APUSH - Historical Periods 1-3

Pre-Columbian Great Plains Settlements (Pre-1492)

1) Lived in a variety of nomadic and sedentary communities.

2) Nomadic tribes lived in tepees and hunted animals such as buffalo on foot.

3) Sedentary tribes lived in earthen lodges and farmed what became known as the "three sisters" - corn, beans, and squash.

Pre-Columbian Mississippi River Settlements (Pre-1492)

1) Fertile soil and abundant rivers allowed natives to grow surpluses of corn, beans, and squash.

2) Natives built substantial towns, such as Cahokia, which were highly populated and served as centers of trade.

3) Natives built earthen pyramids or mounds, which were topped by wooden temples.

Pre-Columbian Southwest Settlements (Pre-1492)

1) The Pueblo people were one of the first tribes to cultivate maize (corn) in America.

2) The Pueblo people developed complex irrigation systems to maintain crops in the hot, arid climate.

3) The Pueblo created intricate cliff dwellings at places like Chaco Canyon that housed large populations and served as hubs for trade.

Maize Cultivation (Pre-1492)

1) Refers to the growing of corn.

2) Native societies that adopted corn grew larger and more sophisticated over time such as the Aztec and Mayas.

3) Cultivation of corn began in central Mexico and slowly spread to other parts of North America.

Columbian Exchange (1492)

1) Transfer of goods, crops, and diseases between the New and Old Worlds following Columbus' voyage to America.

2) Diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and the measles were brought over to the New World by Europeans, greatly reducing the Native American population.

3) New crops such as corn, squash, beans, potatoes, and tomatoes were brought over to the Old World improving the diets of Europeans and Africans and leading to population growth.

Fur Trade (1500s)

1) Trade alliance that developed between Northeast Native American tribes and Europeans such the French, Dutch, and English.

2) Native Americans would trade beaver skins for European goods such as guns, brass kettles, and alcohol.

3) Native American tribes competed for control of the fur trade, which occasionally led to conflicts between native groups such as the Beaver Wars.

Iroquois Confederation (1500s)

1) Loose alliance of 5 tribes, which included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca.

2) The alliance was created by the prophet Deganawida and his disciple Hiawatha in order to unify the tribes and end the violent fighting between Iroquois nations.

3) It is considered to be one of the oldest democracies, and its constitution, the Great Law of Peace, was a model for the U.S. Constitution.

Encomienda System (1512-1542)

1) A labor system whereby the Spanish crown granted the conquerors the right to forcibly employ groups of Indians.

2) It was a disguised form of Native American slavery.

3) The Spanish justified their control of native peoples through religion.

Bartolome de Las Casas

1) As a Catholic priest, he devoted most of his life to protecting American Indians from exploitation and arguing against Native American slavery.

2) Defended Native Americans at the Valladolid Debate in 1550.

3) His major achievement was the New Laws of 1542, which limited the ability of Spanish settlers to compel Indians to labor.

Pueblo Revolt (1680)

1) Native American revolt against the Spanish in late 17th century, which was caused by Spanish attempts to convert Indians to Catholicism.

2) Natives expelled the Spanish for over 10 years from the region.

3) As a result, the Spanish began to take an accommodating approach to Natives after the revolt.

Mulatto & Mestizo (1500s)

1) Mulatto is the offspring of Europeans and Africans.

2) Mestizo is the offspring of Europeans (Spanish) and indigenous persons.

3) These offspring added to the repopulation of the Western Hemisphere and also created a social hierarchy with Europeans having the most power.

Indentured servitude (1600s)

1) Was a way for poor Europeans to immigrate to the American colonies.

2) Immigrants traded 3 to 7 years of labor in exchange for the costly passage to come to the colonies.

3) Up to 50% of European immigrants came on some type of contract (including farming or domestic work).

Triangular trade (1600s)

1) Was the trade route whose main goal was the transatlantic slave trade.

