APUSH Full Notes Part 1

Indigenous Tribes in North America

Indigenous Tribes in North America

Evolved into hundreds of tribes with different languages and cultures, living in semi-permanent settlements, and engaging in activities like hunting, gathering, and farming.

Major Language Families

Algonquian, Siouan, Athabaskan:Represent some of the significant language families among the Indigenous tribes in North America.

Southwest Complex Societies

Hokokam, Anasazi, Pueblo:Supported by irrigation farming, living in caves, under cliffs, and multistoried homes, but faced challenges like drought and conflicts with other tribes.

Great Plains Tribes

Lakota Sioux, Apache:Nomadic hunters who mainly hunted buffalo, lived in tepees made of animal skin, and adopted a lifestyle facilitated by the advent of horses in the 1600s.

Encomienda System

A system where the King granted land and Indigenous people to Spaniards, leading to forced labor and the eventual use of enslaved Africans due to the decimation of the Indigenous population by diseases.

Bartolome de las Casas

A priest who advocated for Indigenous rights, leading to the New Laws of 1542 that aimed to end the enslavement of Indigenous people and the forced labor system.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in America, facing challenges like disease, starvation, and conflicts with Indigenous tribes, and later becoming a royal colony with the development of tobacco as a cash crop.

House of Burgesses

The first representative assembly in America, established in Jamestown, Virginia, to guarantee settlers the same rights as English citizens and address labor shortages through the use of indentured servants and the headright system.

Bacon’s Rebellion

Led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkeley's policies, highlighting the tensions between wealthy and poor farmers, and showing colonial resistance to royal authority in the Chesapeake area.

Plymouth Colony

Established by the Pilgrims, separatists seeking religious freedom, in Massachusetts after a stormy journey on the Mayflower, showcasing early attempts at creating a new religious haven in America.

Mayflower Compact

Early form of self-government and constitution among the Pilgrims, pledging to make decisions by the will of the majority.

Act of Toleration

Legislation in Maryland allowing religious freedom, although it was later repealed due to Protestant-Catholic conflicts.

Great Migration

Influx of 15,000 settlers to Massachusetts due to civil war in England, shaping the colony's demographics and culture.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

First written constitution in America, establishing representative government and a governor appointed by the people.

Navigation Acts

Series of laws restricting colonial trade to benefit England, requiring goods to be transported on English ships and sold through English ports.

Pueblo Revolt

Successful Indigenous rebellion against Spanish rule in New Mexico, leading to a temporary expulsion of the colonizers.

Transatlantic Slave Trade

English-controlled trade route involving the exchange of rum, enslaved Africans, and sugarcane between Africa, the West Indies, and New England.

Halfway Covenant

Puritan practice allowing partial church membership for those who hadn't experienced a conversion, aiming to maintain church membership.

New England Confederation

Military alliance formed by Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut, and New Haven to address common threats and disputes.

Restoration Period

Return of King Charles II to the English throne, leading to the consolidation of colonies and the establishment of proprietary colonies like the Carolinas.

Standard of Living in Colonial America

Colonists in America enjoyed a higher standard of living compared to Europe, with men working, owning land, engaging in politics, and having unlimited domestic power.

Role of Women in Colonial America

Women in colonial America typically had large families, managed household chores, taught children, and worked alongside their husbands in shops, plantations, or farms, with limited legal rights.

Colonial Economy

The colonial economy heavily relied on agriculture, with limited manufacturing, restricted competition with British industry, and colonies issuing paper money for domestic trade, leading to inflation.

New England Colonies

New England had rocky soil and long winters, with small farms sustaining families and economic activities like logging, shipbuilding, trade, and rum distillation.

Middle Colonies

The middle colonies had rich soil, mid-sized farms, utilized indentured servants and hired help, and focused on exporting wheat and corn to Europe.

Southern Colonies

The southern colonies had diverse geography, with most people living on small family farms or massive plantations with enslaved individuals, producing goods like tobacco, rice, and indigo.

Transportation in Colonial America

Colonists relied on water transport, with cities located along waterways, and later adopted land travel by horse and stagecoaches, with taverns serving as social hubs.

Religion in Colonial America

The majority of colonists were Protestant, with different denominations prevalent in various regions, and discrimination against Jews, Catholics, and Quakers was common.

Great Awakening

The Great Awakening in the early 1700s saw a religious revival in the colonies, led by figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, emphasizing emotionalism in religion and leading to the separation of church and state.

Education in Colonial America

Education was limited, with a focus on males, and the first tax-funded schools in New England emphasized learning the Bible, while higher education institutions had religious affiliations and were founded to train ministers.

Proclamation of 1763

British law prohibiting colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to stabilize the frontier and prevent conflicts with Indigenous tribes.

