AP US History: Pre-1492 to Colonial Foundations & Early Conflicts

Peopling of the Americas

Migration via land bridges and coastal routes; led to diverse Native societies across the continents.

Adaptation to Environment

Native Americans adapted hunting, farming, and housing based on geography and climate.

Three Worlds Apart

Distinct societies of Europe, Africa, and the Americas before 1492; different politics, economies, and cultures.

European Society (Pre-1492)

Hierarchical, land-owning, Christian society with monarchies; limited social mobility.

Native American Societies (Pre-1492)

Communal land use, spiritual connection to nature, diverse political and cultural systems.

Age of Exploration

European nations explored overseas for wealth, power, and religion.

Causes of Exploration (3 Gs)

Gold (wealth), God (spread Christianity), Glory (national prestige).

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of crops, animals, people, diseases, and ideas between Old and New Worlds; reshaped global populations and economies.

Effect of Diseases on Native Americans

Smallpox and other diseases caused massive population decline and societal disruption.

Atlantic World

Interconnected trade and cultural exchange between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Jamestown (1607)

First permanent English settlement; initially struggled due to poor leadership, disease, and starvation.

Tobacco and Jamestown

Tobacco became a profitable cash crop, supporting colony survival and growth.

Headright System

Land grants to settlers paying their passage, encouraging immigration and expansion.

Encomienda System

Spanish labor system exploiting Native Americans for farming and mining.

Puritans

English Protestants seeking religious reform; emphasized moral society and community cohesion.

Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630)

Puritan colony founded for religious reasons; emphasized self-governance and community morality.

"City Upon a Hill"

Puritan belief their society should serve as a moral example for the world.

Plymouth Colony (1620)

Founded by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom; early self-governance example.

Mayflower Compact

Agreement establishing self-government and majority rule in Plymouth.

New England Colonies

Small farms, religious communities, emphasis on education and town meetings.

Religious Dissent

Disagreement with Puritan beliefs led to formation of new colonies and religious freedom.

Roger Williams

Founded Rhode Island; advocated separation of church and state, religious liberty.

Anne Hutchinson

Criticized Puritan leadership; banished for challenging religious authority.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Early written constitution establishing representative government.

Chesapeake Colonies

Virginia and Maryland; plantation economy, tobacco cash crop, reliance on labor.

House of Burgesses (1619)

First elected legislature in colonies; early example of representative government.

Bacon's Rebellion (1676)

Frontier uprising against elites; showed tensions between poor farmers and wealthy planters.

African Slavery

Permanent, hereditary labor system based on race; grew in response to plantation demand.

Middle Colonies

Economically diverse; farming, trade; culturally and religiously pluralistic.

Quakers & William Penn

Advocated equality, peace, and religious tolerance; Pennsylvania founded as Quaker refuge.

Salutary Neglect

British policy of loosely enforcing colonial laws; allowed self-government to develop.

Population Growth

Immigration and natural increase; fueled urbanization and economic development.

Triangular Trade & Middle Passage

Transatlantic trade exchanging goods, enslaved Africans, and raw materials.

Colonial Social Structure

Elites, middle farmers/artisans, enslaved laborers; hierarchical but more flexible than Europe.

Great Awakening (1730s-1740s)

Religious revival; emotional faith and personal salvation; inspired reform movements.

Jonathan Edwards & George Whitefield

Key preachers spreading revivalist ideas across colonies.

Old Lights vs. New Lights

Traditional clergy vs. revival supporters; reflected changing religious culture.

Enlightenment & John Locke

Emphasized reason, natural rights, and government by consent.

Zenger Trial (1735)

Early freedom of press case; challenged colonial authority and promoted free speech.

Imperial Rivalry

Competition between Britain, France, and Spain for North American control.

French Colonies

Focused on fur trade, alliances with Native Americans; sparse settlement.

British Colonies

Permanent settlements; farming-based economy.

Native American Alliances

Tribes allied with Europeans for trade and survival; key in conflicts.

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

Britain vs. France; control of North America; colonial and Native involvement.

Albany Plan of Union (1754)

Franklin's proposal for colonial unity; not adopted but inspired future cooperation.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended war; Britain gained land; France lost most North American holdings.

Pontiac's Rebellion

Native uprising against British postwar policies; highlighted Native resistance.

Proclamation of 1763

Forbade settlement west of Appalachians; angered colonists, sparked tension.

