APUSH TERMS TO KNOW

apush study guide

Federalists

Favored strong central gov’t, pro-British, manufacturing economy; led by Hamilton and Adams

Democratic-Republicans

Supported states’ rights, pro-French, agrarian economy; led by Jefferson and Madison

Democrats

Promoted Jacksonian democracy, westward expansion, appealed to the common man

Whigs

Anti-Jackson party, favored internal improvements and protective tariffs; led by Clay

Republicans (19th century)

Anti-slavery, supported business and moral reform; rose with Lincoln in the 1850s

Populists

1890s farmers’ party, supported free silver, direct election of senators

Progressives

Early 1900s reformers against corruption, trusts, and for women’s suffrage

Dixiecrats

Southern Democrats in 1948 who opposed civil rights

Modern Democrats

Support social programs, civil rights, government regulation (post-1930s)

Modern Republicans

Support limited gov’t, tax cuts, strong military (post-1960s)

Southern Strategy

Republican appeal to white voters in the South post-Civil Rights Act

Reagan Coalition

1980s conservative alliance of business, religious right, and Southern whites

Tea Party

2010s Republican movement favoring lower taxes, less federal government

Blue Dog Democrats

Centrist Democrats, often fiscally conservative, mostly in the South

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Colonies declare independence from Britain, listed grievances against the king

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Delegates drafted the U.S. Constitution, replacing the Articles of Confederation

Bill of Rights (1791)

First 10 amendments guaranteeing individual rights

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Doubled U.S. territory, purchased from France under Jefferson

War of 1812

Conflict with Britain over trade and impressment; increased U.S. nationalism

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Missouri enters as slave state, Maine as free, 36°30′ line drawn

Mexican-American War (1846–48)

U.S. gained vast Southwest territory including California

Compromise of 1850

California enters free, stricter Fugitive Slave Act, popular sovereignty in territories

Civil War (1861–65)

War between North and South over slavery and states’ rights

Reconstruction Acts (1867–77)

Military districts in the South; Southern states had to ratify 14th Amendment

Great Compromise (1787)

Bicameral legislature: House based on population, Senate equal

3/5 Compromise

Each enslaved person counted as 3/5 of a person for representation

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Admitted Missouri as slave, Maine as free, line drawn for future territories

Compromise Tariff (1833)

Eased Nullification Crisis by gradually reducing tariffs

Compromise of 1850

Five-part deal to ease sectional tensions over slavery

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

Allowed popular sovereignty, effectively repealing Missouri Compromise

Crittenden Compromise

Failed attempt to prevent Civil War by protecting slavery

Compromise of 1877

Ended Reconstruction; Hayes becomes president, troops leave South

Bill of Rights Compromise

Promised to Anti-Federalists to secure ratification of Constitution

Commerce Compromise

Congress could regulate trade, but couldn’t ban slave trade until 1808

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

Federal assumption of debt, national bank, tariffs, excise tax

Jackson’s Bank Veto

Destroyed the Second Bank of the U.S., led to Panic of 1837

Homestead Act (1862)

Gave free land to settlers who farmed it for 5 years

New Deal (1933+)

FDR’s programs to fight the Great Depression with jobs and reform

Great Society (1960s)

LBJ’s plan to end poverty and racial injustice; Medicare, education aid

Reaganomics

Tax cuts, deregulation, trickle-down economic theory

Affordable Care Act (2010)

Expanded healthcare access and insurance coverage

GI Bill (1944)

Provided WWII veterans with education and housing assistance

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Forced relocation of Native Americans; led to Trail of Tears

Civil Rights Act (1964)

Ended segregation and outlawed major forms of discrimination

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

Bank, assumption of debt, excise taxes, tariffs

Tariff of Abominations (1828)

High tariff angered the South, led to Nullification Crisis

Panic of 1837

Caused by Jackson’s bank policies; widespread bank failures

National Banking Acts (1860s)

Created a uniform banking system and currency

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

Outlawed monopolies; first federal law regulating big business

Federal Reserve Act (1913)

Established central bank to control money supply

New Deal Programs

Relief, recovery, and reform efforts during the Great Depression

Keynesian Economics

Government spending boosts economy during downturns

Reagan Tax Cuts

Supply-side policies reducing taxes to stimulate investment

Stimulus Packages (2008, 2020)

Government funds to combat economic crises

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

Set precedent of avoiding foreign entanglements

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Opposed European interference in the Western Hemisphere

Mexican-American War

Expanded U.S. territory to the Pacific

Spanish-American War (1898)

Gained Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico; U.S. becomes imperial power

WWI Entry (1917)

Turned tide of war, U.S. becomes major global player

WWII (1941–45)

Total war effort; ended Depression; U.S. becomes superpower

Truman Doctrine

Aid to nations resisting communism; began Cold War

Vietnam War

Unpopular conflict; led to protests and distrust in government

Persian Gulf War (1991)

U.S. defends Kuwait, shows military dominance post-Cold War

War on Terror (2001+)

Initiated by 9/11; wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

Naturalization Act (1790)

Limited citizenship to free white men

Irish & German Immigration (1840s–50s)

Mass migration due to famine and revolution

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

First major immigration restriction law

Ellis Island Opens (1892)

Main port of entry for European immigrants

National Origins Act (1924)

Set quotas favoring Northern Europeans

Bracero Program

Temporary labor program for Mexican workers during WWII

Immigration Act of 1965

Abolished quotas, increased Asian and Latin American immigration

Mariel Boatlift (1980)

Mass Cuban migration to U.S. under Carter

DREAM Act Debates

Proposals to protect undocumented youth

DACA (2012)

Obama policy protecting Dreamers from deportation

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between Old and New Worlds

Jamestown (1607)

First permanent English colony in North America

Mayflower Compact (1620)

Self-government agreement by Pilgrims

Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)

Colonial revolt; showed tension between rich and poor

First Great Awakening

Religious revival movement in the colonies

French and Indian War (1754–63)

Conflict over Ohio Valley; led to British debt and taxes

Stamp Act (1765)

Direct tax on printed goods; led to protests

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Colonists protest Tea Act; leads to Intolerable Acts

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Formal break from Britain; justified with Enlightenment ideas

Constitution Ratified (1788)

Created stronger federal government; replaced Articles

Cotton Gin (1793)

Revolutionized cotton production; expanded slavery

Telegraph (1844)

Instant long-distance communication

Railroads

Expanded transportation, commerce, and settlement

Steel Plow / Reaper

Enabled farming of the Great Plains

Light Bulb (1879)

Extended work hours and industrial productivity

Assembly Line (1913)

Mass production; used by Henry Ford for cars