Sugar Act of 1764

Legislation imposing duties on foreign sugar and luxuries, halving the tax on molasses, and aiming to prevent smuggling while raising revenue for the crown.

Stamp Act of 1765

Imposed revenue stamps on legal documents, newspapers, and ads, marking the first direct tax on the colonists, leading to widespread anger and protests.

Boston Massacre

Incident in 1770 where British troops fired on a crowd in Boston, killing five, including Crispus Attucks, leading to increased anti-British sentiment.

Committees of Correspondence

Organized by Samuel Adams in 1772, these committees exchanged letters regarding suspicious British activities, fostering colonial unity and resistance.

Boston Tea Party

Protest in 1773 where colonists, disguised as Indigenous people, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to resist the Tea Act and assert their rights.

Intolerable Acts

Enacted in 1774 to punish Boston for the Tea Party, including the Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and expanded Quartering Act.

Enlightenment

Intellectual movement fueling the American Revolution, emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights, influencing the development of new government ideas.

First Continental Congress

Meeting in 1774 in response to the Intolerable Acts, where delegates discussed British threats to American liberty and endorsed measures to resist.

Declaration of Independence

Document adopted in July 1776, listing grievances against King George III and justifying revolution based on principles of equality and natural rights.

Battle of Yorktown

Last major battle of the American Revolution where George Washington’s army defeated General Charles Cornwallis’ troops in 1781.

Treaty of Paris of 1783

Treaty signed in Paris in 1783 where Britain recognized the US as an independent nation, set the Mississippi River as the western boundary of the US, and outlined terms such as fishing rights and debt payments.

Articles of Confederation

Drafted by John Dickinson in 1777, established a weak central government with a unicameral congress, each state having one vote, and limitations on its powers.

Shays’ Rebellion

Uprising led by Captain Daniel Shays in 1786 against high taxes and lack of paper money, highlighting post-Revolution economic issues.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement during the Constitutional Convention where a slave was counted as 3/5 of a person for determining representation and taxation purposes.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the US Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and trial by jury.

Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan

Proposed plan to pay off national debt, assume state debts, protect industries, and establish a national bank, supported by northern merchants and opposed by Anti-Federalists.

Proclamation of Neutrality

Declaration by George Washington in 1793 to remain neutral in conflicts involving France, reflecting early US foreign policy decisions.

Federalists

Supporters of the US Constitution and a strong federal government, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the US Constitution who favored state power, including George Mason, Patrick Henry, and James Winthrop.

Jay Treaty

Chief Justice John Jay's 1794 agreement with Britain to stop seizing American ships and impressing seamen, leading to the evacuation of British posts on the western frontier.

Pinckney’s Treaty

Agreement with Spain allowing the US to trade through New Orleans, opening the lower Mississippi River, and establishing the northern boundary of Florida at the 31st parallel.

Treaty of Greenville

Ended conflicts in the Ohio River Valley by defeating the Northwest Confederacy led by Little Turtle, surrendering Indigenous claims to Ohio Territory.

Whiskey Rebellion

Farmers' protest against Alexander Hamilton's excise taxes on whiskey in 1794, quashed by Washington without violence, highlighting government power.

Farewell Address

Washington's 1796 address with Hamilton, warning against foreign alliances, political parties, and sectionalism, setting a two-term limit on the presidency.

XYZ Affair

Diplomatic incident where French ministers X, Y, and Z requested bribes from American delegates, almost leading to war and sparking public outrage.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Federalist laws in 1798 limiting political opponents, including the Naturalization Act, Aliens Act, and Sedition Act, violating First Amendment rights.

Louisiana Purchase

Jefferson's 1803 acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million, doubling the US size and extending the western frontier to the Pacific coast.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Scientific exploration of the Louisiana Territory from 1804 to 1806, establishing claims, mapping routes, and fostering relations with Indigenous tribes.

Marbury v Madison

Landmark 1803 case where John Marshall established judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to check the constitutionality of acts by Congress or the president.

War of 1812

A conflict between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815, resulting in naval victories, British burning of Washington DC, and the Battle of New Orleans.

Treaty of Ghent

An agreement signed in 1814 that ended the War of 1812, returning conquered territory and recognizing the prewar boundary between Canada and the US.

Hartford Convention

A meeting of New England delegates in 1814, where radical Federalists discussed amending the constitution or seceding due to opposition to the War of 1812.

Era of Good Feelings

A period during James Monroe's presidency characterized by high nationalism, little political opposition, and excitement about westward expansion.

Tariff of 1816

A protective tariff enacted to support American industry by raising taxes on foreign goods, opposed by New England but endorsed by the South and West.

American System

A plan by Henry Clay including protective tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements to benefit the East, whole nation, and West and South respectively.

