American Colonists
Definition
The American colonists were people who left their native countries, primarily England, to settle in what is now the United States during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Analogy
Think of the American colonists like a group of friends who decide to move out of their parents' houses (England) and start living on their own in a new neighborhood (America). They have to learn how to govern themselves, deal with new neighbors (Native Americans), and manage resources.
Related terms
Pilgrims: These were early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts. They came over on the Mayflower seeking religious freedom.
Puritans: A religious group that wanted to purify the Church of England from within. Many migrated to America in the early 17th century and settled in New England.
Loyalists/Tories: These were American colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution.
"American Colonists" appears in:
Practice Questions (5)
Which law prohibited the American colonists from settling west of Appalachia?
What event marked an important escalation in tensions between British troops and American colonists leading up to the Revolutionary War?
Which event directly resulted in the growing tension between the American colonists and the British government regarding 'Taxation Without Representation'?
What British policy led to resentment amongst American colonists culminating in the slogan, 'No Taxation Without Representation'?
How did the concepts of liberty differ between American colonists and British authorities leading up to the American Revolution?
Resources
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