AP US History - Exam #2 study guide

Use this if you're in Vargas's class. Original set by Marco Garcia.

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Managed the colonial war effort and coordinated defense strategies. Moved the colonies toward independence eventually adopting the Declaration of Independence. Established the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief

French intervention during Revolutionary War

Provided military aid funds and naval support to the American colonies. Strengthened the colonies international legitimacy and helped turn the wars tide. France signed a formal alliance in 1778 sending troops and supplies crucial to victory at Yorktown

Separation of powers

Divides government authority into legislative executive and judicial branches. Prevents any single branch from becoming too powerful ensuring checks and balances. Implemented in state constitutions and later the US Constitution to guard against tyranny

Commonwealthmen Tradition

Emphasized civic virtue and vigilance against corruption and tyranny. Influenced American revolutionary ideology and ideas about public participation. British writers like John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon inspired colonial pamphlets promoting liberty

Natural rights

Rights inherent to all humans including life liberty and property. Formed the philosophical foundation for revolution and self government. John Lockes theories heavily influenced Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence

British common law

Legal system based on precedent and established customs. Provided colonists with expectations for justice property and trial by jury. Colonists cited it when arguing against arbitrary taxation and abuses by royal officials

Pueblo Revolt (1680)

Native uprising led by Pope against Spanish colonial rule in New Mexico. Reclaimed Pueblo religion and culture for over a decade. Forced the Spanish to flee and temporarily halted colonization efforts

El Pope Rebellion

Another name for the Pueblo Revolt motivated by suppression of native religion. Unified many Pueblo communities against Spanish control and destroyed missions and settlements

Tea Act (1773)

Allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to colonies undercutting merchants. Seen as a monopoly and example of taxation without representation. Sparked the Boston Tea Party protest

Second Treatise on Government (Locke 1690)

Argued that governments exist to protect natural rights of life liberty and property. Justified rebellion against rulers who violate those rights. Influenced revolutionary documents like the Declaration of Independence

Common Sense (1776)

Thomas Paines pamphlet calling for independence and republican government. Widely read and shifted public opinion toward revolution. Sold over 100000 copies within months of publication

The American Crisis

Series of pamphlets by Thomas Paine boosting morale during the war. Emphasized perseverance in hardship and was read to troops at Valley Forge to inspire courage

Whigs vs Loyalists

Whigs supported independence while Loyalists remained loyal to Britain. Caused deep political and social divisions. Loyalists lost property and fled to Canada or Britain after persecution

American public opinion (1774-1776)

Initially favored reconciliation with Britain but shifted after punitive acts and propaganda. Pamphlets like Common Sense and news of bloodshed pushed many toward independence

Powers of Royal Governors

Appointed by the Crown with power to veto laws and control militias. Often clashed with elected assemblies. Their authority symbolized royal control fueling resentment

Coercive Acts (1774)

Series of punitive laws after the Boston Tea Party including the Boston Port Act and Massachusetts Government Act. Designed to punish Boston but united colonies against Britain

Anglo-French Conflict before 1763

Imperial wars like King Georges War and Queen Annes War between Britain and France in North America. Gave colonists military experience and increased imperial rivalry

Sugar Act (1764)

Placed duties on molasses and sugar to raise revenue and enforce trade laws. Ended salutary neglect and angered merchants through stricter customs enforcement

Samuel Adams as revolutionary

Organizer of the Sons of Liberty and Committees of Correspondence. Helped plan protests including the Boston Tea Party and encouraged intercolonial unity

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Colonists disguised as Mohawks dumped British tea into Boston Harbor. Protested the Tea Act and symbolized defiance that led Britain to pass the Coercive Acts

Albany Plan (1754)

Ben Franklins proposal for intercolonial unity and defense during the French and Indian War. Rejected because colonies feared losing self taxation powers but foreshadowed later federal union

Albany Congress (1754)

Meeting of colonial delegates to strengthen relations with the Iroquois and coordinate defense. Early attempt at unity and shared planning

Quebec Act (1774)

Extended Quebecs territory and protected Catholicism. Alarmed colonists who saw it as a threat to Protestantism and western land claims. Considered one of the Intolerable Acts

Townshend Acts (1767)

Taxed imports like glass paper and tea. Revenues paid royal officials bypassing colonial legislatures. Triggered boycotts and violent protests

Declaratory Act (1766)

Repealed the Stamp Act but declared Parliament had full authority over colonies in all cases. Demonstrated Britains refusal to limit its power

Seven Years War (1756-1763)

Global conflict between Britain and France that expanded British power in North America. Left Britain with massive debt leading to postwar taxes on colonies

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

North American portion of the Seven Years War between Britain and France with Native allies. Ended with the Treaty of Paris 1763 giving Britain control of Canada. Sparked new taxation policies that angered colonists

Suffolk Resolves (1774)

Declared Coercive Acts void urged boycott of British goods and called colonies to form militias. Adopted by First Continental Congress showing unity

Immigrants to 13 colonies (1700s)

Included English Scots-Irish Germans and enslaved Africans. Increased cultural diversity and population growth especially in backcountry areas

Proclamation Line (1763)

Banned settlement west of the Appalachians to reduce Native conflict after Pontiacs Rebellion. Angered colonists seeking western lands

Role of colonial legislators

Managed taxation and spending asserting control over governors. Built traditions of self governance that inspired revolution

Voter eligibility (1700s)

Usually limited to white male property owners. Excluded women poor men and enslaved people. Reflected colonies link between property and civic virtue

