APUSH Ultimate Review

Maize

refers to corn, a vital crop in the Americas that played a significant role in the development of various societies, especially in Mesoamerica

American Southwest

a region encompassing parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Utah, and some adjacent areas of California, Nevada, and Oklahoma. It's characterized by its dry climate, vast landscapes, and diverse indigenous cultures, particularly the Pueblo groups

Great Basin

a vast, arid region in North America characterized by its endorheic watersheds, meaning it has no outlet to the ocean, and its basin and range topograph

Great Plains

a vast, generally flat, or gently rolling landscape in North America, primarily in the central United States and western Canada. It's characterized by grasslands, prairies, and steppe vegetation, extending eastward from the Rocky Mountains

Mississippi River Valley

the vast floodplain along the Mississippi River and its tributaries, particularly the area between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains

Columbian Exchange

the widespread transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and people between the Old World (Europe, Asia, Africa) and the New World (Americas) following Columbus's voyage in 1492

Feudalism

a political and social system where landowning nobles (lords) controlled land and required peasants (vassals) to work it in exchange for protection and military service

Capitalism

an economic system where individuals own and control the means of production (land, resources, factories, etc.) for the purpose of making a profit

Joint Stock Companies

a business entity where investors pooled their money to finance a venture, with each investor receiving a share of the profits or losses

Encomienda System

a Spanish colonial labor system where colonists were granted the right to demand tribute and forced labor from indigenous populations in exchange for their protection and conversion to Christianity

Asiento System

a Spanish slave trade contract or agreement, primarily between the Spanish and other European powers, granting them the right to supply slaves to Spanish colonies in the Americas

Valladolid Debate

centered on the treatment and rights of Native Americans in the Spanish colonies. The debate pitted Bartolomé de las Casas, a Dominican friar, against Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, a humanist scholar, on the issue of whether Native Americans were morally and intellectually equal to Europeans.

Bartholomew De Las Casas

Spanish missionary and historian known for his advocacy for the rights of indigenous peoples in the Americas

Juan Ginés De Sepúlveda

known for his role in the Valladolid Debate (1550-1551), where he argued against Bartolomé de las Casas on the question of the treatment of indigenous populations in the Americas. Sepúlveda defended the Spanish conquest and colonization, arguing that Native Americans were "barbarians" and needed to be subjugated for their own "civilization" and Christianization

Chesapeake

region was characterized by its reliance on a large-scale plantation economy, particularly tobacco cultivation, and a growing reliance on enslaved labor after the decline of indentured servitude

North Carolina

a Southern colony known for its agricultural economy, particularly tobacco production, and its role in the American Revolution

Indentured Servants

individuals who signed a contract, also known as an indenture, to work for a specific period in exchange for passage to a new country, usually the American colonies

New England Colonies

a group of British colonies in the northeastern United States, primarily established in the early 17th century, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. These colonies were founded for religious reasons, with many settlers seeking freedom from religious persecution in England

Puritans

English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to "purify" the Church of England by removing Catholic influences. Many Puritans migrated to America, particularly the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Middle Colonies

the British colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, located between the New England and Southern colonies. They were known for their diverse population, fertile land, and a mixed economy that included both agriculture and industry

Southernmost Colonies

refer to Georgia and South Carolina, which were part of the broader Southern Colonies established in the 17th century. These colonies, along with others like Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina, were characterized by agriculture, plantations, and a reliance on enslaved labor

Salutary Neglect

the unofficial British policy of lax enforcement of laws and regulations, particularly regarding trade, in the American colonies from roughly the late 17th to mid-18th century

Town Meetings

a form of direct democracy in New England, where town residents gathered to make decisions about local governance, including electing officials, setting budgets, and enacting ordinances

King Philips War

a bloody 1675-1676 conflict in New England between Native Americans, primarily the Wampanoag, led by Metacom (King Philip), and English colonists. It represented the Native Americans' last-ditch effort to resist English expansion and maintain their land and autonomy

Pueblo Revolt

a 1680 uprising by Pueblo peoples in present-day New Mexico against Spanish colonial rule. It was a major success for the Pueblo, leading to the temporary expulsion of the Spanish and a period of independence

Pluralism

a society where diverse groups coexist and interact, maintaining their unique identities while participating in the political sphere

Great Awakening

a period of religious revival that swept through the American colonies between the 1730s and 1770s. It was characterized by a renewed interest in religion and a personal connection with God, moving away from the established churches and their rituals

Enlightenment

an intellectual and cultural movement in the 18th century that emphasized reason, science, and individual liberty over tradition and blind faith. It significantly influenced American colonies and their push for independence, emphasizing ideas like self-governance and natural rights

Mercantilism

an economic system where a nation seeks to maximize its exports and minimize its imports, aiming to accumulate wealth in the form of gold and silver

Act Of Toleration

granted religious freedom to all Christians, specifically to protect the Catholic minority in the colony

Mayflower Compact

a foundational document signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower ship, outlining a self-governing agreement for the newly formed Plymouth Colony

House Of Burgesses

the first democratically elected legislative body in the English colonies

Bacons Rebellion

the reason for the increase of importation of African slaves, but was also recognized as the rebellion that possessed a threat to the hierarchical class system due to the unity between white and black indentured servants

Navigation Acts

a key component of mercantilism, aimed to benefit the British economy by restricting colonial trade to English or colonial ships and requiring certain goods to be shipped through England first

Seven Years War

a global conflict fought between 1754 and 1763. It primarily involved Great Britain and France, with their respective colonial allies, including Native Americans, fighting for control of North America. The war resulted in significant British territorial gains in North America, but also led to increased colonial discontent with British policies and taxation

Proclamation of 1763

a British-issued boundary line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains after the French and Indian War. It forbade colonists from settling west of the line, intending to protect the land for Native Americans and prevent costly westward expansion

Patriot

a colonist who supported independence from British rule

Loyalist

a colonist who did not support independence from British rule

Natural Rights

inherent, fundamental rights that are not derived from human laws or governments but are considered to be possessed by all individuals simply by virtue of being huma

Thomas Paine

a crucial figure in the American Revolution whose pamphlet "Common Sense" played a significant role in mobilizing public support for independence

Common Sense

the influential 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine arguing for American independence from Great Britain. It played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and mobilizing support for the revolutionary cause by presenting clear, persuasive arguments for self-governance, natural rights, and the rejection of monarchy

Declaration of Independence

a formal statement, adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in which the thirteen American colonies declared their separation from the British Empire

Republican Motherhood

the post-Revolutionary War belief that women played a vital role in shaping the nation's character by educating their children in republican values and civic virtue

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States, drafted in 1777 and ratified in 1781. It established a weak central government with limited powers, primarily focused on national defense and foreign relations, while reserving significant power for the individual states

Constitutional Convention

purpose was to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and draft a new constitution to create a stronger central government for the United States

Federalism

a system of government where power is divided between a central (national) government and regional (state) governments

3/5 Compromise

a provision in the U.S. Constitution that determined how enslaved people would be counted for the purpose of representation and taxation in the new nation

Alexander Hamilton

played a crucial role in establishing the nation's financial system, advocating for a national bank, the payment of state debts at full value, and a manufacturing-based economy. His policies, often seen as a Federalist perspective, were a major point of contention with those who favored a more agrarian economy and stronger state governments