AP U.S. History Unit Periodization and Key Chronological Dates (Units 1–6)

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering start/end periodization rationales and key chronological dates for U.S. History Units 1 through 6.

Unit 1 Periodization (1491–1607)

Spans from 1491 (the last year before European contact) to 1607 (the founding of Jamestown).

Treaty of Tordesillas

Key chronological event in Unit 1 occurring in 1494.

Encomienda Begins

Key chronological event in Unit 1 occurring in 1512.

Transatlantic Slave Trade (Unit 1)

Key chronological development in Unit 1 beginning in 1525.

Unit 2 Periodization (1607–1754)

Spans from 1607 (the founding of Jamestown) to 1754 (the beginning of the Seven Years War).

Founding of Quebec

Key chronological event in Unit 2 occurring in 1608.

First Slave Sold in Virginia

Key chronological event in Unit 2 occurring in 1619.

Founding of Plymouth Colony

Key chronological event in Unit 2 occurring in 1620.

Beaver Wars

Key chronological conflict in Unit 2 occurring in the 1640s.

New Amsterdam Captured (Now New York)

Key chronological event in Unit 2 occurring in 1664.

Metacom's War

Key chronological conflict in Unit 2 occurring in 1675.

Bacon's Rebellion

Key chronological uprising in Unit 2 occurring in 1676.

Pueblo Revolt

Key chronological uprising in Unit 2 occurring in 1680.

First Great Awakening

Key religious revival movement in Unit 2 occurring in the 1730s.

Unit 3 Periodization (1754–1800)

Spans from 1754 (the beginning of the Seven Years War) to 1800 (the Jefferson 'Revolution' of 1800).

Pontiac's Rebellion

Key chronological conflict in Unit 3 occurring in 1763.

Proclamation of 1763

Key British policy measure in Unit 3 issued in 1763.

Stamp Act

Key chronological British tax act in Unit 3 enacted in 1765.

Boston Tea Party

Key chronological colonial protest in Unit 3 occurring in 1773.

Battles of Lexington & Concord

Opening military engagements of the American Revolution in Unit 3, occurring in 1775.

Alliance Between France & US

Key diplomatic agreement during the Revolutionary War in Unit 3, formed in 1778.

Battle of Yorktown

Decisive military engagement of the Revolutionary War in Unit 3, fought in 1781.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Key diplomatic peace treaty formally concluding the American Revolutionary War in Unit 3.

Shays' Rebellion

Key chronological uprising in Unit 3 occurring in 1786.

Constitutional Convention

Assembly convened in Unit 3 to frame the United States Constitution in 1787.

Washington's First Term Begins

Key presidential milestone in Unit 3 occurring in 1789.

Bill of Rights Ratified

Key constitutional milestone in Unit 3 occurring in 1791.

Whiskey Rebellion

Key chronological uprising in Unit 3 occurring in 1794.

Washington's Farewell Address

Key presidential address in Unit 3 delivered in 1796.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Key federal legislative acts passed in Unit 3 during 1798.

Jefferson Elected President / 'Revolution' of 1800

Key political transition occurring in 1800 that marks the end of Unit 3 and the start of Unit 4.

Unit 4 Periodization (1800–1848)

Spans from 1800 (the Jefferson 'Revolution' of 1800) to 1848 (the Seneca Falls Convention).

Louisiana Purchase

Key territorial acquisition in Unit 4 occurring in 1803.

Embargo Act

Key chronological trade policy enacted in Unit 4 in 1807.

International Slave Trade Ends

Key legislative milestone in Unit 4 taking effect in 1808.

War of 1812

Major military conflict in Unit 4 beginning in 1812.

Treaty of Ghent / Battle of New Orleans

Key diplomatic peace treaty and associated battle in Unit 4 occurring in 1815.

Missouri Compromise

Key legislative agreement on the expansion of slavery in Unit 4 passed in 1820.

Monroe Doctrine

Key foreign policy proclamation in Unit 4 issued in 1823.

Election of Andrew Jackson

Key presidential election in Unit 4 occurring in 1828.

