Colonial Development in the British Empire

The process by which the British Empire grew and changed, impacting both Britain and its colonies, including the North American mainland.

The economic and social system where people are owned as property and forced to work without pay.

The interconnectedness of Europe, Africa, and the Americas through trade, migration, and cultural exchange.

The period in the 17th and 18th centuries when colonial societies formed and evolved in North America.

The practice of using both free and unfree labor in colonial societies, which eventually transitioned to a system primarily based on slavery.

The division of people into racial categories, often used to justify inequality and oppression.

The economic influence of the Caribbean sugar islands, which outweighed the North American colonies in terms of wealth.

The enduring impacts of colonial-era patterns and systems, including slavery, which shaped American society for generations.

The forced journey of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean, characterized by horrific conditions, disease, and death.

The practice of enslaving people of African descent for life, established in English colonies like Virginia and Barbados in the 1660s.

The practice of English colonists encouraging wars among Native Americans to acquire prisoners of war and sell them into slavery.

European legal thought of the 17th century held that enslaving prisoners of war was not only lawful but more merciful than killing them.

The idea that Christian baptism would lead to emancipation of enslaved people.

The belief that enslaved Africans were not only physically different but also racially inferior to Europeans, leading to a strict social hierarchy based on race.

The process by which enslaved Africans were adjusted to the conditions of slavery in the Americas, involving harsh labor and cultural assimilation.

A practice used to exploit Native Americans by buying and selling them into slavery.

The belief that enslaved Africans were more reliable workers for plantation labor than white workers.

The use of enslaved Africans as a labor force to cultivate crops in the Americas, creating a complex system of exploitation and racial inequalities.

A trade route that involved the transportation of sugar, manufactured goods, and enslaved Africans between Europe, the Americas,and Africa.

Olaudah Equiano's account of the Middle Passage, highlighting the horrific conditions endured by enslaved Africans during the journey.

The role of slave ship surgeons in treating the physical and mental suffering of enslaved Africans during the Middle Passage.

The practice of colonialism and the economic exploitation of enslaved Africans through the transatlantic slave trade.

The belief that land ownership in frontier territories was threatened by the violence and instability caused by the Native American slave trade.

The practice of buying, selling, and transporting enslaved people, primarily from Africa to the Americas, between the 16th and 19th centuries.

A fortified trading post established by the Portuguese in the 15th century on the Gulf of Guinea, which became a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade.

The process of forcibly relocating enslaved Africans from their homeland to the Americas, often using ships with inhumane conditions.

Laws passed in colonial America that determined the legal status of children born to enslaved women. These laws ensured that children inherited the status of their mother, regardless of the father's status.

The influx of African cultures, traditions, and practices into the Americas, shaping the diverse cultural landscape of the continent.

The Spanish policy that granted freedom to enslaved people who escaped from English colonies and converted to Catholicism.

The practice of using enslaved people for agricultural labor, primarily in the production of cash crops such as sugar, cotton, and tobacco.

The proportion of enslaved Africans that were women in North America was higher than in other colonial populations.

The impact of the Atlantic slave trade on the cultural landscape of the Americas, evident in various aspects like food, music, and language.

The practice of using enslaved African women as a source of forced labor and reproduction, contributing to the growth of the enslaved population in North America.

The practice of buying and selling enslaved people for labor in domestic settings, common in early European colonies.

The first major battle of the English Civil War, fought in 1642, marked a turning point in the conflict, leading to a prolonged war and the establishment of the Commonwealth of England.

The overthrow of King James II in 1688 by a group of bishops and Parliamentarians, who offered the throne to William of Orange and his wife Mary.

The act of forcing people to join the military service, a contentious issue in both England and its colonies.

The consolidation of New England colonies, New York, and New Jersey into a single administrative unit by James II in 1686, met with resistance from colonists.

The uprising led by Metacom (King Philip) against English colonists in New England, fueled by religious prejudice and colonial expansion.

The rebellion in Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon in 1676, triggered by conflict with Native Americans, dissatisfaction with colonial policies and land ownership.

A series of acts passed by Parliament to regulate trade with the colonies, seeking to increase economic control and limit economic competition.

The idea that race is a fixed biological category, often associated with skin color, used to justify systems of oppression.

