Locations
Beringia
A land bridge that connects Asia to Northern America, specifically, modern day Russia to modern day Alaska. It is now completely submerged under the ocean's surface and impossible to use, but the ancient people used it.
1st Navigation Act
Rules imposed by Britain to interfere with colonial trade to benefit the British mainland.
Stated that all ships trading to the Colonies or the mainland had to be built in English territory and have an at least 75 percent English crew. Also said that certain American essential goods could only be sold to Britain, no other countries.
Republicanism
Concept that ultimate political authority is vested
in the citizens of the nation. Republicanists supported a weak central government (The Articles of Confederation).
Parliament
The law making body of the British Government.
Indentured Servants
Freemen (from Europe mostly) that signed contracts or were kidnapped to offer slave labor for some established number of years (5,7,10) in exchange for passage to the colonies, financed by the slavemasters.
The Middle Passage
Sea route between Africa and America, used to transport African slaves. Ships called Slavers crossed the passage.
The Proclamation of 1763
Banned American colonists and government from owning or selling land which had recently been acquired from the French in America. Done to protect Native Americans.
Colonialism
Colonialist Europeans established control over foreign territories in the Americas. This involved subjugating indigenous populations, exploiting resources, and imposing European culture and institutions on the native inhabitants and land.
House of Burgesses
Virginia's colonial government. They had local elections which Americans were able to partake in, and decided on some local laws.
The Seven Years War
Multi-continental military conflict between:
– Great Britain, Portugal and Prussia
against
-- France, Austria, Russia, Spain and Sweden
Ended with France giving much American territory to Spain and Britain.
Factories
Headquarters for European companies that traded for slaves & other West African resources. Located on the coasts of both Africa and the American colonies.
2nd Navigation Act (Also called the Staple Act)
Rules imposed by Britain to interfere with colonial trade to benefit the British mainland.
Mandated nothing be imported from Europe into the 13 colonies without being transshipped through Britain.
Loyalism
Loyalists were people who lived in the American colonies but supported the rule of the British crown and parliament.
First Continental Congress
A meeting of Americans in September 1774 which sent a letter to the British Parliament, which formerly boycotted British goods, and threatened to stop exports to Britain if the Intolerable Acts were not dropped by September 10th, 1775.
Headright
50 acres of land guaranteed to British settlers who financed their own journey or who financed the journey of an additional settler. Promised to encourage citizens to move to the Colonies.
Provided by companies and enforced through House of Burgesses.
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a Sea route through the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans along the northern coast of North America. It made Europeans believe there was a quick path to Asia through the American Northwest, leading to Europeans exploring bodies of water such as the 5 great lakes and St. Lawrence river, in hopes that they could find an even faster path.
Lord Dunmore's Proclamation
In November of 1775, the British governor of Virginia offered freedom to any slaves who would support Britain's side of the Revolutionary war.
Sons of Liberty
The sons of liberty were a political group, mostly made up of war veterans and laid off dock workers, who were extreme rebels/patriots. They terrorized British government members and loyalists, especially by tarring and feathering.
Second Continental Congress
Voted for and developed the declaration of independence, established the first formal US government and paid militia/colonial army, and negotiated loans with France, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The official end to the 7 years war. Britain gained most of the French-American land, but promised a large amount of it to the Native Americans, upsetting the "land-hungry" colonizers.
The Backcountry
A region from Western Pennsylvania to Georgia. This was the land where the Native Americans moved (Westward) to live in once British colonization began. An over 800 mile long border separated the Native American Backcountry and the European settled areas.
Prohibatory Act
A formal declaration of war by the British government in December 1775. It blockaded American trade with the world, seized American ports, and apprehended all American ships at sea.
Mercantalism
Mercantalist governments discourage trade between their colonies and foreign markets. They also regulate trade, always exporting more than they import, affecting global trade in their own favor.
Joint Stock Companies
Business enterprises created by politicians which enabled investors to pool money for commercial trading activity and funding in the colonies. These organizations sponsored indentured slaves.
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The United States of America was established as independent from Great Britain and acquired territory east of Mississippi River and below Canada (minus Florida).