APUSH Final Exam Review Notes

Spanish American War

Military conflict between the United States and Spain in 1898.

Open Door Policy

A diplomatic policy advocating equal trading rights for all nations in China.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in 1607 in Virginia.

Tobacco cultivation

The process of growing and harvesting tobacco, which became a key economic driver in colonial Virginia.

Pilgrims

English settlers who founded Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts in 1620.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement made by the Pilgrims establishing a self-governing colony based on majority rule.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that trade generates wealth and is reliant on the accumulation of profitable balances.

Colonial Regions

Distinct areas in colonial America categorized as New England, Middle, and Southern colonies.

Containment

A foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Korean War

A conflict between North Korea and South Korea, supported by respective allies, from 1950 to 1953.

Stamp Act

A 1765 British law imposing a direct tax on the colonies for printed materials.

French and Indian War

A war between Great Britain and France from 1754 to 1763 for global empire dominance.

Reaganomics

Economic policies promoted by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, including tax cuts and deregulation.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence from British rule.

Kent State

Site of a college protest in 1970 where National Guardsmen shot and killed four students.

Treaty of Paris 1783

A treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War recognizing the independence of the United States.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, establishing a weak federal government.

Shay's Rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786-1787 by debt-ridden Massachusetts farmers protesting economic policies.

Great Society

A set of domestic programs initiated by President Lyndon B. Johnson aimed at eliminating poverty.

Arab Oil Embargo

A 1973-1974 energy crisis caused by OAPEC restricting oil exports to Western countries.

Constitutional Convention

A gathering in 1787 to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Iran-Contra Affair

A political scandal in the 1980s involving secret arms sales to Iran to fund Contra rebels.

Social Darwinism

A belief that societies naturally evolve and government intervention shouldn't interfere.

Immigration Waves

Periods of increased immigration to the U.S. related to various push and pull factors.

Collective Bargaining

The negotiation process between employers and employees to regulate working conditions.

Labor

Human effort used in the production of goods and services.

Haymarket Riot

A labor protest in Chicago in 1886 that turned violent, resulting in a backlash against labor movements.

Laissez Faire

An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism opposing government intervention.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

A federal statute enacted in 1890 aimed at preventing monopolistic practices.

Jefferson and the Bank

Refers to Thomas Jefferson's opposition to the establishment of a national bank.

Washington's Foreign Policy

Aimed to maintain neutrality and avoid entanglement in foreign conflicts.

Alien and Sedition Acts

A series of laws passed in 1798 making it harder for immigrants to become citizens.

Embargo Act 1807

A law prohibiting American ships from trading in foreign ports.

Louisiana Purchase

The 1803 acquisition of territory from France that doubled the size of the United States.

Political Parties

Groups formed to influence government and policy, notably the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

Progressive Movement

A social and political movement in the early 20th century addressing issues from industrialization.

Impact of industrialization

Transforming economies from agrarian to industrial, leading to urbanization and social issues.

Middle Class Progressive Movement

A segment of the Progressive Movement focused on reforms for women's suffrage and education.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. policy established in 1823 against European colonialism in the Americas.

Clay's American System

An economic plan proposed by Henry Clay promoting economic growth through tariffs and a national bank.

Nullification

The theory that states have the right to nullify federal laws deemed unconstitutional.

Muckrakers

Journalists in the early 20th century exposing corruption and social injustices.

Seneca Falls Convention

The first women's rights convention held in 1848 advocating for gender equality.

Anthracite Coal Strike 1902

A significant labor strike leading to improved conditions for miners.

Manifest Destiny

The doctrine that it was the divine right of the U.S. to expand its territory across North America.

Gadsden Purchase

A land purchase in 1853 from Mexico for a southern transcontinental railroad.

Era of Good Feelings

A period of national unity in the U.S. following the War of 1812.

The Jungle

A novel by Upton Sinclair exposing unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.

