Chapter 2 Vocabulary

Protestant Reformation: The Protestant Reformation was a religious movement that began in the early 16th century, led by figures such as Martin Luther and John Calvin. It resulted in the split of Christianity into Catholic and Protestant branches and led to significant changes in the religious and political landscape of Europe.
Roanoke Island: Roanoke Island is an island located in present-day North Carolina, USA. It is famous for being the site of the first English attempt at establishing a permanent colony in the Americas. The colony, known as the "Lost Colony," mysteriously disappeared sometime between 1587 and 1590.
Spanish Armada: The Spanish Armada was a powerful fleet of Spanish naval forces sent by King Philip II of Spain in 1588 to invade England. The Spanish Armada's defeat by the English navy marked a significant turning point in European history and helped solidify England's naval dominance.
Primogeniture: Primogeniture is a system of inheritance where the eldest son inherits the entire estate or title of their parents. This practice was common in European aristocratic families and played a role in shaping land distribution and social hierarchies.
Joint-Stock Company: A joint-stock company is a business entity in which multiple individuals or entities own shares of the company's stock. This allowed for the pooling of resources and risk-sharing, making it an attractive structure for financing early English colonial ventures.
Charter: A charter is a legal document issued by a government or monarch, granting certain rights and privileges to a person, company, or colony. In the context of English colonization, charters were used to establish and govern colonies in North America.
Jamestown: Jamestown was the first successful English settlement in North America, established in 1607 in present-day Virginia. It was a significant step in the colonization of the Americas and played a pivotal role in the early history of the United States.
First Anglo-Powhatan War: The First Anglo-Powhatan War was a conflict between English settlers in Jamestown and the Powhatan Confederacy in the early 17th century. It was characterized by hostilities and sporadic fighting as both sides vied for control over resources and territory.
Second Anglo-Powhatan War: The Second Anglo-Powhatan War was another series of conflicts between the English settlers and the Powhatan Confederacy, occurring in the mid-17th century. The war ended with a treaty that banished the Powhatan people from their ancestral lands, further facilitating English expansion in the region.
Act of Toleration: The Act of Toleration was a law passed in the Maryland colony in 1649, granting religious freedom to all Christians. It aimed to protect Catholics in a predominantly Protestant colony but did not extend the same tolerance to non-Christians.
Barbados Slave Code: The Barbados Slave Code was a set of laws enacted in the 17th century on the Caribbean island of Barbados. It defined the legal status of enslaved individuals and gave slaveholders significant control and authority over their enslaved workforce.
Squatters: Squatters were individuals who settled on land they did not own or have legal claim to. In the context of American colonial history, squatters often moved westward onto Native American lands or unclaimed territories, leading to conflicts over land rights.
Tuscarora War: The Tuscarora War was a conflict between European colonists in North Carolina and the Tuscarora Native American tribe in the early 18th century. The war ended with the defeat of the Tuscarora and their subsequent removal from the region.
Yamasee Indians: The Yamasee Indians were a Native American tribe in the southeastern region of the present-day United States. In the early 18th century, they were involved in a significant conflict known as the Yamasee War, which had wide-ranging effects on the Native American population in the area.
Buffer: In the context of colonial territories, a buffer refers to a geographical area or colony that serves as a protective barrier between two conflicting powers or territories. For example, the Georgia colony was originally envisioned as a buffer between English colonies and Spanish Florida.
Iroquois Confederacy: The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, was a powerful alliance of Native American tribes in the northeastern part of North America. It played a significant role in shaping regional politics and trade during the colonial era.