IM COOKED FOR APUSH

Benjamin Franklin

American Enlightenment Founding Father. Proposed the 1754 Albany Plan of Union and secured the 1778 French Alliance. Famously known for his “Join or Die” political cartoon to unite the British colonies during the French and Indian war.

Thomas Paine

Author of “Common Sense” in 1776, pamphlet that used plain language, understandable to the common man to shift American public opinion towards independence from Britain.

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army, President of the Constitutional Convention, and the first U.S. President. Established U.S. neutrality in foreign affairs, the cabinet system, and the two-term limit.

John Adams

A federalist and the second U.S. President. Primarily known for the Quasi-war, XYZ Affair, and the Alien and Sedition Acts. His single term is also known for foreign threats from France.

Thomas Jefferson

Democratic-Republican who became president following the Election of 1800s against John Adams. His election, the “Revolution of 1800s“, marked the first peaceful transfer of power between parties. Key events during his term consist of the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Embargo Act of 1807.

James Madison

Key Democratic-Republican leader, “Father of the Constitution”, and 4th U.S. President. Proposed the Virginia Plan, supporting a strong government. Led the U.S. through the war of 1812 against Britain that brought the nation into the Era of Good Feelings.

Alexander Hamilton

Key Federalist Founder, first Secretary of the Treasury, advocate for a strong central government. Famously known for his financial plan that created the first national bank, but was also directly responsible for the first political party system.

Henry Clay

Antebellum politician and Kentucky Whig known as the “Great Compromiser” and "Great Pacificator”. Famous for his American System, an economic plan that advocated protective tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements. He is also responsible for key sectional compromises (1820, 1850) to maintain Union stability.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th U.S. President that led the Union during the Civil War, with the goal of preserving the Union, and eventually abolishing slavery. Key actions consisted of the Emancipation Proclamation, expanding executive power (suspending habeas corpus), and promoting the 13th amendment (abolished slavery).

Jane Addams

Leading Progressive Era reformer and co-founder of Hull House Chicago (1889), a settlement house that provided education, childcare, and legal aid to immigrants and the poor. Key advocate for social justice, child labor laws, and women’s sufferage.

Woodrow Wilson

Progressive Democrat and U.S. President known for his “New Freedom” agenda, leading the U.S. through WWI, and advocating for the League of Nations. His term saw mass domestic reform (Federal Reserve, antitrust acts) and a shift to idealistic internationalism (Fourteen Points)

Franklon D. Roosevelt (FDR)

Democratic U.S. President that implemented the “New Deal”, establishing U.S. federal programs to combat the Great Depression by attempting to provide Relief, Recovery, and Reform (the “3 Rs”). He established the Social Security safety net, and “alphabet soup” agencies (WPA, CCC, TVA). Known for “Fireside Chats,” the “First 100 Days,” and for fundamentally expanding the federal government’s role in the economy.

Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ)

U.S. President (1963-1969) that dramtically expanded American liberalism through his “Great Society” program, aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice. His term marked the peak of modern liberalism through the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Medicare/Medicaid, and the “War on Poverty,” but was ultimately overshadowed by Vietnam War escalation.

Martin Luther King Jr.

African American leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, championing nonviolent civil disobedience to dismantle segregation and secure voting rights. Leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), organized the 1963 March on Washington, and key in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Ronald Reagan

U.S. President (1981-1989) who focused on “Reaganomics” (supply-side economics), tax cuts, deregulation, increased defense spending, and a hardline anti-communist stance, leading to Cold War negotiations with the Soviet Union and the Iran-Contra affair. His election marked a turning point from New Deal liberalism to a new conservative coalition (New Right).

Andrew Jackson

U.S. President (1829-1837) who was also known as the “Champion of the Common Man”. He expanded presidential power through Jacksonian Democracy. Key developments during his term consist of universal white male suffrage, the Spoils System, the Bank War, the Nullification Crisis, and the forced Indian Removal Act.

1491

Pre-Columbian contact

1607

The establishment of Jamestown, Virginia, by the Virginia Company of London. Marked the first permanent English settlement in North America.

1754

The beginning of the French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War) and the Albany Plan of Union (Albany Conference), marking the first sign of unity between the British colonies.

1800

The election of 1800s, and often labeled “Revolution of 1800s“, marking the first peaceful transfer of power between two political parties.