Trustbusting

Government activities aimed at breaking up monopolies and promoting competition.

Jackson on Nullification

President Jackson’s opposition to the nullification crisis emphasizing federal law supremacy.

Common Man Politics

A political paradigm emphasizing the average citizen's interests in government affairs.

Election of 1912

A pivotal election characterized by a split in the Republican Party.

Missouri Compromise

A legislative agreement allowing Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state is sustained by the consent of its people.

Reconstruction

The period addressing the reintegration of Southern states and the rights of freed slaves.

Plessy vs. Ferguson

A landmark Supreme Court case upholding racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

The Philippines

An archipelago ceded to the U.S. after the Spanish American War.

Big Stick Policy

A diplomatic policy emphasizing military power to achieve American goals.

Roosevelt Corollary

An extension of the Monroe Doctrine asserting U.S. intervention in Latin America.

Dollar Diplomacy

A foreign policy emphasizing economic investment to expand U.S. influence.

Moral Diplomacy

A foreign policy aimed at promoting democratic ideals abroad.

Zimmerman Telegram

A secret communication proposing a military alliance with Mexico during WWI.

US Entry into WWI

Occurred in 1917, prompted by submarine warfare and the Zimmerman Telegram.

Sedition and Espionage Acts (1918)

Laws restricting speech deemed harmful during WWI.

League of Nations

An organization founded after WWI to promote peace, ultimately failing before WWII.

Appeasement

A diplomatic strategy of making concessions to avoid conflict before WWII.

Isolationism

A policy stance advocating for non-involvement in international affairs.

Japan's Invasion of Manchuria

A military invasion marking Japan's expansionist policies before WWII.

Japanese Internment

The forced relocation of Japanese Americans during WWII due to espionage fears.

End of Great Depression

Marked by the U.S. entering WWII and economic recovery.

Women Post-WWII

The changing role of women marked by increased workforce participation.

Kellog-Briand Pact

A 1928 agreement aimed at outlawing war.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that imposed reparations on Germany after WWI.

Republican Formula

Fiscal policies favoring low taxes and limited government intervention.

Leisure Time of the 1930s

Changes in leisure activities during the Great Depression.

Red Scare

Fear of communism leading to paranoia and government actions against radicals.

Farmers in the 1920s

Struggles faced by agricultural workers due to economic instability.

Stock Market Crash

The decline in stock prices in 1929 marking the start of the Great Depression.

Hoover and the Depression

President Hoover's inadequate response to the Great Depression.

Bonus Army

A group of WWI veterans marching for their bonuses in 1932.

FDR Winning in 1932

Franklin D. Roosevelt's election during the Great Depression leading to New Deal reforms.

New Deal Programs

A series of programs addressing the economic turmoil of the Great Depression.

CCC and CWA: what's the point?

Programs aimed at providing jobs and reducing unemployment through public works.

Agricultural Adjustment Act

A law passed to reduce agricultural production and raise crop prices.

National Recovery Administration

A New Deal agency regulating industry to stimulate economic recovery.

Huey Long's Share the Wealth

A program proposed advocating for wealth redistribution during the Great Depression.

Court Packing Controversy

A controversy over FDR's attempt to increase Supreme Court justices.

New Deal

A series of programs implemented by FDR in response to the Great Depression.

Social Security Act

A 1935 law establishing old-age benefits and unemployment insurance.

Key Dates and Presidents

Significant events related to U.S. presidents throughout history.

Watergate

A political scandal leading to Nixon's resignation due to a cover-up.

McCarthyism

Accusations of treason without evidence associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Flappers

Young women in the 1920s challenging traditional gender norms.

Dust Bowl

A severe drought in the 1930s causing agricultural failures in the Great Plains.

Persian Gulf War

A conflict initiated in 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait.

Atomic Bombs

Nuclear weapons used by the U.S. against Japan to end WWII.

Impeachment of Clinton

The political process initiated against President Bill Clinton in 1998.