Panic of 1819

The first financial panic since the Constitution's ratification, caused by the Second Bank tightening credit, leading to state bank closures and increased unemployment.

Missouri Compromise of 1820

Legislation admitting Missouri as a slave state, Maine as a free state, and prohibiting slavery north of the 36°30' parallel in the Louisiana Territory.

Monroe Doctrine

A policy issued in 1823 stating that European powers should not interfere in the Western Hemisphere, setting the basis for future US foreign policy.

Industrial Revolution

A period marked by population growth, advancements in transportation like canals and railroads, and the rise of factories and inventions like the cotton gin.

Unions

Initially organized in major cities in the 1790s, faced obstacles to success such as state outlawing, economic depressions, and competition from immigrant workers.

Market Revolution

Led to increased standard of living, development of modern capitalism, and growing interdependence among people, ending self-sufficient households.

Cotton

Principal cash crop in the South after the cotton gin invention, more profitable than tobacco and indigo, mainly exported to British textile factories.

Commonwealth v Hunt 1842

Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling that peaceful unions had the right to negotiate labor contracts with employers, leading to the passing of 10-hour workdays in state legislatures.

Slavery

Increased demand due to cash crops, especially cotton, led to a dramatic rise in the value of enslaved people, with most working in fields and some as skilled laborers.

Immigration

Arrived along the Atlantic coast, increased due to cheap ocean transportation, famines, wars, and the reputation of the US as a land of opportunity, providing cheap labor.

Irish

Half of immigrants during the period, faced discrimination, congregated in Northern cities, and eventually secured jobs and influence by the 1850s.

Free Blacks

Restricted by racial prejudice, some achieved freedom through self-purchase, lived in Southern cities, and were in danger of being kidnapped by slave traders.

Andrew Jackson’s Presidency

Symbol of the working class, opposed federal spending, vetoed numerous bills, and supported the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

Trail of Tears

Forced relocation of Indigenous tribes west of the Mississippi, with most Cherokee resisting and over 4000 dying during the journey.

Nullification

The idea that states had the right to reject federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.

Daniel Webster

A politician who argued against states defying federal authority and supported the preservation of the Union.

Force Bill

Legislation passed by Congress to give the federal government control over South Carolina during the nullification crisis.

Jacksonian Democracy

A political movement led by Andrew Jackson that aimed to increase white male suffrage and reduce class distinctions in politics.

Spoils System

Andrew Jackson's practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs, promoting party loyalty.

Whigs

A political party that emerged in opposition to Andrew Jackson, supporting protective tariffs and federal funding for infrastructure.

Transcendentalists

A group of writers and thinkers who emphasized individualism, nature, and spiritual discovery, challenging established institutions.

Second Great Awakening

A religious revival movement in the early 19th century that emphasized emotional conversions and social reform.

Temperance Movement

A social reform effort aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and its negative effects on society.

Horace Mann

Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education who advocated for public education reforms, including mandatory attendance and teacher training.

Women's Rights Movement

Women resented being treated as second class citizens by men, earned half the pay of men, could not vote or sit on juries, could not own property, lacked guardianship rights over children, and were often sidelined from work in reformation movements.

Seneca Falls Convention

Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott in New York in 1848, it wrote the Declaration of Sentiments modeled after the Declaration of Independence, asserting that all men and women are created equal and listing grievances against sexism.

Manifest Destiny

Belief that it was America's destiny to overtake the entire continent, leading to expansionist desires to acquire territories like Texas, Oregon, and California.

Mexican-American War

Fought in the 1840s, it resulted in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo establishing the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas and the US taking possession of the Mexican Cession territories.

Overland Trails

Pioneers in the 1860s followed trails like the Oregon, California, Santa Fe, and Mormon Trails westward from Missouri or Iowa, facing hardships on their months-long journey to farm in California and Oregon.

Industrial Revolution

Industry expanded with factory production, the invention of the sewing machine, Samuel Morse's telegraph, and the growth of railroads in the 1840s and 1850s, promoting western agriculture and tying commercial interests of the North and Midwest.

Free Soil Movement

Formed in 1848, it opposed the westward expansion of slavery, supported the Wilmot Proviso to ban slavery from territories, and advocated for free homesteads and internal improvements while excluding people of color from western lands.

Popular Sovereignty

Method used to determine the status of each new territory by allowing residents to vote on whether or not to allow slavery.

Compromise of 1850

Agreement that admitted California as a free state, divided the Mexican Cession into Utah and New Mexico territories, and allowed popular sovereignty to determine the status of each state.

Underground Railroad

Network of individuals aiding enslaved people to reach freedom, often to Canada or Northern states, led by figures like Harriet Tubman.