The Settlement of North America

The Spanish and Portuguese word for naval fleet armada. An armada is a large group of warships organized for battle, such as the Spanish Armada that attempted to invade England in 1588.

An English soldier who was a leader of the first settlements at the Virginia Colony. Captain John Smith. He played a crucial role in the establishment of Jamestown in 1607, one of the first successful English colonies in America.

An agricultural crop which is grown to sell for profit. Cash crop. In history, cash crops like cotton and tobacco were grown to be sold for money rather than for personal use by the farmer.

The grant of authority or rights. Charter. In History, a charter is a formal document that outlines and grants specific rights or privileges to groups or individuals, often used to establish cities or organizations.

An Indian Chief who led the political and military power facing the English colonists. Chief Powhatan. Chief Powhatan was a leader of a Native American confederacy in Virginia during the early 1600s, interacting with English settlers like those at Jamestown.

The Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death 1603. Elizabeth I. She was a powerful and influential monarch known for the Elizabethan Era, which was marked by the flourishing of English culture.

The first European who explored the Atlantic coast of North America Giovanni da Verrazzano. He was an Italian explorer who sailed for France in the early 16th century.

An English navigator, best known for his explorations of the northeastern America. Henry Hudson was a key explorer who helped map parts of North America, including the Hudson River and Hudson Bay.

The legislative body of the Colony of Virginia. House of Burgesses. The House of Burgesses was the first elected assembly in the American colonies, established in 1619.

A worker in a contract with an employer for a certain length of time. Indentured servant. In history, an indentured servant was someone who agreed to work for several years in exchange for passage to a new country or other benefits.

The first European to describe and map the Saint Lawrence River. Jacques Cartier. Jacques Cartier was a French explorer who claimed what is now Canada for France in the 16th century.

A Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement. Jacques Marquette. He was a French explorer and priest who played a key role in exploring and mapping the Mississippi River region in the 17th century.

The King of Scotland, England and Ireland, the first monarch to be called the king of Great Britain. James I. James I was the first ruler to unite the crowns of England and Scotland under one monarchy.

An Italian navigator, the first European who explored coastal North America. John Cabot was an explorer who sailed from England and helped open the way for future European exploration of the Americas.

A leader of Jamestown, credited with the cultivation of tobacco as an export crop. John Rolfe. John Rolfe was an early English settler who helped establish tobacco farming, turning it into a profitable export for the Virginia Colony.

An English explorer, artist and the governor of Roanoke Colony, John White. John White was a leader of the early attempts to establish a permanent English settlement in America.

Louis Jolliet was the first non-Native who explored the Mississippi River with Jacques Marquette. He was a French-Canadian explorer known for his joint expedition that mapped the Mississippi River.

The leader of the Wampanoag confederacy who allied with the Plymouth colonists. Massasoit. Massasoit was a Native American leader who helped the Pilgrims survive by forming a crucial alliance.

The first governing document of Plymouth Colony. Mayflower Compact. It is an agreement signed by the Pilgrims in 1620 to establish a basic form of government.

An English officer hired by the Pilgrims as military adviser for Plymouth Colony. Miles Standish was a soldier who helped protect and organize the early settlers in Plymouth Colony.

The sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean. Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage is a historic sea route explorers sought to connect Europe and Asia through the Arctic.

A Native American woman who converted to Christianity and married John Rolfe. Pocahontas was a Powhatan woman known for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia.

A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water. Portage. In history, portage refers to the practice of carrying boats and goods overland between navigable waters.

The difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market. Profit. In history, profit is the extra money businesses earn after selling goods for more than they cost to make.

A paramount chief among the Algonquians or other Indians of the northeast. Sachem. A sachem is a leader or chief of some Native American tribes in the Northeastern United States.

The first Native American to speak with the Pilgrims in Plymouth Colony was Samoset. Samoset was a Native American leader who made initial contact with the Pilgrims, helping to establish communication and cooperation.

A French navigator, colonist, and explorer who founded Quebec, Samuel de Champlain. He is known as the "Father of New France" for establishing the first permanent French settlement in Canada.

An English explorer who was instrumental in the English colonisation of North America. Sir Walter Raleigh. He was a key figure in establishing English settlements in the Americas.

A Native American who helped the Pilgrims survive in the New World. Squanto. Squanto was a Native American who taught the Pilgrims vital survival skills.

All of the shares into which ownership of the corporation is divided. Stock. In history, stock represents partial ownership in a company, first popularized in the 1600s with the Dutch East India Company.

The Governor of the Plymouth Colony 1621 - 1657. William Bradford. William Bradford was a leader and historian of the early Pilgrim settlement in America.