AP U.S. History Comprehensive Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering major eras and concepts in U.S. History, from Westward Expansion through the Cold War and social movements.

Westward Expansion

The movement of Americans across the continent during the 1800s driven by economic opportunity, nationalism, and the belief in Manifest Destiny.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

A major land acquisition that doubled the size of the United States.

Homestead Act (1862)

An act passed to encourage westward settlement by providing land for farming.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the United States was destined by God to expand across North America.

Gold Rush (1848–1855)

The period following the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill, which led to the 49ers rushing to California and its rapid statehood.

Emancipation Proclamation

A major event of the Civil War that declared the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate territories.

13th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that granted citizenship and equal protection under the law.

15th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that established voting rights for Black men.

Reconstruction (1865–1877)

The era following the Civil War focused on rebuilding the South, reintegrating Confederate states, and protecting the rights of freedmen.

Compromise of 1877

The event that marked the end of Reconstruction and led to the rise of Jim Crow laws.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

A Supreme Court case that established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, justifying legal segregation.

Vertical Integration

A big business concept where a single company controls all phases of production.

Horizontal Integration

A big business strategy involving the merger of companies within the same industry to create a monopoly.

Gilded Age

A period characterized by a huge wealth gap, political machines, and rapid urban growth.

Progressive Era (1890s–1920s)

A period of political, social, and economic reforms aimed at fixing problems caused by industrialization.

Muckrakers

Journalists who exposed corruption and social issues, such as Upton Sinclair in 'The Jungle' and Ida Tarbell regarding Standard Oil.

Nativism

A policy or belief favoring native-born inhabitants over immigrants, leading to laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

MAIN (WWI Causes)

The four primary causes of World War I: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.

Containment

The U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War focused on stopping the spread of communism.

Truman Doctrine

A U.S. policy providing economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark Civil Rights Movement event that challenged school segregation.

Civil Rights Act (1964)

A major piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Articles of Confederation Weaknesses

Early governing document issues including no president, no power to tax, and a weak central government.

Federalism

A principle of the Constitution that shares power between the national and state governments.

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of goods, diseases, animals, and ideas between Europe and the Americas, leading to increased global trade and massive Native American deaths.

19th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote.

Stonewall Riots

A pivotal event in the LGBTQ+ social movement.