AP US History - Key Terms

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

Casta System

System of racial hierarchy in Spanish controlled Americas that ordered the European, Natives, slaves, and mixed-races of the region after European conquest

Encomienda System

A colonial labour system in which the Spanish, known as encomenderos, enslaved native people to farm and mine in the Americas.

Christopher Columbus

Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a route to India (1451-1506)

Pedro Alveres Cabral

Portuguese explorer who discovered Brazil (1500).

Anglo-Powhatan Wars

First war fought in 1614 in Jamestown, the first successful American colony, ended with peace settlement by the mairrage of Pochahantas to John Rolfe. In 1622 the Indians attack leaving 347 settlers dead including John Rolfe. Raids drove the Indians farther west. The second war was fought in 1644, was a last ditch effort to dislodge the Virginians, the Indians were agian defeated.

Bacon's Rebellion

1676 uprising in colonial Virginia, led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor William Berkeley. Essentially, Francis Bacon and his followers wanted to travel West and expand into Indian land, but couldn't do to colonial law, as they felt limited in space. It was the first large-scale revolt in the American colonies, foreshadowing later acts of resistance and displaying tensions between different classes and Native Americans, as it would also lead to the creation of the Virginia Slave Codes since they didn't want the poor blacks and whites to work together, as the rebellion involved both slaves and indentured servants.

Calvinism and Puritan Migration

Protestant sect founded by John Calvin. Emphasized a strong moral code and believed in predestination (the idea that God decided whether or not a person would be saved as soon as they were born). Calvinists supported constitutional representative government and the separation of church and state, and many moved to colonial America seeking religious freedom and wanted to establish their own society.

Covenant Chain

An alliance between the Iroquois Confederacy and the colony of New York which sought to establish Iroquois dominance over all other tribes and thus put New York in an economically and politically dominant position among the other colonies (1677).

Enclosure movements

Before the Enclosure Movement, much land was held in common, with villagers having rights to graze livestock, collect wood, and cultivate strips of land within open fields. The movement involved taking this land and dividing it into individual plots, which were then fenced off and privately owned (early 1600s to the mid-1700s).

First Great Awakening

Religious revival in the colonies in 1730s and 1740s; George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards preached a message of atonement for sins by admitting them to God. The movement attempted to combat the growing secularism and rationalism of mid-eighteenth century America. Religious splits in the colonies became deeper.

joint-stock companies

a company whose stock is owned jointly by the shareholders. (think British East India Company and Dutch East India Company).

Mayflower Compact

The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony, and would later inspire other documents such as the constitution (1620).

Metacom's War

Conflict fought in southern New England from 1675 to 1676. It pitted Wampanoag leader Metacom (known as King Philip) and his allied Native American tribes against the English colonists. Displayed resistance by native americans of encroaching Euorpean settlers.

Navigation Acts

Laws that governed trade between England and its colonies. Colonists were required to ship certain products exclusively to England. These acts made colonists very angry because they were forbidden from trading with other countries (also forced items to be taxes through this method).

Enlightenment

A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions.

John Locke

(I'M JOHN LOCKED IN) was the guy who wrote the idea of the social contract, which meant that the people had natural rights. Some other ideas included the idea of splitting gov into 3 branches for balancing power (wink wink).

Social Contract

A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules, and if they government didn't give them these rights, they had the right to overthrow the government.

House of Burgesesses

The governing body of Virginia established in 1619 who was democratically elected and representative assembly which could levy taxes and pass laws, and was able to do so due to the UK's neglect on the colonies to be able to have their own local representation (though dominated by elite classes).

Merchantalism

Desire of countries to control resources to become self-sufficient and increase power, mainly led to a cycle of colonialism that led to the mother country taking raw goods from their colonies and giving back manufactured goods, allowing the mother country to prosper greatly.

Slave Codes

Laws that controlled the lives of enslaved African Americans and denied them basic rights.

Stono Rebellion

The most serious slave rebellion in the the colonial period which occurred in 1739 in South Carolina. 100 African Americans rose up, got weapons and killed several whites then tried to escape to S. Florida. The uprising was crushed and the participants executed. The main form of rebellion was running away, though there was no where to go. (Overt strategy of resisting slavery, other type was covert which is small scale things like sabotage).

7 Years War

Fought in both continental Europe and also in overseas colonies between 1756 and 1763; resulted in Prussian seizures of land from Austria, English seizures of disputed territory of Ohio River valley from the French and Indians. (haha get it)

Albany Plan of Union

plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown.