A type of labor contract where individuals agreed to work for a specific period in exchange for passage to the colonies, food, and shelter. They were not considered slaves, but their status blurred with that of African laborers.

A legal act in 1643 Virginia that categorized African women as taxable, linking them to difficult agricultural labor and differentiating them from white women.

The English ideal of a gendered division of labor where white men were expected to work in the fields, while white women were confined to domestic tasks like dairy production, gardening, and cooking.

The belief that a man held authority over his household, including his wife, children, servants, and enslaved laborers. This concept played a role in justifying the subordination of enslaved people.

Marriages between enslaved people were not legally recognized in colonial society, forcing couples to find ways to maintain relationships across plantations.

A period of religious and political conflict in 16th century England between Catholic and Protestant factions, culminating in a bloody civil war in the 1640s.

A group of radical Protestants who sought to reform the Church of England and establish a more puritanical form of Christianity.

The period in English history from 1629 to 1640 when King Charles I ruled with absolute power, leading to friction with Parliament.

The rebellion in Scotland against Charles I's policies, which further escalated tensions with Parliament and eventually led to the English Civil War.

The armed conflict in England between the Royalist forces supporting Charles I and the Parliamentarian forces led by Oliver Cromwell.

The period in England after the execution of Charles I where Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector.

The impact of the English Civil War on the American colonies, leading them to reconsider their relationship with England.

The movement of Puritan settlers from England to the American colonies in the 1630s, seeking religious freedom and the opportunity to establish a new society.

The act of remaining neutral during a conflict, neither supporting one side nor the other.

The first pitched battle of the First English Civil War, where the opposing sides mobilized significant armies to fight for control.

The Dutch West India Company established New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island in 1625 to secure its fur trade in the area, but the colony remained small and vulnerable to English attacks.

The new colony of New York was named after James, the Duke of York, who funded the English expedition to take over New Netherland in 1664.

Despite being reconquered briefly by the Netherlands in 1667, New York remained under English control.

The acquisition of New Netherland by the English was part of a strategy to strengthen their control over the Atlantic seaboard and to tax the colonies more effectively.

The Duke of York granted the land between the Hudson and Delaware rivers to two English noblemen, creating the colonies of East and West Jersey.

William Penn, a Quaker, founded Pennsylvania as a colony of harmony and religious tolerance, attracting diverse migrants from Europe.

Pennsylvania was intended to be a haven for religious freedom and a model of godliness, attracting diverse migrants like French, Dutch, Germans, Swedes, Danes, Finns, Scotch, and English.

The creation of Carolina, later divided into North and South Carolina and Georgia, was part of Charles II's plan to strengthen English control and pay off political debts.

The Lords Proprietor of Carolina offered incentives to attract colonists, such as religious tolerance, political representation, exemption from fees, and large land grants.

Carolina's geography and incentives led to the development of large rice and indigo plantations, which relied on enslaved labor.

The northern reaches of Carolina, settled by Virginians, resisted Carolina authority, leading to the creation of North Carolina in 1691.

The 17th century witnessed several violent conflicts between English colonists and Native Americans, including the Pequot War, Mystic massacre, King Philip's War, Susquehannock War, Bacon's Rebellion, and the Pueblo Revolt.

The Mystic massacre, part of the Pequot War, involved English colonists burning down a Pequot village and killing hundreds of men, women, and children.

These conflicts highlight the violent nature of English colonization and the devastating impact on Native American populations.

A declaration of allegiance to William and Mary in England was seen as a move towards stability in the American colonies. Colonists believed the new monarchs would reject absolutism and prioritize Protestantism and liberty.

Maryland's charter was granted by Charles I to Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore, who aimed to create a haven for Catholics and gain wealth from the colony.

Maryland was envisioned as a place where Catholics and Protestants could coexist peacefully, but this vision was hindered by the influx of Protestant settlers, including Quakers and Puritans seeking religious freedom.

Thomas Hooker and his followers left Massachusetts for Connecticut due to overcrowding and a desire for more land for cattle and agriculture.

New Haven Colony was founded by John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton, with the goal of establishing a model of Puritan society.

Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams, who was exiled from Massachusetts for his radical religious beliefs, and he advocated for religious and political freedom.