Nat Turner's Rebellion

Key slave rebellion in Unit 4 occurring in 1831.

Nullification Crisis

Key sectional crisis over federal tariffs in Unit 4 occurring in 1832.

Indian Removal Act (Unit 4 Date)

Key chronological legislative act in Unit 4 listed under the year 1832.

Second Great Awakening Peaks

Peak era of the second major Protestant religious revival, occurring in the 1830s in Unit 4.

Texas wins Independence

Key chronological territorial event in Unit 4 occurring in 1836.

Seneca Falls Convention

Key women's rights convention occurring in 1848, serving as the end date rationale for Unit 4.

Unit 5 Periodization (1844–1877)

Spans from 1844 (the election of James Polk and expansionism) to 1877 (the Compromise of 1877).

Annexation of Texas

Key territorial acquisition in Unit 5 occurring in 1845.

War with Mexico Begins

Key military conflict in Unit 5 beginning in 1846.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Key peace treaty concluding the Mexican-American War in Unit 5, signed in 1848.

Compromise of 1850

Key congressional package resolving territorial and slavery issues in Unit 5, passed in 1850.

Bleeding Kansas

Key period of violent sectional conflict in Unit 5 occurring in 1855.

Dred Scott Decision

Key Supreme Court ruling regarding citizenship and slavery in Unit 5, handed down in 1857.

John Brown's Failed Uprising

Key raid on Harpers Ferry in Unit 5 occurring in 1859.

Election of Abraham Lincoln

Key presidential election in Unit 5 occurring in 1860.

South Carolina Secedes

Key initial act of Southern secession in Unit 5 occurring in 1860.

Emancipation Proclamation

Key wartime presidential proclamation issued in Unit 5 in 1863.

Lee's Surrender at Appomattox

Key event ending major Confederate resistance in Unit 5, occurring in 1865.

Assassination of Lincoln

Key presidential assassination in Unit 5 occurring in 1865.

Reconstruction Acts Passed

Key congressional legislation restructuring the South in Unit 5, passed in 1867.

Impeachment of Johnson

Key congressional confrontation in Unit 5 occurring in 1868.

14th Amendment Ratified

Key constitutional amendment guaranteeing citizenship and equal protection, ratified in 1868 in Unit 5.

Enforcement Act (Ku Klux Klan Act)

Key federal legislation protecting civil rights in Unit 5, passed in 1871.

Compromise of 1877

Political compromise resolving the 1876 election, ending Reconstruction and marking the end date of Unit 5.

Unit 6 Periodization (1865–1898)

Spans from 1865 (the end of the Civil War) to 1898 (the beginning of the Spanish American War).

First Transcontinental RR Completed

Key transportation milestone in Unit 6 completed in 1869.

Knights of Labor Founded

Key national labor union in Unit 6 founded in 1869.

Panic of 1873

Key economic downturn listed across Units 5 and 6, occurring in 1873.

Sioux Wars / Little Bighorn

Key military conflict and battle in Unit 6 occurring in 1876.

Great Railroad Strike

Key nationwide labor strike in Unit 6 occurring in 1877.

Haymarket Square Riot

Key labor protest and violent incident in Unit 6 occurring in 1886.

American Federation of Labor Founded

Key national labor organization founded in Unit 6 in 1886.

Dawes Act

Key federal policy on Native American land allotment passed in Unit 6 in 1887.

Interstate Commerce Act Passed

Key federal regulatory act in Unit 6 passed in 1887.

Hull House Opened

Key settlement house initiative in Unit 6 opened in 1889.

Sherman Antitrust Act Passed

Key federal antitrust regulation in Unit 6 passed in 1890.

Homestead Strike

Key industrial labor dispute in Unit 6 occurring in 1892.

Panic of 1893

Key economic depression in Unit 6 beginning in 1893.

Pullman Strike

Key nationwide railroad labor strike in Unit 6 occurring in 1894.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Key landmark Supreme Court decision upholding racial segregation in Unit 6, decided in 1896.

Bryan's 'Cross of Gold' Speech

Key political address delivered by William Jennings Bryan in Unit 6 in 1896.