2) The trade was between European colonial powers, West Africa and Caribbean or North American colonies.

3) The goods were sugar (rum) for manufactured goods (weapons) for slaves (middle passage).

Virginia Slave Laws (1660s)

1) Was the first example of the colonial government defining what it meant to be a slave in the British North American colonies.

2) Introduced the concept of "perpetual" slavery, or any child born to a female slave would be slave for life.

3) Also legalized the idea that slaves were property and that owners could use corporal punishment and receive financial compensation for slaves.

Chesapeake/Southern colonies (1600-1754)

1) Consists of Maryland, Virginia (Chesapeake), North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

2) These colonies were distinguished by an economy of cash crops (tobacco (main crop), indigo and rice. Indentured servants and slaves were main labor source.

3) A large wealth gap with large plantation owners having power and a protestant religion were characteristics of this region.

New England colonies (1600-1754)

1) Northernmost colonies, which consisted of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

2) The area was originally settled by families who were coming to America to escape religious persecution (i.e. Puritans and Pilgrims).

3) The cold climate and rocky soil meant that the economy of the region was based on trade and shipbuilding.

Middle colonies (1600-1754)

1) Region that included the New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey colonies.

2) The most diverse region in the British colonies, which included Germans, Dutch, and Quakers.

3) As the "bread colonies," the economy of the region was built on the cultivation of corn and wheat.

Jamestown (1607)

1) The first permanent English settlement in North America, which was established in present-day Virginia.

2) The early years of this colony were especially difficult as colonists died in large numbers due to disease, malnutrition, starvation, and clashes with natives.

3) The introduction of tobacco into the colony by John Rolfe helped make it an economic success and allowed thiscolony to flourish.

Virginia House of Burgesses (1619)

1) First representative assembly created in the British colonies, which was created to govern Virginia.

2) It established a tradition of democracy in the British colonies.

3) This legislative body lasted all the way up to the American Revolution in 1776, with Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry serving as representatives.

Puritans & “City upon a Hill” (1630)

1) These colonists settled in present-day Massachusetts.

2) These colonists came to America seeking religious freedom from the Anglican church.

3) Their leader John Winthrop delivered this famous sermon, in which he encouraged Puritans to serve as a "model" community for the rest of the world.

Roger Williams/Anne Hutchinson (1640s)

1) They were both Puritans who were banished from Massachusetts.

2) He founded Rhode Island, known for its religious toleration.

3) She and her followers joined Williams in Rhode Island.

Navigation Acts (1660s)

1) Mercantilism is the system in which colonies provide raw materials to its mother country in order to profit from that country's industry. The Navigation Acts are the laws that were created for this very system.

2) The Navigation Acts are laws that dictated the rules of trade between Great Britain and its colonies.

3) The rules of trade were rarely enforced by the British crown, allowing for a policy of salutary neglect to develop.

King Philip’s War (1675)

1) Named after the tribal leader who united Native tribes against English settlers encroaching on their territory.

2) Thousands were killed on both sides, including the tribal leader.

3) This event was significant because it signaled the end of Native American resistance in the New England colonies.

Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)

1) A British colonial farmer, along with former indentured servants, led a series of raids against Native Americans in Virginia.

2) The government accused the poor farmers of rebelling against authority.

3) This conflict served as an example of the class differences that existed within the colonies.

Holy Experiment/William Penn (1681)

1) This refers to the colony of Pennsylvania.

2) This was created as a safe haven for Quakers and guaranteed religious freedom.

3) Its government consisted of a representative assembly and written constitution.

Stono Rebellion (1739)

1) This was the largest slave revolt in the British colonies.

2) Slaves killed more than 20 whites in South Carolina as they tried to gain freedom in Florida.

3) After the slaves were stopped, whites passed more laws restricting slaves.

John Locke (1700s)

1) The Enlightenment was a philosophical and cultural movement in Europe.

2) John Locke was an English philosopher believed in natural rights which greatly influenced American revolutionaries.

