Chapter 3: Colonial Ways Of Life

Front 1

Indentured Servants

Back 1

A person that in exchange for passage to the New World must work for a number of years on their employers' plantation. This contract helped populate the colonies and fueled production of crops, which in turn created a successful economy in America.

Front 2

Cash Crops

Back 2

Crops that were profitable in the mother country; such a success that it became highly depended on for income. The prosperity gained from such crops encouraged colonists to populate the colonies with dreams of similar triumph.

Front 3

Headright System

Back 3

Land offered by the Virginia Company to encourage investors to bring more colonists with them. The head right system was one of many solutions to supply laborers to the bountiful land available in the New World.

Front 4

Stono Rebellion

Back 4

An uprising organized by slaves in South Carolina that resulted in planters cutting of turn heads of the rebels and stacking them at every mile post. Many rebellions similar to this occured and had severe consequences, a perfect example of the social hierarchy that existed in the colonies.

Front 5

Triangular Trade

Back 5

A pattern of trade, exchanging goods between the Americas, Europe, and West Africa. This exchange was vital to the economics of all parties. It provided Europe with many natural resources, Africa with rum, and the colonies with manufactured goods and slaves.

Front 6

Half-way Covenant

Back 6

A rule in Boston that allowed less committed children of godly church members to receive baptism but prevented them from voting and receiving communion within the church. There was an evident stress of the importance of religion within New England communities the church had a great deal of influence on the community through its' part in every persons' life.

Front 7

John Peter Zenger Trial

Back 7

Zenger was a writer that criticized New York's governor in his newspaper. He was found not guilty at trial; his freedom emboldened other editors to publish criticisms more freely.

Front 8

Salem Witch Trials

Back 8

At the word of a group of adolescent girls three females were tried for witch craft, followed by a frenzy of other accusations and persecutions. Historians speculate that such panic was likely contribute by tensions within the community caused by a shift from religious to political control.

Front 9

Enlightenment

Back 9

A burst of intellectual activity that prized rational inquiry, scientific discoveries, and individual freedom. Societies begin to rely less on religion for guidance and more on "rational" ideas and ideals.

Front 10

John Locke

Back 10

An English Enlightenment philosopher who hypothesized that humanity was a product of environment and could be improved through Reason. His writings encouraged a high level of thinking for the benefit of entire communities.

Front 11

Benjamin Franklin

Back 11

The man that epitomized Enlightenment thinking through his study of medicine, meteorology, geology, astronomy,and physics. He reduced God to simply a creator. In pursuit of thinking rationally to obtain understanding of natural laws and forces. This mentality opened society to the belief that people have the capacity to unlock mysteries of the universe.

Front 12

Great Awakening

Back 12

A time of remarkable spiritual revival after a period of religious decline following the Enlightenment. Through the efforts of Johnathan Edwards, people came back to the church, revived with new religious fervor.

Front 13

Johnathan Edwards

Back 13

An intelligent scholar as well as a passionate Christian; saw the decline in church-goers and spoke adamantly of basic beliefs in order to reignite religious devotion. His efforts spurred the Great Awakening that restored the church to the center of the people's lives.

Front 14

George Whitefield

Back 14

An eloquent speaker with a powerful voice which he used to compel listeners to return to Christ through "new birth". He urged followers to feel the Holy Spirit as a salvation reached them. His riveting preaching contributed immensely to the Great Awakening.