1848

The end of the Mexican-American war following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

1877

The end of Southern Reconstruction when Republican Rutherford B. Hayes wins the presidency in exchange for withdrawing federal troops from the South.

1865

The start of the Gilded Age following the Civil War, characterized by rapid industrialization, urbanization, westward expansion, and the rise of big businesses.

1898

Marks the end of the Gilded Age and the start of the Spanish-American war.

1945

The end of WWII following the bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasakil, solidifying the U.S. as a global superpower.

1980

Following the election of Ronald Reagan, signaling a resurgence of conservatism.

1844

The beginning of Manifest Destiny and rapid westward expansion following Texas annexation and Oregon territory acquisition.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review, Supreme can declare acts of congress and executive actions unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established federal supremacy over states, congress has implied powers under “Necessary and Proper Clause” to create a national bank and that states could not tax federal institutions.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Ruled that African Americans were not citizens and had no standing in federal court.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Legalized “separate but equal” segregation, endorsed Jim Crow laws across the South.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Established “Miranda Rights”, suspects must be informed of their 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination before custodial interrogation.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Ruled that the 14th Amendment’s right to privacy protects a woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Congress NOT States can regulate/control interstate navigation and commerce.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Ruled that the Cherokee nation was a sovereign entity, meaning Georgia state laws had no jurisdiction of their land. However, this ruling was ignored by Andrew Jackson leading to the Trail of Tears

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Ruled that the First Amendment does not protect free speech that poses a “clear and present danger”. Established that civil liberties can be restricted during wartime.

Korematsu v. United States (1944)

Upheld the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 / Japanese internment during WWII

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)

Affirming that public school students retain the First Amendment free speech rights. Protecting symbolic speech, such as wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War.

Truman’s Cold War Philosophy

Containment of communism; stop Soviet expansion

Truman’s Policies

Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO, NSC-68

Major Cold War Events during Truman

Berlin Airlift, Korean War

Truman’s Domestic response

Red Scare, HUAC, loyalty programs, McCarthyism begins

Eisenhower’s Cold War Philosophy

Containment with emphasis on nuclear deterrence (“brinksmanship”)

Eisenhower’s Policies

Massive Retaliation, Domino Theory, CIA interventions (Iran, Guatemala)

Major Cold War Events under Eisenhower

Korean War ends, Taiwan Strait crises (US defends Taiwan from China communist); **Suez Crisis

Eisenhower’s Domestic response

Fear of nuclear war, growth of military-industrial complex

JFK’s Cold War Philosophy

Flexible Response; avoid nuclear war but resist communism

JFK’s Policies

Alliance for Progress, Peace Corps, buildup of conventional forces, special forces (Green Beret)

Major Cold War Events during JFK

Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis

JFK’s Domestic response

Heightened fear of nuclear war, civil defense programs

LBJ’s Cold War Philosophy

Continued containment, especially in Vietnam

LBJ’s Policies

Escalation in Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution)

Major Cold War Events under LBJ

Vietnam War escalation (Gulf of Tonkin, My Lai, Tet Offensive)

Détente under LBJ?

No

Nixon’s Cold War Philosophy

No need total defeat of communism; Balance of power so not one dominates

Nixon’s Policies

Vietnamization (gradual withdrawal), opening to China, Ping pong diplomacy, SALT I

Major Cold War Events under Nixon

Continued Vietnam War (early), bombing of Cambodia; Fall of Saigon

Nixon’s Domestic response

Mixed; anti-war protests continue, but support for ending war

Ford’s Cold War Philosophy

détente; stability with USSR

Ford’s Policies

Helsinki Accords - agreement to respect borders, & respect basic human rights like freedom of speech

Major Cold War Events under Ford

No major conflicts

Ford’s Domestic response

Public skepticism after Vietnam & Watergate

Carter’s Cold War Philosophy

Human rights emphasis; cautious containment

Carter’s Policies

Camp David Accords, Carter Doctrine (Use of military to defend Persian Gulf)

Major Cold War Events during Carter

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, **Iran hostage crisis

Carter’s Domestic response

Energy crisis, renewed Cold War tensions

Reagan’s Cold War Philosophy

Aggressive anti-communism; rollback

Reagan’s Cold War Policies

Military buildup, SDI (“Star Wars”), Reagan Doctrine (support anti-communist movements around the world)

Major Cold War Events during Reagan

Arms race escalation, tensions early on

Reagan’s Domestic response

Conservative resurgence, defense spending debates