Portuguese explorer who in 1488 led the first expedition to sail around the southern tip of Africa from the Atlantic and sight the Indian Ocean.

Portuguese explorer. In 1497-1498 he led the first naval expedition from Europe to sail to India, opening an important commercial sea route.

Portuguese navigator who led the Spanish expedition of 1519-1522 that was the first to sail around the world.

Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a route to Asia (1451-1506)

Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico (1485-1547)

Spanish conquistador who claimed land for Spain in the present day southwest; discovered the Grand Canyon

A Spanish conqueror of the Americas

The great fleet sent by Philip II of Spain to conquer England in 1588; defeated by the terrible winds and fire ships.

Colonists who received free passage to North America in exchange for working without pay for a certain number of years

A company made up of a group of shareholders. Each shareholder contributes some money to the company and receives some share of the company's profits; capable of raising large amounts of money since the risks are mitigated

the first permanent English settlement, founded in 1607 by the London (Virginia) Company for economic reasons

the first elected legislative assembly in the New World established in the Colony of Virginia in 1619

English colony that was largely self-governing with little interference from England; typically set up for economic reasons by a company with permission from the king

English colony in which the king gave land to proprietors (owners/governors) in exchange for a yearly payment

A colony under the direct control of a monarch

A religious group who wanted to purify the Church of England. They came to America for religious freedom and settled Massachusetts Bay.

The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony.

Based on shipbuilding, fishing, lumbering, small-scale subsistence farming, and, eventually, manufacturing.

Based on shipbuilding, small-scale commercial farming, and trading; developed major seaports

Based on plantations (large farms) producing large amounts of cash crops, especially rice and tobacco; more inland locations focused on hunting and trading

Prestige based on religious standing; Puritans wished to connect religion and government

Practiced religious tolerance; social standing was flexible and depended on commercial success

Status determined by family name which was tied to land ownership; landowners dominated government and society in general; religious ties to Church of England (Anglican Church)

Founder and governor of the Georgia colony. He ran a tightly-disciplined, military-like colony. Focused on the rehabilitation of colonists many of whom were serving jail time before being sent to the New World

English Protestants who would not accept allegiance in any form to the Church of England. Included the Pilgrims and Quakers

A Puritan compromise that allowed the unconverted children of Puritans who had fallen away from the church to become halfway members of the church. The Covenant allowed these halfway members to baptize their own children even though they themselves were not full members of the church because they had not experienced full conversion.

Several accusations of witchcraft led to sensational trials in Salem, Massachusetts.

Religious revival in the American colonies of the eighteenth century during which a number of new Protestant churches were established.

Preacher during the First Great Awakening; "Sinners in the Hands of Angry God"

Christian preacher whose tour of the English colonies attracted big crowds and sparked the First Great Awakening.