AP Review Period 1 and 2- Key Terms, Events, Themes

Vocabulary terms and definitions from the AP Review covering major themes, events, and concepts.

Columbian Exchange

The transatlantic transfer of goods, people, and disease between the old world and the new world following Columbus's discovery.

Encomienda System

A system implemented in Spanish colonies where land was granted to Spain settlers, who were tasked with Christianizing native populations and could demand tribute from them.

Bartolome de las Casas

Spanish priest who advocated for the better treatment of indigenous peoples in the Americas.

Three G’s

Motivations for European exploration, standing for Gold, Glory, and God.

Indentured Servants

Individuals who agreed to work for a certain number of years in exchange for passage to America and eventual freedom.

Bacon’s Rebellion

A revolt in 1676 led by Nathaniel Bacon against the government of Virginia, highlighting issues between frontier settlers and the colonial government.

Great Awakening

A religious revival in the 1730s and 40s that emphasized individual piety and a personal relationship with God, leading to increased colonial unity.

Treaty of Paris 1763

The treaty that ended the Seven Years' War, resulting in British dominance in North America and the removal of French power.

Pontiac’s Uprising

A rebellion led by Ottawa chief Pontiac in 1763, protesting British rule in the Great Lakes region.

Proclamation Line of 1763

An establishment that restricted colonial expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains to stabilize relations with Native Americans.

Mercantilism

An economic theory promoting government regulation of a nation’s economy for augmenting state power, focusing on exporting more than importing.

Stamp Act

A 1765 act imposing tax on printed materials in the colonies, which led to widespread protest and the rallying cry of 'no taxation without representation'.

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party.

Continental Congress

A body of representatives from the American colonies that convened to address colonial grievances and organize resistance against British policies.

Sons of Liberty

A secret organization formed to oppose British policies and taxes before the American Revolution.

Common Sense

An influential pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 advocating for colonial independence from Britain.

Federalism

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

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights and liberties.

Whiskey Rebellion

A violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws passed in 1798 that allowed for the deportation of foreigners and made it harder for new immigrants to vote; criticized for limiting free speech.