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Mercantilism
Mercantilism is when a place exports more than it imports, symbolizing profit rather than debt. -
House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses was a meeting where people were sent to a central location to represent their colony. This is the first evidence of self-government. -
Mayflower Compact
While traveling on The Mayflower, an agreement was signed that the Puritans would make their own laws. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Written document made in Connecticut, considered to be the first constitutional document. Limited governmental power, focused on giving rights to the people. -
Triangular Trade
Trade between the Americas, Africa, and the West Indies. The Americas and the West Indies mostly traded goods, while Africa traded slaves. -
Maryland Toleration Act
Did not require people to be Protestant or Catholic, gave religious freedom in Maryland, excluding Judiasm. -
Navigation Acts
Emphasized overseas trade, made it illegal to trade locally. Gave jobs to the shipbuilding industry, but took away jobs from traders in the colonies. -
John Peter Zenger
Wrote a controversial article sbout free expression in a newspaper that he was put on trial for. This eventually led to freedom of press in America. -
Great Awakening
Religious revival in the colonies, they started to think differently than the Church of England and the Anglican Church. Many different kinds of churches started to form. -
French and Indian War
Alliance of the French and Native Americans formed against the British and the colonies. Colonies gained land but taxed from England were raised. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin's written idea of how the colonies should operate. It wasn't accepted but spurred other ideas. -
Proclamation of 1763
England banned the colonists from settling west of the Appalachain Mountains to protect the Native Americans. Due to England being overseas, it wasn't heavily enforced. -
Stamp Act
Heavily taxed colonial goods, attempt to promote English goods. Led to colonists boycotting the English goods. -
Boston Massacre
Colonists protest about lack of privacy and high taxes, started to turn violent. British soldiers ordered to fire, leaving 5 colonists dead. -
Intolerable Acts
Result of Boston Tea Party, British responds by closing harbors and making curfews. Heavily affects Boston. -
Tea Act
Lowers price of tea, but gives colonial tea business to the East India Trading Company. Colonists respond through the Boston Tea Party. -
Quartering Act
Part of the Intolerable Acts, housed British soldiers in colonial homes. Frustrated the colonists, they felt their privacy was being violated. -
Lexington and Concord
Colonial militias, called minutemen, fought against the British to defend colonial rights and to gain freedom. -
Olive Branch Petition
Colonial letter sent to England to end the fighting, refused to be read by King George III. -
Common Sense
Written by Thomas Paine, stated that England and the colonies should be separated. Helped promote independence. -
Declaration of Independence
Successful, well known document written by the colonists to England to demand for freedom. Signed by founding fathers.
