AP US History Ultimate Study Guide Flashcards

Christopher Columbus Arrival

Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492, marking the beginning of sustained contact between Europe and the Americas.

Bering Land Bridge

The Bering Land Bridge connected Eurasia and North America, through which the first people migrated into the Americas.

Pre-Columbian Era

The period in North America before the arrival of Christopher Columbus, characterized by the presence of diverse Native American cultures.

Culture Clash

The conflict that arose between European settlers and Native Americans due to differences in cultures, religions, and technologies.

Columbian Exchange

The period of widespread exchange of plants, animals, foods, diseases, and cultures between the New and Old Worlds after Columbus's voyages.

Spanish Colonial Power

Refers to Spain's dominance in the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries, marked by exploration, conquest, and settlement.

Native American Resistance

The efforts made by Native American tribes to resist European colonization and expansion throughout American history.

Indentured Servitude

A labor system where individuals agreed to work for a set number of years in exchange for passage to America and eventual freedom.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise reached during the Constitutional Convention to count enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.

Veto

The constitutional right of the President to reject a decision or proposal made by Congress.

New Deal

A series of policies and programs initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aimed at economic recovery.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Impeachment

A formal charge of misconduct against a sitting president or other public official, which can lead to removal from office.

McCarthyism

The practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper evidence, particularly during the Red Scare.

Détente

A period of relaxed tensions and improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The Great Society

A set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.

The Marshall Plan

A U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe following the devastation of World War II, aimed at economic recovery.

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates following World War II, leading to demographic changes in American society.

Nixon Doctrine

A foreign policy introduced by President Nixon outlining that the U.S. would support its allies but expected them to fight their own wars.

Iran Hostage Crisis

A diplomatic crisis in which 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days from November 1979.