Course

Name: U.S. History Module Name: Colonial America

Key Terms:

Virginia Company-an English firm that planned to make money by sending people to
America to find gold and other valuable natural resources and then ship the resources
back to England. They established the first permanent English colony in America.
House of Burgesses-the first European-type legislative body in the New World;
Established in Virginia
Powhatan-a notable American Indian chieftain in Virginia
Bacon's Rebellion-an uprising largely of poor whites in Virginia who wanted land and
the colonial government to take harsher actions toward American Indians; helped lead to
the rise of slavery
Massachusetts Settlement-established by the Puritans in the region known as New
England
Rhode Island Settlement-founded by religious dissenters from Massachusetts who were
more tolerant of different religious beliefs
Half-Way Covenant-allowed for partial church membership for the children and
grandchildren of original Puritans
King Philip's War-(1675-1676) was an early conflict between English colonists and
American Indians
Salem Witch Trials-a series of trials resulting from a mass hysteria about witches; 150
were accused and 29 convicted
Mid-Atlantic Colonies-included New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware;
most diverse area of the 13 colonies
Pennsylvania-founded by the religiously tolerant Quakers, led by William Penn
New Amsterdam (New York)-founded by the Dutch but in 1664 it was captured and
renamed by the British
Quebec-area of Canada that was settled by the French; one of its focuses was on the fur
trade
Mercantilism-an economic theory that held that the best way to become a stronger
nation was to acquire more wealth; helped influence the desire of European powers to set
up colonies
Trans-Atlantic Trade-part of mercantilism where Britain required goods from the
colonies to be shipped on British ships and that British products would have a monopoly
of the market
Middle Passage-the sea voyage that carried African slaves to North America; conditions
on the ships were poor
African-American Culture-developed among the slaves in the New World; included
music, dance, basket weaving, and pottery making
Benjamin Franklin-one of the best-known Founding Fathers who was a printer,
scientist, statesmen, writer, businessman, philosopher, and inventor; a good example of
individualism and social mobility
Individualism-focused on a person improving himself or herself
Social Mobility-rising through society; often connected to individualism
The Great Awakening-a religious revival that swept through the colonies in the 1730s
and 40s; led to a more distinct American identity