APUSH Exam

Bacon's Rebellion

A rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon in 1676 against the rule of Governor William Berkeley in Virginia, highlighting conflicts with Native Americans and social tensions.

French and Indian War

A conflict (1754-1763) between Britain and France in North America, resulting in territorial gains for Britain but also increasing tensions with Native Americans.

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea Party, aimed at punishing Massachusetts and restoring order.

Declaration of Independence

The document ratified on July 4, 1776, declaring the American colonies' independence from Britain, asserting rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 declaring the freedom of all slaves in Confederate-held territory.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States, enacted after the Reconstruction period.

Progressivism

A reform movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries advocating for social justice, labor rights, women's suffrage, and government reforms.

First Red Scare

A period of intense fear of communism and radicalism in the United States, particularly following the Russian Revolution.

Sacco and Vanzetti

Two Italian immigrants who were controversially convicted of murder in the 1920s, representing the era's nativist fears and anti-immigrant sentiments.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York, in the 1920s, celebrating African American culture and identity.

Great Migration

The mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North, particularly during and after WWI, seeking better opportunities.

Jim Crow

Referring to the racist laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination in the South after the Civil War.

Spanish-American War

A conflict in 1898 between the United States and Spain leading to U.S. acquisition of territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Open Door Policy

U.S. foreign policy aimed at ensuring equal trading rights for all nations in China and safeguarding its territorial integrity.

League of Nations

An international organization founded after WWI to promote peace and cooperation among countries, proposed by Woodrow Wilson.

Wilson's Fourteen Points

A statement of principles for peace negotiations to end WWI, outlining ideas such as self-determination and the establishment of the League of Nations.

Prohibition

The nationwide ban on the sale, production, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. from 1920 to 1933, established by the 18th Amendment.

Scopes Monkey Trial

A trial in 1925 that challenged a Tennessee law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in schools, highlighting the conflict between science and religion.

Muckrakers

Investigative journalists and writers in the early 20th century who exposed corruption and social injustices, prompting reform.

Suffrage Movement

The social reform movement advocating for women's rights to vote, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

The Lost Generation

A group of American writers who were disillusioned by the aftermath of WWI, expressing their dissatisfaction with mainstream American culture.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states.

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle by African Americans and their allies to end racial discrimination and segregation, seeking equal rights and liberties.

Reconstruction Amendments

The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the Constitution, aimed at establishing rights for freed slaves after the Civil War.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. policy opposing European colonialism in the Americas, asserting that any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas is a potentially hostile act.

New Deal

A series of programs and reforms introduced by Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aiming to provide relief, recovery, and reform.

Social Darwinism

A theory that applies the concept of natural selection to social, political, and economic issues, often justifying imperialism and racism.

Western Expansion

The 19th-century movement of settlers into the American West, often leading to conflict with Native Americans and other entities.

American Imperialism

The policy of extending U.S. influence and control over other countries and territories, often economically and militarily.

Gilded Age

A term used to describe the late 19th century in the U.S., characterized by rapid industrialization, economic growth, and stark social inequalities.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century belief that the expansion of the United States across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

The Progressive Era

A period of social activism and political reform in the United States from the 1890s to the 1920s, addressing issues caused by industrialization.

Flappers

Young women in the 1920s who challenged traditional norms of behavior in favor of more liberating social practices.

Election of 1860

The presidential election in which Abraham Lincoln was elected, leading to heightened tensions and the secession of Southern states.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic depression that lasted from 1929 to approximately 1939, impacting almost every country.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, aimed at ending segregation.

Plessy v. Ferguson

An 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Ida B. Wells

An African American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching campaign in the U.S. during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Jim Crow

Referring to laws and customs that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans in the United States.

Stock Market Crash of 1929

A major stock market crash that marked the beginning of the Great Depression, with catastrophic effects on the U.S. economy.

New Deal Coalition

A political coalition formed in the 1930s that included diverse groups united in support of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies.

Social Security Act

A 1935 law that provided for old-age pensions and unemployment insurance, establishing a social safety net.

Dust Bowl

A period of severe dust storms in the 1930s affecting the Great Plains, exacerbating the Great Depression's impacts.

Nineteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment ratified in 1920 granting women the right to vote.

Women's Suffrage

The movement to secure the right to vote for women, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Labor Movement

Organized efforts by workers to improve labor rights, notably through unions advocating for better pay and working conditions.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba, bringing the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war.

Federal Trade Commission

An independent agency of the U.S. government established in 1914 to promote consumer protection and eliminate harmful business practices.

36th Parallel

A latitude line used in the context of U.S. territorial expansion, particularly concerning the Missouri Compromise.

Civil Liberties

Individual rights protected from government infringement, often emphasized during periods of social and political crisis.

Anti-War Movement

Grassroots protests against U.S. military involvement in conflicts, particularly prominent during the Vietnam War.

Environmental Movement

A social movement aimed at protecting the environment and promoting sustainability, gaining traction in the mid-20th century.

Free Speech Movement

A student-led protest movement in the 1960s advocating for free speech rights on college campuses.

War on Poverty

A set of government programs launched in the 1960s aimed at combating poverty within the United States.

Civil Rights Act of 1968

Legislation that provided for equal housing opportunities regardless of race, religion, or national origin, also known as the Fair Housing Act.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at overcoming barriers to voting for African Americans and ensuring their right to vote.