Anne Hutchinson, another Massachusetts exile, found refuge in Rhode Island with her followers, further contributing to making the colony a haven for religious freedom.

Rhode Island's policy of religious tolerance allowed various persecuted groups, like Quakers and Jews, to find refuge, making it distinct from other colonies.

Despite the English neglect of the mid-Atlantic region initially, its geographical advantages attracted European settlers, including the Swedes and Dutch.

The Swedes established New Sweden in the Delaware Valley, while the Dutch founded New Netherland in the Hudson Valley, marking their presence in the mid-Atlantic.

The Dutch settlements along the Hudson River were relatively small compared to their colonies in other parts of the world, contributing to the evolving landscape of the region.

The Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 in England, which saw the ascension of William and Mary, had a significant impact on the American colonies.

The Bill of Rights, passed by Parliament in 1689, curbed the monarchy's power and reinforced Protestantism, impacting the ideologies of English colonists in America.

The Glorious Revolution fueled a sense of unity among English colonists, solidifying their allegiance to a Protestant empire and aligning them against Catholic absolutism and French power.

The Glorious Revolution, marked by the overthrow of James II and the establishment of William and Mary on the throne, highlighted the rejection of absolutism and the importance of liberty and Protestantism in England.

The English Puritans' war against the Pequot tribe, resulting in the decimation of the Pequot population and the rise of the Mohegan tribe.

A powerful sachem (chief) who led the Wampanoag people in their war against the English colonists.

The death of John Sassamon, a Christian Wampanoag, which sparked the wider conflict known as King Philip's War.

English colonists' desire to control fur and wampum trade in the Northeast, leading to alliances with the Mohegan tribe.

The Mohegan tribe's strategic alliance with the English, resulting in their rise in power and dominance in New England.

The English colonists' brutal attack on the Narragansett village in December 1675, which led to the deaths of many men, women, and children.

The impact of King Philip's War on the New England landscape, resulting in the deaths of thousands and a decline in the Native American population.

Benjamin Church's military strategy of using Native allies to fight against other Native groups during King Philip's War.

English colonists' mistrust and persecution of neutral Native Americans during King Philip's War, forcing them to take sides.

The selling of captured Native Americans into slavery after King Philip's War, furthering the decimation of Native populations.

The period of widespread paranoia and accusations of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts, driven by factors like local rivalries, enduring war trauma, and faulty legal procedures.

The significant impact of the war on the political demographics of New England, leading to a decline in Native American populations and a rise in English dominance.

English colonists' growing hatred and prejudice against all Indigenous peoples in New England, a legacy of the war's brutality.

The English militia's mistaken killing of Susquehannock people, thinking they were Doeg, ignited a cycle of violence and retaliations, leading to the Susquehannock War.

Nathaniel Bacon, a charismatic young colonist, led a group of volunteers who claimed to defend their homes and families, becoming a formidable force challenging the colonial government in Virginia.

Governor Sir William Berkeley, fearing a coup, branded the volunteers as traitors and chose to suppress the colonists' rebellion rather than pursue the Susquehannock, creating further tensions.

Despite the House of Burgesses passing pro-rebel reforms, Bacon's supporters remained unsatisfied. Berkeley arrested Bacon, but Bacon rallied his followers, surrounding the State House, demanding authority and war against Native Americans.

Bacon's Rebellion spiraled out of control. Berkeley rebuilt his loyalist army, forcing Bacon to shift focus to the coast, causing rebel desertions and further escalating the conflict.

The conflict wasn't a unified military campaign but a collection of local grievances and personal rivalries, leading to opportunistic plundering by both rebels and loyalists.

Bacon's Rebellion exposed tensions between wealthy English landowners and poor settlers, who felt the government failed to protect them from Native American attacks.

Bacon's accusations against Governor Berkeley, claiming he conspired with Native Americans to harm English colonists, illustrated the heightened mistrust and suspicion that fueled the rebellion.

Bacon's Rebellion was rooted in land disputes and the desire for westward expansion, creating a conflict between English colonists and Native Americans over resources and territory.

The English settlers' actions against Native Americans, including the killing of ambassadors under a truce, fueled the escalating violence and heightened the tensions that led to Bacon's Rebellion.

