COLONIAL ERA VOCABULARY

GREAT AWAKENING

Religious movement of the 1730’s and 1740’s

Started by Jonathan Edwards

Called on colonists to examine their lives

Warned people to follow the Bible’s teachings

IMPACT OF GREAT AWAKENING

Started a religious debate People started to break away from

their old churches to form new ones

Many believers challenged authority and created a spirit of independence

ENLIGHTENMENT Movement in Europe in

the 1600 and 1700’s that emphasized the use of reason

Leaders: John Locke and Benjamin Franklin

Scientific methods could be used to study society (human behavior)

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Scientist, philosopher, inventor

Wrote “Poor Richard’s Almanac” – contained useful information.

Studied literature, mathematics, foreign languages

Invented the lightning rod, bifocals

Community leader, influential in the American Revolution

TRIAL OF JOHN PETER ZENGER

Dispute of freedom of Press John Zenger was arrested for publishing

stories that criticized the governor Put on trial Jury in favor of Zenger because the

story he printed was true Established freedom of Press

MASON DIXON LINE

Line that formed the boundary between the Middle and Southern colonies

SLAVE CODES

Laws that limited the rights of slaves. Rules for slaves’ behavior and denied

them basic rights Treated them as property, not humans

MERCANTILISM

Economic theory that the colonies should benefit the home country

Belief that a nation became strong by keeping strict

control over trade Believed a country should export more than it imports

NAVIGATION ACTS

Laws that regulated trade between England and its colonies so that only England benefited

Only English ships could carry goods to and from the colonies

Limited the goods that could be shipped to England

ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

Protected the rights of English citizens Guaranteed trial by jury The ruler could not raise taxes or an

army without the approval of Parliament