APUSH Exam Review Flashcards

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key events, terms, and figures from American history.

Jamestown

Settled in 1607, it was the first successful English settlement built in North America and the birthplace of democracy in America.

Mayflower Compact

Drafted in 1620, it was the first governing document in the United States declaring majority rule.

Great Migration of Puritans

In the 1630s and 1640s, Puritans migrated to Massachusetts seeking religious freedom.

Roger Williams

Puritan minister banished for his beliefs in separation of church and state, founded Rhode Island.

William Penn

Founded Pennsylvania in 1681 with a charter from King Charles II, promoting religious freedom.

James Oglethorpe

Established Georgia in 1732 as a military barrier against Spain and a refuge for the poor.

Jonathan Edwards

Sparked the Great Awakening in 1734, promoting religious fervor and its effect on the American Revolution.

French and Indian War

Conflict between France and Great Britain from 1754 to 1763, resulting in British territorial gains.

Proclamation of 1763

Issued by King George III, it restricted colonial expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Stamp Act (1765)

Tax on paper goods that caused outrage in the colonies, leading to protests.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Stated Britain's right to tax the colonies following the repeal of the Stamp Act.

Townshend Acts (1767)

A series of acts that taxed imports such as glass, lead, and tea, fueling colonial dissent.

Second Continental Congress

Met in 1775 to manage the colonial war effort and moved incrementally towards independence.

First Continental Congress

Met in response to the Intolerable Acts in 1774 to draft a declaration of rights.

Lexington and Concord (1775)

Marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War with the first military engagements.

Boston Tea Party

A protest against British taxation, where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Common Sense

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence from Britain.

Declaration of Independence

Proclaimed American independence from Britain in 1776, outlining fundamental rights.

Treaty of Alliance (1778)

Military alliance between France and America during the American Revolution.

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

The last major battle of the Revolutionary War, leading to British surrender.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of America, which created a weak central government.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Formally ended the Revolutionary War, recognizing American independence.

Northwest Ordinance

Established procedures for admitting new states and outlawed slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Shays' Rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786 against economic injustices, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles.

Constitutional Convention

Met in 1787 to address flaws in the Articles of Confederation, leading to the U.S. Constitution.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written to promote the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Creation of a new government

The establishment of the Constitution, creating a federal government structure in 1789.

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of Treasury who established the financial system of the United States.

Samuel Slater's textile mill

Started the American Industrial Revolution by bringing British textile technology to the U.S.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual freedoms.

Cotton gin

An invention by Eli Whitney in 1793 that revolutionized the cotton industry.

Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

Established American neutrality in foreign conflicts during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 uprising against the federal excise tax on whiskey, testing the new government's authority.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident with France leading to an undeclared naval conflict.

Alien & Sedition Acts (1798)

Laws aimed at immigrants and restricting criticism of the government, seen as an infringement of rights.

Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

Political statements in opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts asserting state rights.

Election of 1800

The first peaceful transfer of power between parties in U.S. history.

Midnight Judges

Judicial appointments made by Adams in the last days of his presidency.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review, allowing courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Louisiana Purchase

The 1803 acquisition of territory from France that doubled the size of the U.S.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Exploration of the Louisiana Territory to map and survey the land.

Aaron Burr's trial

Burr was accused of conspiracy and treason but was acquitted of the main charges.

Jefferson's Embargo (1807)

Prohibited American ships from trading with foreign nations, aiming to protect U.S. interests.

War of 1812

Conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain over maritime rights and territorial expansion.

Hartford Convention

A meeting of Federalists opposing the War of 1812, marking their decline.

Battle of New Orleans

The final major battle in the War of 1812 occurring after the peace treaty was signed.

American System

Economic plan proposed by Henry Clay to promote national growth through tariffs and infrastructure.

Era of Good Feelings

A period of national unity following the War of 1812, marked by the dominance of the Democratic-Republican Party.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court case establishing federal dominance over state laws.

Adams-Onis Treaty

Agreement that ceded Florida to the U.S. from Spain and defined the boundary between the two nations.

