Key Definitions Flashcards
Define Hegemony
Leadership or Dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.
Define Mercantilism
The belief that the colonies existed to serve the economic interests of Britain.
Define Colony
An area under the full political control of Britain.
Define Salutary Neglect
A detached policy of governance in which the colonies were mostly “left alone”.
Define Indentured Servant
Four years of servitude for payment of travel expenses to colonial America.
Define Royal Governor
Appointed by the monarch to deal with internal administration and law enforcement. Served an average term of 5 years in office.
Define Enlightenment
Intellectual movement of the 17th/18th centuries emphasising individualism and reason.
Define Colonial Agent
Representatives of the individual colonies based in Britain.
Define Proclamation Line
Boundary for colonial settlement set in 1763.
Define Appalachians
A mountain range that stretches from Canada to Alabama.
Define Despotism
The exercise of absolute power, in a cruel and oppressive way.
Define Whiggism
Those who once upheld popular rights of Parliament and oppressed Royal power.
Define Arbitrary Power
Power that is not bound by rules, allowing a monarch to do as they wish.
Define Stamp Duty
A tax on legal documents.
Define Levied
Imposition of a fee or tax
Define Liberty Tree
An actual, but also symbolic, tree in Boston representing freedom from tyranny.
Define Sons of Liberty
Semi secret society engaged in opposition movement against British tyranny.
Define Circular Letter
A letter of which copies are sent to several people.
Define East India Company
A powerful company that controlled much of Britain’s trade with India.
Define Tea agent
Men responsible for collecting Tea duties.
Define Minutemen
Elite force of younger colonists within the Massachusetts militia.
Define Creditor
Those wealthy enough to lend money to
Congress and to individuals.
Define Debtors
Those who had received loans and had to pay them back following the war.
Define Specie
Gold or coined money.
Define Certificates of public credit
Printed statements recognising that the holders were owed money by the government.
Define Amendment
A formal or official change added to a constitution.
Define Ratification
The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract or agreement, making it officially valid.
Define Federalists
Supporters of the constitution.
Define Anti-Federalists
Critics of the constitution.
Define Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution 1789.