Sugar Act (1764)

Taxed sugar/molasses to curb smuggling; raised colonial resentment.

Stamp Act (1765)

Tax on printed materials; first direct tax; led to colonial protests.

Virtual Representation

British claim Parliament represented all subjects; colonists rejected this.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

Coordinated colonial protest; asserted "no taxation without representation."

Sons of Liberty

Organized protests and intimidation against British policies.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Asserted Parliament's authority over colonies after Stamp Act repeal.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Taxes on imports; fueled colonial resistance.

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers killed colonists; inflamed anti-British sentiment.

Committees of Correspondence

Promoted colonial communication and coordinated resistance.

Tea Act (1773) & Boston Tea Party

Monopoly on tea led to protest; tea dumped into harbor.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Punitive laws; closed Boston Harbor; restricted Massachusetts self-rule.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Coordinated colonial resistance; petitioned Britain for redress.

Lexington & Concord (1775)

First battles; militias vs. British; started armed conflict.

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Managed war; created Continental Army; moved toward independence.

George Washington

Commander-in-chief; symbol of unity, leadership, and morale.

Common Sense (1776)

Paine's pamphlet urging independence; widely influential.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Declared colonies free; listed grievances; inspired democracy.

Loyalists vs. Patriots

Loyalists supported Britain; Patriots fought for independence; divided society.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Turning point; U.S. victory convinced France to ally.

Treaty of Alliance (1778)

Military pact with France against Britain.

Yorktown (1781)

British surrender; effectively ended fighting.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Recognized U.S. independence; set territorial boundaries.

Articles of Confederation (1781)

Weak central government; states retained power; limited federal authority.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Organized western lands for sale and settlement.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Established territories; banned slavery; set path to statehood.

Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787)

Exposed Articles' weaknesses; protest over debt and taxes.

Annapolis Convention (1786)

Addressed trade issues; led to Constitutional Convention.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Replaced Articles; stronger federal government; set framework.

Virginia Plan

Representation based on population; bicameral legislature.

New Jersey Plan

Equal state representation; unicameral legislature.

Great Compromise

House by population; Senate equal per state; bicameral Congress.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Slaves counted as 3/5 for representation and taxation.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Federalists supported Constitution; Anti-Federalists feared central power.

Bill of Rights (1791)

First ten amendments; protected individual liberties.

Native American Resistance

Tribes resisted U.S. expansion in Northwest; defeated in Battle of Fallen Timbers; Treaty of Greenville (1795) ceded land for payment and hunting rights.

Pinckney's Treaty (1795)

Agreement with Spain granting U.S. navigation of Mississippi River, access to New Orleans, and border adjustments.

Washington's Farewell Address (1796)

Warned against permanent alliances and political parties; set precedent for peaceful retirement.

Election of 1796

John Adams (Federalist) defeated Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican); first administration with opposing-party president and VP.

XYZ Affair (1797)

French diplomats demanded bribes; led to undeclared naval war (Quasi-War) with France; increased anti-French sentiment.

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Laws allowed deportation of foreigners and punished criticism of government; targeted Democratic-Republicans.

Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions (1798-1799)

Argued states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws; response to Alien and Sedition Acts.

Gabriel Prosser's Rebellion (1800)

Planned slave revolt in Virginia; suppressed; resulted in stricter laws for slaves and free Blacks.

Election of 1800

Jefferson tied with Burr; House decided; peaceful transfer of power called 'Revolution of 1800.'

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review; strengthened Supreme Court power.

Jefferson's Policies

Reduced taxes, military size, and national debt; pardoned Sedition Act prisoners; eased naturalization laws.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

U.S. purchased territory from France; doubled nation size; removed French threat; strengthened federal power.

Aaron Burr

Jefferson's VP; killed Hamilton in duel; later tried for treason; acquitted.

Embargo Act (1807)

Banned trade with Europe to pressure Britain and France; backfired, hurting U.S. economy; repealed 1809.

War Hawks

Young Congress members (Clay, Calhoun) advocating war against Britain; contributed to War of 1812; involved in Battle of Tippecanoe.

Opposition to War of 1812

Mainly New England Federalists; resisted war; refused to provide militia; Federalist influence declined after war.

War of 1812

Conflict over trade restrictions, impressment, and British support of Native resistance; called 'Second War for Independence.'

Burning of Washington (1814)

British burned U.S. capital; Americans defended Baltimore; inspired 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'