Chapter 5 - Colonial Society On The Eve Of Revolution (1700-1775)

Front 1

Royal Colonies

Back 1

Colonies where governors were appointed directly by the king. Though often competent administrators, the governors frequently ran into trouble with colonial legislators, which presented the imposition of control from across the Atlantic.

Front 2

Triangular Trade

Back 2

Exchange of rum, slaves, and molasses between the North American colonies, Africa, and the west Indies. A small but immensely profitable subset of the Atlantic trade.

Front 3

Zenger Trial

Back 3

(1734-1735) New York libel case against John Peters Zenger. Established the principle that truthful statements about public officials could not be prosecuted as libel.

Front 4

Arminianism

Back 4

Belief that salvation is offered to all humans but is conditional on acceptance of God's grace. Different from Calvinism, which emphasizes predestination and unconditional election.

Front 5

Great Awakening

Back 5

(1730s and 1740s) Religious revival that swept the colonies. Participating ministers, most notably Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, placing emphasis on direct, emotive spirituality. A second Great Awakening arose in the 19th century.

Front 6

Molasses Act

Back 6

(1737) Tax on imported molasses passed by Parliament in an effort to squelch the North American trade with the French West Indies. It proved largely ineffective due to widespread smuggling.

Front 7

New Lights

Back 7

Ministers who took part in the revivalist, emotive religious tradition pioneered by George Whitefield during the great awakening.

Front 8

Old Lights

Back 8

Orthodox clergyman who rejected the emotionalism of the Great Awakening in favor of a more rational spirituality.

Front 9

Paxton Boys

Back 9

(1764) Armed march on Philadelphia by Scotts-Irish frontiersman and protest against the Quaker establishment's lenient policies toward Native Americans.

Front 10

Poor Richard's Almanack

Back 10

(1732-1758) Widely read annual pamphlet evident by Benjamin Franklin. Best known for its proverbs and for reasons emphasizing thrift, industry, morality, and common sense.

Front 11

Propriety Colonies

Back 11

Colonies-Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware-under the control of local proprietors, who pointed corneal governors.

Front 12

Regulator Movement

Back 12

(1768-1771) Eventually violent uprising of backcountry settlers in North Carolina against unfair taxation and the control of colonial affairs by the seaboard elite.