The conflict over the pig, though seemingly trivial, symbolized the deeper tensions between English colonists and Native Americans, leading to a series of events that culminated in Bacon's Rebellion.

Governor Berkeley's cautious approach and emphasis on defensive fortifications, while militarily sound, backfired politically and fueled the discontent among colonists.

Bacon and the rebels' belief in a Native American conspiracy to destroy the English fueled their pursuit of war and further heightened the conflict.

The outcome of Bacon's Rebellion, despite its failure, significantly impacted Virginia's political landscape, contributing to shifts in power dynamics and further shaping colonial relations with Native Americans.

At the colony's founding, William Penn established a Quaker religious imperative for the peaceful treatment of Native Americans. He demanded land purchases rather than violence.

Through treaty negotiation in 1737, Native Delaware leaders agreed to sell Pennsylvania all of the land that a man could walk in a day and a half. This agreement was exploited by colonists who hired skilled runners to cover a much larger area, causing tension with the Delaware.

A harrowing description of the transatlantic slave trade by Olaudah Equiano, who described the terror of the Middle Passage. Equiano eventually purchased his freedom and became an abolitionist.

Iron leg shackles used to chain pairs of enslaved Africans together during the Middle Passage.

The forced journey of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean, often characterized by horrific conditions, disease, and death.

Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion in Virginia in 1676 driven by tensions with Native Americans and dissatisfaction with colonial policies and land ownership.

The rebellion, while ultimately unsuccessful, exposed deep-seated social and economic tensions in colonial Virginia. It highlighted the resentment of poor white colonists against the elite planter class and their policies.

In New Mexico, the Puebloan people, led by Popé, revolted against Spanish rule in 1680. The revolt was driven by religious persecution and the Spanish suppression of native beliefs and practices.

The Pueblo Revolt, lasting 12 years, successfully expelled the Spanish from New Mexico for a period. Traditional Puebloan culture and religious practices were restored. However, the Spanish eventually returned and reasserted control.

The Yamasee War, a conflict in Carolina in 1715, was sparked by tensions between the Yamasee tribe and English colonists over trade disputes and power struggles.

The Yamasee, joined by many other Native American groups, launched widespread attacks on English settlements in Carolina, aiming to drive out the colonists. The war devastated the colony and led to a significant shift in power dynamics between the colonists and Native Americans.

The rebellion, while ultimately unsuccessful, exposed deep-seated social and economic tensions in colonial Virginia. It highlighted the resentment of poor white colonists against the elite planter class and their policies.

The rebellion, while ultimately unsuccessful, exposed deep-seated social and economic tensions in colonial Virginia. It highlighted the resentment of poor white colonists against the elite planter class and their policies.

The rebellion, while ultimately unsuccessful, exposed deep-seated social and economic tensions in colonial Virginia. It highlighted the resentment of poor white colonists against the elite planter class and their policies.

During this period, the increasing availability of enslaved workers through the Atlantic slave trade contributed to planters’ large-scale adoption of slave labor in the Chesapeake.

The Spanish had been maintaining control partly by suppressing Native American beliefs. Friars aggressively enforced Catholic practice, burning native idols and masks and other sacred objects and banishing traditional spiritual practices.

The Spanish attempted to impose their religion and culture on the Pueblo people, leading to widespread resentment. This resentment fueled the Pueblo Revolt, a rebellion aimed at restoring their traditional beliefs and practices. The revolt led to a temporary expulsion of the Spanish, but they later returned to reassert control, though their hold on New Mexico weakened significantly.

The Yamasee War, a conflict in Carolina in 1715, was sparked by tensions between the Yamasee tribe and English colonists over trade disputes and power struggles.

The Yamasee, joined by many other Native American groups, launched widespread attacks on English settlements in Carolina, aiming to drive out the colonists. The war devastated the colony and led to a significant shift in power dynamics between the colonists and Native Americans.

The Yamasee, joined by many other Native American groups, launched widespread attacks on English settlements in Carolina, aiming to drive out the colonists. The war devastated the colony and led to a significant shift in power dynamics between the colonists and Native Americans.

The Yamasee War, a conflict in Carolina in 1715, was sparked by tensions between the Yamasee tribe and English colonists over trade disputes and power struggles.