Glossary
American Identity
The evolving sense of self and shared characteristics among colonists that distinguished them from their European counterparts, shaped by the New World environment and unique experiences.
Example:
The colonists' increasing reliance on local assemblies and their adaptation of European traditions to the American landscape contributed to a distinct American Identity.
Bacon’s Rebellion
An armed rebellion in 1676 led by Nathaniel Bacon against the colonial government of Virginia, primarily fueled by grievances over land, Native American policy, and perceived corruption.
Example:
Bacon’s Rebellion highlighted deep social and economic tensions in colonial Virginia and contributed to a shift from indentured servitude to enslaved labor.
Colonial Diversity
Refers to the varied ethnic, racial, and religious composition of the British colonies in North America, which included English, Scots-Irish, German, and African populations.
Example:
By the mid-18th century, the presence of significant German and Scots-Irish populations on the frontier, alongside English and African communities, exemplified the growing Colonial Diversity.
Dominion of New England
An administrative union of English colonies in the New England region of North America, created in 1686 by King James II to consolidate royal control and enforce the Navigation Acts.
Example:
Colonists deeply resented the Dominion of New England because its governor, Sir Edmund Andros, restricted town meetings and levied new taxes without their consent.
English Common Law
A legal system developed in England based on judicial precedent and custom, which colonists believed guaranteed them certain rights, including liberty, equality, and private property.
Example:
Colonists often cited their rights under English Common Law when protesting perceived infringements on their freedoms by the British government.
Established Churches
Official, tax-supported religious denominations in the colonies, such as the Congregational Church in New England and the Church of England (Anglican) in the Southern colonies.
Example:
In colonial Massachusetts, citizens were expected to pay taxes to support the Congregational Church, which served as the Established Church of the region.
First Great Awakening
A widespread religious revival movement in the American colonies during the 1730s and 1740s, characterized by emotional preaching and a renewed emphasis on personal religious experience.
Example:
The passionate sermons of George Whitefield during the First Great Awakening drew massive crowds and inspired many colonists to re-examine their spiritual lives.
George Whitefield
An influential English Anglican cleric who traveled extensively through the American colonies during the First Great Awakening, captivating audiences with his dynamic and theatrical preaching style.
Example:
Crowds gathered by the thousands to hear George Whitefield preach in open fields, as his powerful voice and dramatic delivery transcended denominational boundaries.
Jonathan Edwards
A prominent American theologian and Congregationalist minister during the First Great Awakening, known for his powerful and influential sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.'
Example:
Jonathan Edwards' fiery rhetoric aimed to awaken his listeners to the perils of sin and the urgency of repentance, becoming a hallmark of the revival.
King Philip’s War
A devastating conflict (1675-1678) between Native American inhabitants of New England, led by Metacom (known as King Philip), and the English colonists and their Native American allies.
Example:
King Philip’s War resulted in immense casualties on both sides and significantly reduced the Native American population and influence in New England.
Mercantilism
An economic theory prevalent in the 17th and 18th centuries that held that a nation's wealth was measured by its gold and silver reserves, advocating for colonies to serve as sources of raw materials and markets for finished goods for the mother country.
Example:
Under Mercantilism, England sought to maximize its wealth by requiring its American colonies to export raw timber and import finished furniture exclusively from Britain.
Navigation Acts
A series of English laws, beginning in the mid-17th century, designed to enforce mercantilist policies by regulating colonial trade, requiring goods to be transported on English ships and often routed through English ports.
Example:
The Navigation Acts stipulated that valuable colonial products like tobacco could only be shipped to England, even if other European nations offered better prices.
New England Confederation
A short-lived military alliance formed in 1643 by the Puritan colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven for mutual defense against Native Americans and the Dutch.
Example:
The New England Confederation represented an early attempt by the colonies to cooperate on matters of defense without direct British oversight.
Salutary Neglect
An unofficial British policy in the 17th and 18th centuries where lax enforcement of parliamentary laws regarding the American colonies allowed them to develop a degree of self-governance and economic autonomy.
Example:
Due to Salutary Neglect, colonial assemblies gained significant power in local affairs, fostering a sense of independence that would later fuel revolutionary sentiments.
The Enlightenment
An intellectual and philosophical movement in 18th-century Europe that emphasized reason, individualism, and scientific inquiry over tradition and religious dogma, significantly influencing colonial thought.
Example:
Benjamin Franklin's pursuit of scientific experiments and his belief in human progress were deeply rooted in the principles of The Enlightenment.