3) The ideas of the movement emphasized reason and science as opposed to blind faith and science.

First Great Awakening (1730s)

1) This was a religious revival in the British colonies.

2) Jonathan Edwards's "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and George Whitefield were two powerful influences during the movement.

3.) As a result, colonists shared in a common experience and caused some to question authority.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

1.) American public official, writer, scientist, and printer., who promoted freedom of the press. After the success of his "Poor Richard's Almanac", he entered politics and played a major part in the American Revolution. 2.) Developed the Albany Plan of Union in 1754, which proposed an intercolonial government, and systems for recruiting troops and collecting taxes. During the American Revolution, he negotiated French support for the colonists, signed the Treaty of Paris, and helped draft the Constitution. 3.) His numerous scientific and practical innovations include the lightning rod, bifocal spectacles, and a stove.

French & Indian War (1754)

1) Colonial war between British colonies and colonies of New France who were supported by Native American allies.

2) Ended with British supremacy of North America.

3) Won the Ohio valley for Britain and initially opened the territory to the American colonists.

Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

1) An uprising of Native American allies in the aftermath of the French and Indian War.

2) Changed British policy towards the colonies with Proclamation of 1763, preventing colonists from westward settlement.

3) Officially ended the policy of salutary neglect, leading to the road to revolution.

Stamp Act (1765)

1) A tax on all printed materials that was also the first direct tax on the American colonies by British parliament.

2) British government needed to help pay for British troops stationed in American colonies.

3) Led to opposition by Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty.

Sons of Liberty (1765)

1) Secret organization launched to fight the Stamp Act.

2) Although they were disbanded after the repeal of the Stamp Act, they represented any opposition to future British taxes.

3) Their motto "No taxation without representation" became a rallying cry of revolution.

Boston Massacre (1770)

1) A small group of British soldiers were being harassed by Bostonians who hated their presence.

2) The soldiers fired a volley into the crowd, killing five colonists.

3) This event was used as propaganda by Samuel Adams to rile up colonies against British government.

Coercive (Intolerable) Acts (1774)

1) These were punitive laws passed by the British parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party.

2) The British Parliament hope to make an example of Massachusetts to the other 12 colonies.

3) Instead it led to the First Continental Congress and the colonies becoming more unified in their response to Britain.

Common Sense (1776)

1) This was a 55-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine.

2) It circulated in the colonies, advocating for colonial independence from Great Britain.

3) One main argument was that an island should not rule a large continent.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

1) This was written by Thomas Jefferson.

2) It outlined specific grievances that the colonists had with King George III.

3) One major argument was that all men are entitled to unalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

1) This was created after the British defeat at Yorktown.

2) It was the conclusion to the American Revolution, and its signing recognized the United States as an independent nation.

3) It dictated that the Mississippi River was the western boundary of the U.S., significantly increasing the size of the colonies.

Republican Motherhood (Late 1700s)

1) Belief that women had an important role in the new government of the United States by protecting morality and nurturing civic virtue in their husbands and children.

2) Led to an increased role for women in the United States, because it encouraged women to get an education.

3) Women became more political during the American Revolution, serving as nurses, cooks, running family farms, and even sometimes posing as soldiers. These political roles led to a focus on developing republican ideals in their children when the war was over.

Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

1) First constitution of the United States, which was created during the Revolutionary war.

2) The central government was intentionally very weak and had very few powers: it had no army, could not tax, could not regulate trade, and lacked a federal court system.

3) The weaknesses in the government created major economic problems and led to turmoil such as Shays' Rebellion.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

1) Organized the Northwest territory for government and future statehood.

2) Granted freedom of religion, banned slavery, and provided for public education in the territory.

3) One of the only major accomplishments of Congress under the Articles of Confederation.

Three-fifths Compromise (1789)

1) This addition to the constitution stated that each slave would count as 3/5 of a person when determining total population.

2) This population count was used to determine taxation and representation in Congress.