Rise of the Assemblies

Colonial legislatures gained power over governors especially over taxation. Set democratic precedents and resistance to imperial rule

First Great Awakening (1730s-1740s)

Religious revival stressing emotional faith and personal salvation. Led by George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards it challenged established churches and encouraged equality before God

John Locke

Philosopher of natural rights and the social contract. Influenced American revolutionaries and Jeffersons Declaration of Independence

Edmund Burke

British politician who urged reconciliation with colonies. Criticized harsh policies and warned that repression would cause rebellion

Stamp Act (1765)

Placed taxes on printed materials. Colonists protested taxation without representation leading to boycotts and the Stamp Act Congress

First Continental Congress (1774)

Delegates from twelve colonies met to oppose Coercive Acts. Called for boycotts and rights petitions and prepared militias

Importance of journals/newspapers

Spread revolutionary ideas and unified opinion. Pamphlets and newspapers like the Boston Gazette promoted resistance to British rule

Pontiacs Rebellion (1763)

Native uprising after Britains victory in the French and Indian War. Attacks on forts led Britain to issue the Proclamation Line limiting westward expansion

Quartering Act (1765)

Required colonists to house British soldiers. Seen as a violation of rights and increased resentment toward the army presence

Prohibitory Act (1775)

Declared colonies in rebellion and banned trade with them. Marked Britains rejection of reconciliation and pushed toward independence

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers fired on colonists killing five. Used as propaganda by Patriots to unite opposition to Britain

Financial problems (mid-1700s)

Britains war debt prompted new colonial taxes like the Sugar and Stamp Acts. Sparked tension over representation and fiscal control

Revolutionary War commanders

George Washington led the Continental Army with support from leaders like Nathanael Greene and Henry Knox. British generals included William Howe and Cornwallis. Washingtons strategy and French aid secured victory at Yorktown

No taxation without representation

Slogan expressing colonial opposition to Parliamentary taxes. Claimed only colonial assemblies could levy taxes contrasting Parliaments idea of virtual representation

John Dickinson

Pennsylvanian lawyer who promoted peaceful protest. His Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania argued that Parliament could regulate trade but not tax for revenue

James Otis

Early critic of British policies and defender of natural rights. Coined taxation without representation is tyranny. Challenged legality of writs of assistance

Patrick Henry

Fiery Virginian orator who urged resistance to tyranny. Delivered the Give me liberty or give me death speech inspiring revolution

Virtual representation

Britains claim that Parliament represented all subjects including colonists. Rejected by Americans who wanted direct local representation

Parliamentary sovereignty

Principle asserting Parliament's supreme authority over colonies. Basis for British taxation and colonial protests over loss of self rule

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended the French and Indian War. France ceded Canada to Britain while Spain gained Louisiana. Marked Britain's dominance in North America

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Ended the Revolutionary War recognizing US independence and territory to the Mississippi. Negotiated by Franklin Adams and Jay

Role of West Indies/Caribbean

Produced sugar and molasses that fueled Atlantic trade. Central to mercantilism and dependent on enslaved labor

American Enlightenment

Movement emphasizing reason science and progress. Shaped revolutionary ideas on liberty and governance. Figures like Franklin and Jefferson embodied Enlightenment ideals

Deism

Belief that God created natural laws but does not intervene. Influenced Founders promoting religious tolerance and reason based morality

Philosophes

French Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu and Voltaire who advocated liberty equality and separation of powers. Inspired American political thought

Fort Duquesne

French fort at modern Pittsburgh that controlled Ohio Valley access. Site of Washingtons early defeat and later captured by British as Fort Pitt

Average ages of colonists (1700s)

Young population with high birth rates and labor supply. Supported expansion and rapid population growth

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Turning point in the Revolution where American victory convinced France to ally with the colonies. Burgoynes surrender boosted morale

Quakers

Pacifist Christian group emphasizing equality and nonviolence. Opposed slavery and war influencing early abolitionism

Old Lights vs New Lights

Old Lights opposed revivalist emotional preaching while New Lights supported it. Split denominations and spread revival ideas

Itinerant preachers

Traveling ministers like George Whitefield who spread revivalist faith across colonies. Unified diverse populations through emotional preaching

Ben Franklin

Inventor diplomat and statesman. Helped draft Declaration of Independence and secure French alliance. Embodied Enlightenment ideals of reason and civic virtue

Prominent Great Awakening preachers

George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards preached emotional conversion. Stressed personal salvation and challenged church authority

Triangular Trade

Atlantic system linking Europe Africa and Americas. Slaves rum sugar and manufactured goods circulated building colonial economies

Colonial economy and trade (1700s)

Agriculture shipbuilding and Atlantic commerce dominated. Relied on exports like tobacco and imports of British goods under mercantilism and Navigation Acts

Sons of Liberty

Radical organization resisting British taxation. Led boycotts riots and the Boston Tea Party

Daughters of Liberty

Women who supported boycotts and made homespun goods to resist British imports. Encouraged domestic production and patriotism

Homespun

Clothing made from local materials symbolizing economic independence and resistance to British goods

Olive Branch Petition (1775)

Last colonial attempt at peace expressing loyalty to the Crown but demanding rights. Rejected by King George III

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

Met in New York to protest the Stamp Act and assert that only colonial legislatures could tax. Marked first major intercolonial unity

Growth of colonies (1700s)

Rapid population increase urban growth and frontier expansion fueled by immigration and natural increase

George IIIs beliefs toward colonies

King who upheld Parliamentary sovereignty and rejected colonial petitions. His stubborn enforcement of taxes pushed colonies toward revolution