AP US History Ultimate Flashcard set

Contact Period

The era beginning with Christopher Columbus' arrival in 1492 and ending in 1607 with the first English settlement.

Bering Land Bridge

A land connection that allowed the first peoples to migrate from Eurasia to North America.

Pre-Columbian

The era referring to the history of the Americas before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Culture clash

The conflict that arises when different cultures meet, which occurred between European settlers and Native Americans.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread exchange of plants, animals, foods, and diseases between the New World and the Old World.

Encomienda System

A Spanish colonial system that granted settlers authority over Native Americans, obligating colonists to protect and convert them.

Spanish Colonial Power

Spain's dominance in the Americas and establishment of colonies through explorations and conquests.

Labor Needs

The growing requirements for workers in colonies, including the shift from indentured servitude to enslaved Africans.

Middle Passage

The brutal sea journey undertaken by enslaved Africans from West Africa to the Americas.

Atlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic trading of enslaved Africans to the New World, reaching its peak in the 18th century.

The Great Awakening

A series of religious revivals in the American colonies during the 18th century that emphasized individual piety.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances.

Navigation Acts

Laws passed by the British Parliament to control colonial trade and bolster the British economy.

The House of Burgesses

The first elected legislative assembly in the New World established in Virginia in 1619.

Salutary neglect

An unofficial British policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws meant to keep the American colonies obedient.

Joint-Stock Companies

Businesses that allowed multiple investors to share the risk and profits of colonial ventures.

Plantation Economy

An agricultural system based on large-scale land ownership and the cultivation of cash crops, relying heavily on enslaved labor.

Free-Soil Party

A political party that emerged in the 1840s opposing the extension of slavery into the territories.

Cultural Interactions

The relationships and exchanges between European settlers, Native Americans, and Africans.

Bacon's Rebellion

A revolt in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley.

Stono Rebellion

A major slave uprising in 1739 in South Carolina that resulted in the deaths of several white colonists and enacted harsher slave codes.

The Mayflower Compact

A foundational document of self-government created by the Pilgrims upon landing at Plymouth Rock.

Transatlantic Slave Trade

The trade of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.

American Enlightenment

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individualism as opposed to tradition.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Checks and Balances

The division of governmental powers into separate branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Declaration of Independence

A document declaring the colonies' independence from Britain, adopted on July 4, 1776.

Separation of Powers

The principle of dividing government responsibilities into distinct branches.

Civil Rights Movement

A political movement for equality before the law, primarily during the 1950s and 1960s.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court case declaring that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

New Deal

A series of programs and reforms introduced by Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression.

McCarthyism

A campaign against alleged communists in the 1950s led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Vietnam War

A contentious conflict from 1955 to 1975 involving North Vietnam and its allies against South Vietnam and the United States.

Watergate Scandal

A political scandal involving the Nixon administration's attempts to cover up its involvement in a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba.

Detente

A period of relaxed tensions and improved relations between the two superpowers, the U.S. and the Soviet Union, during the Cold War.

NAFTA

The North American Free Trade Agreement, which aimed to eliminate trade barriers between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

LGBTQ Rights Movement

Social movement advocating for equal rights for people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Social Security Act

A law enacted in 1935 that created a system of old-age benefits and unemployment insurance.

Great Society

A series of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency, formed to protect human health and the environment by enforcing regulations.

The Cold War

A prolonged period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, marked by mutual distrust and ideology.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A joint resolution passed by Congress in 1964 giving President Johnson the authority to use military force in Vietnam.

Reaganomics

The economic policies of Ronald Reagan, characterized by tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government spending.

The War on Poverty

A set of government programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson aimed at reducing poverty.

Net Neutrality

The principle that Internet service providers must treat all data on the Internet the same, without discriminating or charging differently.

Afghanistan War

A conflict starting in 2001 in response to the September 11 attacks, aimed at dismantling al-Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power.

Affordable Care Act

A comprehensive healthcare reform law enacted in March 2010 aimed at expanding health insurance coverage.

Equal Rights Amendment

A proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.

Black Lives Matter

A social movement advocating against systemic racism and violence towards Black individuals.

Green New Deal

A proposed plan aimed at addressing climate change and economic inequality.

Student Loan Debt Crisis

A significant issue in the U.S. stemming from the rapid increase in student loan debt, impacting millions of borrowers.

Gun Control Movement

A movement advocating for stricter regulations on the sale and ownership of firearms.

Me Too Movement

A social movement against sexual harassment and assault, primarily advocating for women's rights.

Intersectionality

A framework for understanding how various social identities (like race, gender, and class) intersect and overlap.

Social Justice

The view that everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social rights and opportunities.

Economic Inequality

The unequal distribution of income and opportunity between different groups in society.

Privatization

The process of transferring ownership of a business, public service or public property from the government to private individuals or organizations.

Affirmative Action

Policies that aim to increase opportunities for historically marginalized groups in education and employment.

Corporate Influence in Politics

The impact that corporate money and lobbying have on government policy and public opinion.

Universal Basic Income

A policy proposal to pay all citizens a regular, unconditional sum of money from the government.

Brexit

The United Kingdom's (UK) withdrawal from the European Union (EU) following a 2016 referendum.

Cybersecurity

Protection of internet-connected systems from cyber attacks, including hardware, software, and data.

Carbon Footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by an individual or organization.

Green Energy

Energy generated from natural resources that are renewable, such as solar, wind, and hydropower.

Social Media Activism

Using social media platforms to promote particular causes and influence change.

Digital Divide

The gap between those who have easy access to digital technology and those who do not.

Civic Engagement

Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern.

Political Polarization

The widening ideological gap and deepening division between political parties and groups.

Voter Suppression

Any legal or illegal means that discourages or prevents specific groups from voting.

Labor Rights

The legal rights and claimed human rights relating to labor relations between workers and employers.

Immigration Reform

Changes to laws and policies governing how immigrants are treated and who can enter or stay in the country.