Chapter 2 Vocab: Early American History

Question 1

Group of people that make laws

Answer 1

Legislature

Question 2

A written paper that provides info or proof of something

Answer 2

Document

Question 3

Power or influence over other people or groups

Answer 3

Authority

Question 4

When something is allowed

Answer 4

Granted

Question 5

Ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later, similar case

Answer 5

Precedent

Question 6

System of law based on precedent and customs

Answer 6

Common law

Question 7

Freedoms people possess relating to life, liberty, and property

Answer 7

Natural rights

Question 8

An agreement among people in a society with a gov’t

Answer 8

Social contract

Question 9

Group of people in one place who are ruled by a parent country elsewhere

Answer 9

Colony

Question 10

Investors provide partial ownership in a company organized for profit

Answer 10

Joint stock company

Question 11

Written document granting land and the authority to set up colonial gov’ts

Answer 11

Charter

Question 12

An agreement or contract among a group of people

Answer 12

Compact

Question 13

Area with owner controlled land and gov’t

Answer 13

Proprietary colony

Question 14

A colonial area of land controlled directly by a king or other monarch

Answer 14

Royal colony

Question 15

Colony with an elected gov’t in which elected rulers are able to make most decisions w/out referring to the colonial power

Answer 15

Self-governing colony

Question 16

Those who followed a religious faith other than the official religion of england

Answer 16

Religious dissenter

Question 17

Acceptance of other groups such as religious groups

Answer 17

Tolerance

Question 18

Workers who contracted w/american colonists for food and shelter in return for their labor

Answer 18

Indentured servants

Question 19

Condition in which one person is owned as property by another and is under the owner’s control

Answer 19

Slavery

Question 20

Large estate

Answer 20

Plantation

Question 21

Pattern of trade that developed in colonial times among the americas, africa, and europe

Answer 21

Triangular trade

Question 22

Philosophy of spirit of equality

Answer 22

Egalitarianism

Question 23

Theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys

Answer 23

Mercantilism

Question 24

Refusal to purchase certain goods

Answer 24

Boycott

Question 25

To cancel a law

Answer 25

Repeal

Question 26

A representative to a meeting

Answer 26

Delegates

Question 27

Self reliance and freedom from outside control

Answer 27

Independence

Question 28

Violent uprising against an authority or gov’t

Answer 28

Insurrection

Question 29

A meeting of the voters of a town for the transaction of a public business

Answer 29

Town meeting

Question 30

Group or people who are responsible for making the laws in some kinds of gov’t

Answer 30

Parliament

Question 31

Political system in which legalized force is restricted through delegated and enumerated powers

Answer 31

Limited gov’t

Question 32

King or queen

Answer 32

Monarch