and dyes couldn’t be traded or transported under the Navigation Acts.
Triangular Trade
Transatlantic slave trade. European ships brought goods and weapons in trade for slaves going to the Americas and colony goods going to England.
Smuggling
The colonists weren’t able to trade with countries other than the British so the colonies started smuggling goods to get better prices and avoid taxes. The Navigation Acts and the Molasses Act forced the colonists to smuggle.
Salutary Neglect
Unwritten policy to let the colonies exist with little interference from England.
First Great Awakening
Religious revival through the colonies changed the way the people see religion. Spirituality and devotion were revived and ordinary people were making personal connections with God. Methodists and Baptists were becoming more popular.
New and Old Lights
Divided in people’s religious practice beliefs. Old Lights were more traditional and New Lights were more into personal religion. This led to the decline of groups like Quakers.
Jonathon Edwards
One of the most important people in the Great Awakening. His famous sermon called “Sinners In the Hands of an Angry God” talked about sin, hell and torment. He helped reignite people’s belief in religion.
Witchcraft
Hearings and prosecutions against people accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts. People were accusing others of being possessed and many accused women.
Middle Passage
Journey of slaves from Africa to America.
Albany Plan (1754)
Plan to place the colonies under a stricter centralized government controlled by the British Empire.
French and Indian War (1754-1763)
A war between Britain and France where natives participated for both sides. Aftermath in the colonies led to the beginning of the American identity and set the stage for the American Revolution.
Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)
Indian uprising after the French and Indian War. Uprising was against the British expansion in the Ohio River Valley. British forts were destroyed and the leader, Pontiac, was killed to end the rebellion.
Proclamation of 1763
Made after the French and Indian War. Said that the colonists couldn’t settle past the Appalachian Mountains.
