Colonial Life
System of labor used in the early years of colonization in which poor Europeans would sell themselves into temporary slavery with the hopes of building a new life after regaining their freedom. It got less popular as the harsh realities of colonial life became apparent in Europe.
Indentured Servitude
This law enacted in the colony of Maryland laid the foundation for religious freedom in the colonies, though it also carried harsh penalties for any non-monotheists.
Act of Toleration
Quaker, Founder of Pennsylvania, who advocated true religious tolerance and fairness in dealing with Native Americans.
William Penn
The first permanent English colony in the Americas.
Jamestown
Signed aboard their ship upon arrival in the New World, this was the first colonial document hinting at a democratic style of government in which all eligible parties would have a voice in politics.
Mayflower Compact
The Headright System
This religious group originally wanted to reform the Church of England, but when that failed many of them decided to travel to the New World and build a new community according to their own strict moral standards. They dominated the politics of the New England colonies for decades.
Puritans
This man saved the Jamestown colony with his concept of growing tobacco as a cash crop, also married Pocahontas which led to a temporary decrease in tensions with the local Powhatan tribe.
John Rolfe
The colony founded by the Pilgrims, which almost failed if it hadn't been for the assistance of Squanto, their Native American interpreter.
Plymouth
The first colonial assembly of representatives, this established a precedent of legislative control residing in the colonies and representing the people of the colonies. However, it was largely dominated by wealthy landowners and the Governor of the colony held veto power to block any legislation of which he did not approve.
Virginia House of Burgesses
One big difference between life in the colonies and life in Europe was the opportunity to "rise above ones station" in life. The existing nobility and power structure in Europe prevented this from happening, but in the colonies even poor commoners could make a good living with hard work. This concept is known as...
Social Mobility
This term is used to describe a widespread religious revival in the colonies spurred by influential and charismatic traveling preachers that inspired new ideas about faith and salvation.
The Great Awakening
John Peter Zenger
Second leg of the triangular trade in the Atlantic Ocean where millions of slaves were transported from West Africa to the Caribbean with many dying along the way due to brutal conditions.
Middle Passage
Democratic process similar to a modern "caucus" in which citizens of a particular location gathered to voice their opinions on civil matters and attempt to reach a consensus for decisions that affected the whole community.
Town Hall Meetings
This colonial uprising occurred due to mounting frustrations from settlers living on the frontier of the Virginia colony who faced frequent raids from Native Americans and did not get sufficient protection and support from the colonial government.
Bacon's Rebellion
She was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay colony for her belief in antinomianism, the belief that Christians could be saved by faith alone and need not follow the type of strict moral codes set out by the Puritan establishment. She resettled in territory that partially formed the Rhode Island colony.
Anne Hutchinson
This Chief of the Wampanoag tribe formed a coalition of native tribes in the northeast and attempted to stop the expansion of the New England colonies, but was killed in King Philip's War.
Metacom (aka King Philip but that is not acceptable in this case because I used that title in the question)
An early attempt at colonial unity, this northeastern political organization was formed for mutual defense against hostile Native tribes and European rivals.
New England Confederation
Known as the first written constitution in the British colonies, this document set many precedents that were included in the US Constitution including: separation of church and state, separate branches of government, election laws, and more.
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
As colonial education systems developed, they graduated scholars who idolized philosophers like John Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. They wrote about ideas of inalienable rights, consent of the governed, and social contracts that influenced the founding documents of the United States. These philosophers and ideas came out of this European intellectual movement.
One of the most influential revivalist ministers during the Great Awakening, he preached that every individual could access the grace of God without the need for any religious authority figures. This sentiment of disregard for authority is credited with leading many in the colonies to question the authority of the King as well.
George Whitefield
Scientist, author, philosopher and politician, he was one of the most famous and influential colonial leaders for nearly 70 years. He is often used as a symbol of social mobility in the colonies because he came from a poor family, but rose to become very wealthy during his lifetime.
Benjamin Franklin
Founded by James Oglethorpe, this colony originally banned alcohol, slavery and large plantations, but removed these restrictions due to stagnant economic growth after a couple decades.
Georgia
This colonial constitution, granted by William Penn, set many precedents for future American democratic values, including freedom of worship, protections for criminal defendants, and representative government in which the assembly was responsible for legislative action rather than the governor.
Charter of Liberties (1701) aka Charter of Privileges