Missouri Compromise

Agreement allowing Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining balance.

First Lowell Factory

The establishment of the first American factory system, empowering female labor.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. policy opposing European colonialism in the Americas.

Election of 1824

The contentious election where no candidate won a majority, leading to a House decision.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Legislation leading to the forced relocation of Native Americans to west of the Mississippi.

Nat Turner's Revolt

A slave rebellion that resulted in stricter laws and increased tension over slavery.

Nullification Crisis (1832)

Conflict between South Carolina and the federal government over tariffs and state rights.

Jackson Destroys National Bank

President Andrew Jackson's efforts to dismantle the Second Bank of the United States.

Panic of 1837

A financial crisis triggered by speculation and economic instability.

Horace Mann

Advocate for public education and reform, emphasizing the need for free schooling.

Election of 1840

The campaign that resulted in the election of William Henry Harrison using populist methods.

Trail of Tears

The forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the 1830s.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century doctrine that justified American westward expansion.

Annexation of Texas

The addition of Texas as a state that heightened tensions with Mexico.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

Conflict arising from Texas annexation and U.S. expansion.

Wilmot Proviso

Proposal to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico.

Mormons migrate to Utah

Brigham Young led Mormons to Utah seeking religious freedom.

Seneca Falls Convention (1848)

The first women's rights convention, advocating for women's suffrage.

Mexican Cession (1848)

Territory ceded to the U.S. by Mexico under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

California Gold Rush (1849)

Mass migration to California following the discovery of gold.

Compromise of 1850

Series of laws aimed at balancing slave and free states.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Created territories allowing popular sovereignty, leading to conflict.

Republican Party founded (1854)

A coalition opposing the spread of slavery into the territories.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Supreme Court case ruling that declared slaves were property, not citizens.

Lincoln-Douglas debates (1858)

Debates focused on the issue of slavery and its expansion.

John Brown's Raid

An attempted slave uprising that heightened sectional tensions.

Election of 1860

The election leading to Lincoln's presidency and the secession of Southern states.

Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852)

A novel that highlighted the brutality of slavery and fueled abolitionist sentiment.

Southern Secession (1860)

The withdrawal of Southern states from the Union leading to the Civil War.

Fort Sumter (1861)

The first battle of the Civil War, signaling the start of hostilities.

Homestead Act (1862)

Legislation granting land to settlers to encourage westward expansion.

Morrill Act (1862)

Established land-grant colleges that focused on agriculture and mechanical arts.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

An executive order that freed slaves in Confederate states.

Battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg (1863)

Turning points in the Civil War favoring the Union.

Appomattox Court House (1865)

Location of Lee's surrender, marking the end of the Civil War.

Assassination of Abraham Lincoln (1865)

Lincoln was assassinated shortly after the Civil War ended, leading to national mourning.

Freedmen's Bureau (1865)

Agency established to assist freed slaves and poor whites in the post-Civil War South.

Thirteenth Amendment

Abolished slavery throughout the United States.

Purchase of Alaska (1867)

The acquisition of Alaska from Russia, expanding U.S. territory.

Andrew Johnson's Impeachment (1868)

Impeachment related to violations of the Tenure of Office Act.

Fourteenth Amendment (1868)

Granted citizenship to all born or naturalized in the U.S.

Standard Oil (1870)

Monopoly founded by John D. Rockefeller, exemplifying corporate control.

Knights of Labor (1869)

An inclusive labor union pushing for workers' rights and better conditions.

Wyoming grants Women the Right to Vote (1869)

First state to allow women to vote, marking a change in gender rights.

Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

A major defeat for U.S. forces against Native Americans.

Election of 1876

Complicated election resulting in the compromise that ended Reconstruction.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

Workers protested wage cuts, leading to nationwide unrest.

Assassination of James Garfield (1881)

The president was killed by a disgruntled office seeker, leading to civil service reform.

Booker T. Washington and Tuskegee Institute (1881)

Founded to provide education and vocational training for African Americans.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Prohibited Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S.