3) This was meant to serve as a compromise between northern and southern states while creating the Constitution, which would not have been ratified without this compromise.

Federalist Papers (1787)

1) A series of essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.

2) The purpose of the essays was to convince Americans to ratify the Constitution.

3) There were 85 essays that advocated for the creation of a strong central government.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

1) A formal declaration by George Washington, who publicly declared neutrality in conflicts between Great Britain and France.

2) Washington was concerned about the new nation's ability to handle foreign conflicts.

3) This caused political division, resulting in Jefferson's resignation from the cabinet.

Shays’ Rebellion (1787)

1) This uprising was caused by farmers who were upset over high taxes and imprisonment over debt.

2) Many of the farmers had fought in the American Revolution and stopped the collection of taxes.

3) This demonstrated a weakness in the Articles of Confederation, as only the state militia was able to stop the uprising.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

1) Alexander Hamilton introduced excise taxes as part of his financial plan.

2) Western Pennsylvania farmers rejected the tax on distilled grains. 3) Washington sent troops to stop the protests, demonstrating the power of the new federal government under the U.S. Constitution.

Treaty of Greenville (1795)

1) As settlers began moving west and encroaching on native lands, violence broke out.

2) The native tribes were supplied by the British, but the Americans defeated the native confederation at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

3) The natives gave up the Ohio Territory, which was open to colonial settlement.

Alexander Hamilton’s Financial Plan (1796)

1) Goal was to stabilize the U.S. economy after the Articles of Confederation.

2) Consisted of a national bank, tariff and federal government's assumption of state debt.

3) Thomas Jefferson and other states' rights advocates were against this and worried it only benefited the wealthy and gave too much power to federal government.

Federalist party (1790s)

1) Led by Alexander Hamilton 2) Believed in a national bank, tariffs, loose interpretation of Constitution, and pro-British 3) Supported by the wealthy and business owners, especially in the North

Democratic-Republicans (1790s)

1) Led by Thomas Jefferson

2) Anti-national bank and tariff but believed in strict interpretation of Constitution and pro-French

3) Supported by small farmers, especially in the South

Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)

1) Set precedent for serving maximum of two terms as president

2) Warned against getting involved in European affairs and forming alliances

3) Warned against forming political parties (but advice was too late)

Alien & Sedition Acts (1798)

1) Passed by President John Adams

2) Allowed the president to deport any foreigner deemed dangerous and made it illegal to speak out against the president

3) Passed as a means for the president to reassert control in response to growing demands to go to war against France

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (1798)

1) Written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in response to Alien & Sedition Acts

2) Argued that states could nullify federal law

3) Only adopted by two states but raised question of how much power states should have versus federal government

Bill of Rights (1791)

1) First ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution

2) Proposed by the Anti-Federalists, who believed the rights of the people needed to be protected

3) Written by James Madison and typically supported by southern delegates

Abigail Adams (1744-1818)

1) The wife of John Adams and the mother of future president John Quincy Adams. She served as the first lady of the United States from 1797-1801.

2) Often separated from her husband due to his work with the American Revolution, like many women of the day, she oversaw the family's household and raised 4 children on her own. She maintained constant correspondence (letters) with her husband and other revolutionary figures such as Thomas Jefferson.

3) She was a strong advocate for women's rights, female education, and the abolition of slavery. While women did not gain equality as a result of the American Revolution, she supported the development of Republican Motherhood, which allowed more educational opportunities for women in early America.

Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)

1.) First African American female writer and enslaved person to be published in the United States. Her book "Poems on Various Subjects" was published in 1773, pioneered African-American literature.

2.) Born in West Africa (Senegal), she was kidnapped at the age of 7 and brought to Boston as part of the Middle Passage. She worked for the Wheatley family, who encouraged her poetry.

3.) Wheatley wrote about the new republic, covering topics such as the Stamp Act. She also wrote poems about George Washington AND George Whitefield.