APUSH periods 3-5

Articles of Confederation

First constitution of the United States (1781-1789). Created a weak central government with no executive or judicial branch and no power to tax or regulate trade.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which resulted in the drafting of the new U.S. Constitution.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Political debate over ratification of the Constitution. Federalists supported a strong central government while Anti-Federalists feared tyranny and demanded a Bill of Rights.

Washington's Presidency

Established many precedents including the cabinet system, two-term limit, and neutrality in foreign affairs.

Alexander Hamilton's Financial Plan

As Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton proposed assumption of state debts, creation of a national bank, and protective tariffs to strengthen federal authority.

Election of 1800

Known as the 'Revolution of 1800,' marked the first peaceful transfer of power between opposing political parties in the U.S. Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) defeated John Adams (Federalist).

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, giving the Court power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.

Second Great Awakening

Religious revival movement in the early 19th century that emphasized emotional conversion experiences and led to various reform movements including temperance, women's rights, and abolition.

Jacksonian Democracy

Political philosophy associated with Andrew Jackson that emphasized greater participation of common citizens in government and expansion of voting rights to all white men.

Market Revolution

Economic transformation marked by improvements in transportation (Erie Canal, railroads), communication, and manufacturing that accelerated the American economy and changed society.

Cotton Gin

Invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, this device revolutionized cotton production, making plantation slavery more profitable and expanding cotton cultivation across the South.

Industrial Revolution in America

Transition from hand production to machine manufacturing, primarily in textiles in New England, creating new social classes and economic systems.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Acquisition of approximately 827,000 square miles of territory from France for $15 million, doubling the size of the United States.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Foreign policy statement declaring that European powers should no longer colonize or interfere with affairs in the Americas.

Manifest Destiny

Belief that American settlers were destined to expand across North America, justifying westward expansion and territorial acquisition.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

Conflict between the U.S. and Mexico resulting from the U.S. annexation of Texas. Ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, adding California and the Southwest to U.S. territory.

Popular enthusiasm for U.S. expansion

Bolstered by economic and security interests, resulted in the acquisition of new territories and substantial migration westward.

Territorial Acquisitions of Period 5

Mexican Cession (1848), Gadsden Purchase (1853), and developments in the Oregon Territory expanded U.S. borders to the Pacific Ocean.

Gold Rush of 1849

Discovery of gold in California led to massive migration westward, rapid population growth in the territory, and California's quick path to statehood.

Compromise of 1850

Series of laws addressing slavery issues following the Mexican-American War. Included California's admission as a free state, stronger Fugitive Slave Act, and ban on slave trade in Washington D.C.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

Legislation that repealed the Missouri Compromise by allowing popular sovereignty to determine slavery in Kansas and Nebraska territories. Led to 'Bleeding Kansas' violence.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Supreme Court decision declaring that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in U.S. territories.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

Series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during Illinois Senate race, focusing largely on slavery expansion that helped define the national debate.

Election of 1860

Victory of Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party without any Southern electoral votes, triggering the secession of Southern states and the Civil War.

Civil War (1861-1865)

Conflict between the Union and the Confederacy that began with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter and ended with Confederate surrender at Appomattox.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

President Lincoln's executive order that declared all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free, changing the nature of the Civil War to include abolition as a war aim.

Reconstruction (1865-1877)

Period following the Civil War when the federal government attempted to reintegrate Confederate states into the Union and establish new conditions for Southern society.

13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

'Reconstruction Amendments' that abolished slavery (13th), granted citizenship and equal protection to former slaves (14th), and prohibited denial of voting rights based on race (15th).

Compromise of 1877

Resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election by awarding Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in exchange for removing federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction.

Proclamation of 1763

British law prohibiting colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains after the French and Indian War. Aimed to reduce conflicts with Native Americans but angered colonists seeking western expansion.

Seven Years' War (French and Indian War)

Global conflict (1754–1763) between Britain and France over territorial claims in North America. British victory led to French expulsion from Canada but increased colonial tensions over taxation and frontier policies.

Stamp Act (1765)

Direct tax on printed materials in the colonies, including newspapers and legal documents. Sparked widespread protests under the slogan 'No taxation without representation' and led to the Stamp Act Congress.

Boston Massacre (1770)

Clash between British soldiers and Boston protesters, resulting in five deaths. Propaganda like Paul Revere's engraving galvanized anti-British sentiment and became a rallying cry for revolution.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Punitive laws passed after the Boston Tea Party, including the closure of Boston Harbor and suspension of Massachusetts’ self-government. Unified colonies against British oppression.

Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

Native American uprising against British post-war policies in the Great Lakes region. Led to the Proclamation of 1763 and heightened tensions between colonists and the Crown.

Hartford Convention (1814–1815)

Meeting of New England Federalists during the War of 1812 to discuss grievances, including opposition to the embargo and war. Marked the decline of the Federalist Party.

Temperance Movement

Social campaign to reduce alcohol consumption, led by groups like the American Temperance Society. Reflected broader reform efforts during the Second Great Awakening.

Whig Party

Political party opposing Andrew Jackson’s policies. Supported federal infrastructure projects, protective tariffs, and modernization.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Supreme Court ruling affirming Cherokee sovereignty in Georgia. President Jackson ignored the decision, leading to the Trail of Tears.

Crittenden Compromise (1860)

Failed proposal to extend the Missouri Compromise line westward, aiming to prevent secession. Rejected by Lincoln and Republicans.

Anaconda Plan

Union strategy to blockade Southern ports and control the Mississippi River, strangling the Confederacy’s economy during the Civil War.

Black Codes (1865–1866)

Southern laws restricting African Americans’ freedoms post-Civil War, prompting Congressional Reconstruction and the 14th Amendment.

Sharecropping System

Post-war agricultural system where freedmen rented land in exchange for a share of crops. Perpetuated economic dependency and racial inequality.

Enforcement Acts (1870–1871)

Federal laws targeting KKK violence and voter suppression. Demonstrated Reconstruction-era efforts to protect African American rights.

Crispus Attucks

African American sailor killed in the Boston Massacre. Symbolized colonial resistance and later became an icon of abolitionist movements.

Daniel Shays

Revolutionary War veteran who led Shays’ Rebellion (1786–1787) against economic injustices in Massachusetts. Highlighted weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

John C. Calhoun

South Carolina senator and advocate for states’ rights, nullification, and slavery. Embodied Southern sectional interests preceding the Civil War.

Radical Republicans

Congressional faction demanding harsh Reconstruction policies toward the South and civil rights for freedmen. Pushed for the 14th and 15th Amendments.