Brown v. Board of Education

The landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in schools unconstitutional, effectively overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.

The Great Society

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

Tea Act

A 1773 British law that allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, undermining local merchants and fueling colonial dissent.

Sugar Act

A 1764 British law that imposed duties on imported sugar and molasses, aimed at reducing smuggling and increasing revenue for the British Empire.

Stamp Act

A 1765 British law that required colonists to purchase special stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and other publications, leading to widespread protest and contributing to the growing revolutionary sentiment.

intolerable acts

A series of punitive laws passed in 1774 by the British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party, meant to suppress colonial dissent and enforce British authority.

revolutionary war

The conflict between American colonies and Great Britain from 1775 to 1783, leading to American independence.

northwest ordinance

A law enacted in 1787 that established a framework for settling the Northwest Territory and creating new states, setting guidelines for governance, land sales, and the prohibition of slavery in the region.

republican motherhood

A 19th-century concept emphasizing the role of women in nurturing patriotic citizens for the new nation.

articles of confederation

The first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781, which created a loose confederation of states and established a weak central government.

constitutional convention

A gathering held in Philadelphia in 1787 to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, resulting in the drafting of the current US Constitution.

Washington’s Farewell Address

A letter written by George Washington in 1796, advising the nation to avoid political parties and foreign alliances.

War of 1812

A conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815, primarily over maritime rights and territorial expansion.

Election of 1824

The contentious presidential election between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, marked by allegations of a "corrupt bargain."

whig

A political party formed in the 1830s in opposition to the Democrats, advocating for modernist policies and economic development.

Industrial Revolution

A period of significant technological, socioeconomic, and cultural change that began in the late 18th century, characterized by the transition from agrarian societies to industrialized ones and marked by innovations in manufacturing, transportation, and communication.

treaty of 1835

An agreement that aimed to secure peace between the United States and various Native American tribes, particularly the Cherokee, which ceded tribal lands in exchange for financial compensation and promises of protection.

compromise of 1850

A series of legislative measures aimed at resolving disputes over slavery in territories acquired from Mexico, including California's admission as a free state and the establishment of popular sovereignty in other territories.

kansas nebraska act of 1854

Legislation that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing settlers to decide on the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty, leading to significant conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas."

Mexican American War

A conflict fought between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, primarily over territorial disputes following the U.S. annexation of Texas, resulting in significant land gains for the U.S.

Ulysses S. Grant

The 18th President of the United States and a commanding general during the Civil War, leading the Union Army to victory.

Radical Republicans

A faction within the Republican Party during the Reconstruction era that advocated for the strict and immediate integration of formerly enslaved people into society, and for civil rights protections.

Homestead Act

A law passed in 1862 that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, encouraging westward expansion and farming in the United States.

Dawes Act

A law enacted in 1887 that aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land and promoting farming.

Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876

was a significant battle between the United States Army and the Lakota Sioux, known for the defeat of General Custer and his troops.

Wounded Knee

was the site of a tragic massacre in 1890, where United States Army troops killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux, marking the end of armed Native American resistance in the Great Plains.

Tamine Hall

A New York City political organization that was associated with political corruption and the control of the Democratic Party. It was notable for its influence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly under the leadership of Boss Tweed.

Boss Tweed

a prominent American politician and leader of Tammany Hall, notorious for his corrupt practices and control over New York City politics in the 19th century.

Temperance Movement

a social movement aimed at reducing or prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages, advocating for moral and social reform in the United States, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Food Administration

A United States government agency created during World War I to manage the production and distribution of food supplies in support of the war effort, promoting conservation and rationing.

War Industries Board

A U.S. government agency established during World War I to coordinate the production of war materials and ensure efficient use of resources to support military operations.

Rosie the Riveter

a cultural icon representing women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, symbolizing women's economic power and contribution to the war effort.

Espionage Act

A law passed in 1917 that imposed harsh penalties for anyone found guilty of aiding the enemy or obstructing military operations during World War I.

Sedition Act

a U.S. law passed in 1918 that made it illegal to speak or write disloyal or abusive language about the government, the Constitution, or the military during World War I.

Palmer Raids

A series of government raids conducted in the early 1920s aimed at capturing and deporting radical leftists, particularly anarchists and communists, in response to the Red Scare.

Taylorism

A system of scientific management of production processes, aimed at improving economic efficiency and labor productivity, developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor in the early 20th century.

Knights of Labor

A significant labor organization in the United States, founded in 1869, that aimed to unite all workers to promote their rights, advocate for better working conditions, and achieve social reform.

Salem Witch Trials

A series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693, reflecting social and religious tensions of the period.

Louisiana Purchase

A land acquisition made by the United States from France in 1803, which doubled the size of the nation and facilitated westward expansion.

Missouri Compromise

A legislative agreement passed in 1820 to maintain the balance between free and slave states, admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while prohibiting slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel.

Indian Removal Act

A law passed in 1830 that authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river, leading to the Trail of Tears.

Trail of Tears

the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to designated Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma, resulting in significant suffering and loss of life.

The Grange

An agrarian organization founded in the 1860s aimed at promoting the social and economic interests of farmers through cooperative efforts and political action.