The Colonial Era 1400-1760

An American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Benjamin Franklin. He was a key figure in the American Revolution and helped draft the Declaration of Independence.

An Italian explorer, navigator and colonist who completed four voyages across the Atlantic. Christopher Columbus. He is known for discovering the Americas in 1492, which opened the way for European exploration and colonization.

The knights, soldiers, and explorers of the Spanish and the Portuguese Empire. Conquistador. A conquistador was a Spanish or Portuguese explorer and soldier who participated in the conquest of the Americas in the 16th century.

A Spanish labor system that rewarded conquerors with the labor of subject people. Encomienda. It was a colonial system where Spanish settlers were granted control over local communities, obliging the indigenous people to work for them.

A period of intellectual ferment in the thirteen American colonies which led to the American Revolution. Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was a time when people emphasized reason, science, and individual rights over tradition and authority.

Pitted the colonies of British America against those of New France, each side supported by American Indian allies. French and Indian War. It was a conflict from 1754 to 1763 that led to British dominance in North America.

A number of periods of religious revival in American Christian history. Great Awakening. The Great Awakening refers to several periods of intense religious revival and enthusiasm in American history, significantly shaping the nation's religious landscape.

The first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Jamestown. Jamestown was the first successful English colony in Virginia, founded in 1607.

A business entity in which shares of the company's stock can be bought and sold by shareholders. Joint-stock company. In history, a joint-stock company was a precursor to modern corporations where investors pooled their money to fund ventures, like colonial expeditions, sharing profits and risks.

A national economic policy that is designed to maximize the exports, and minimize the imports. Mercantilism. Mercantilism is a historical economic theory where countries aimed to increase wealth by exporting more than they imported.

The triangular trade in which millions of Africans were forcibly transported to the New World. Middle Passage. The Middle Passage was the horrific sea journey that enslaved Africans endured from Africa to the Americas.