Peace of Paris

This ended the Seven Years War/French and Indian war between Britain and her allies and France and her allies. The result was the acquisition of all land east of the Mississippi plus Canada for Britain, and the removal of the French from mainland North America and land given to Spain. (though they would give it back to France anyways).

Proclamation Line of 1763

Stated that no colonists could settle in lands to the west of the Appalachian mountains-- made the colonists very upset

Quartering Act

Act forcing colonists to house and supply British forces in the colonies; created more resentment; seen as assault on liberties. (1765)

Sugar Act

law passed by the British Parliament enforced taxes on molasses and sugar imported by the colonies (also coffee and wine and other luxury items) (1764).

Stamp Act

Stamp given to every paper item that would require a tax. (1765). Heated up tensions A LOT, since they felt that they weren't represented in parliament since no colonials in it, but Parliament said they were since they represented all social classes (Virtual representation).

Sons of Liberty

A radical political organization for colonial independence which formed in 1765 after the passage of the Stamp Act. They incited riots and burned the customs houses where the stamped British paper was kept. After the repeal of the Stamp Act, many of the local chapters formed the Committees of Correspondence which continued to promote opposition to British policies towards the colonies. The Sons leaders included Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

Stamp Act Congress

A meeting of delegations from many of the colonies, the congress was formed to protest the newly passed Stamp Act. It adopted a declaration of rights as well as sent letters of complaints to the king and parliament, and it showed signs of colonial unity and organized resistance. (NOT a bid for independence yet, just British citizens petitioning for rights).

Declaratory Act

Act passed in 1766 after the repeal of the stamp act; stated that Parliament had authority over the the colonies and the right to tax and pass legislation "in all cases whatsoever."

Townshend Acts

A tax that the British Parliament passed in 1767 that was placed on leads, glass, paint and tea, and paper. Led to boycott of lots of goods helped by women who now made these goods instead.

Boston Massacre

The first bloodshed of the American Revolution (1770), as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans (to the colonists, sure sign of increasing British tyranny)

Tea Act

1773 act which eliminated import tariffs on tea entering England and allowed the British East India Company to sell directly to consumers rather than through merchants (essentially meant that u could only buy tea from the BEIC).

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest against British taxes in which Boston colonists disguised as Mohawks dumped valuable tea into Boston Harbor (a direct response to the Tea Act by the Sons of Liberty).

Coercive (Intolerable) Acts

4 acts (1773):

1) The Boston Port Act (closed Boston harbour to commerce until they payed for the tea that was sunk)

2) The Massachusetts Government Act (Gave the UK direct rule essentially over Massachusetts)

3) The Administration of Justice Act (The governor was given the power to appoint members of the council instead of elections)

4) Reinstated the Quartering Act after it was revoked in 1767

First Continental Congress

Delagates from all colonies except georgia met to discuss problems with britain, but still wanted to remain British subjects, independence wasn't on the horizon yet (1774).

Famous Battles in the American Revolution

Battle of Lexington and Concord: The first military engagement of the Revolutionary War. It occurred on April 19, 1775, when British soldiers fired into a much smaller body of minutemen on Lexington green.

Battle of Bunker Hill: fought on June 17, 1775, was the first major battle of the American Revolution. While technically a British victory, the battle demonstrated the ability of the colonial militia to stand against the British Army and inflicted heavy casualties on the Redcoats.

Battle of Trenton: Washington crosses the Delaware River on Christmas and ambushes Hessian forces (allies of the British) on December 26th, 1776.

Battle of Saratoga: Turning point of the war since France joined the war after this American victory

Battle of Yorktown: Last battle of the war, led to the surrender of General Cornwallis and the end of the American Revolutionary War.

Second Continental Congress and Olive Branch Petition

Political authority that directed the struggle for independence beginning in 1775, (Petition was sent to King George III as a final attempt to avoid war between the American colonies and Great Britain. The petition expressed colonial loyalty to the British Crown and requested a peaceful resolution to the growing conflict, hoping the King would intervene)

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that claimed the colonies had a right to be an independent nation (1775), spread throughout the colonies to almost everyone and had a lot of enlightenment ideals

Declaration of Independence

The document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain written by Thomas Jefferson. (Social contract, unalienable rights, etc, deeply influenced by revolutionary thought).

George Washington

1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1732-1799)

Articles of Confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War. Could barely do anything and states had most of the power when it came to raising armies. Onluy the Legislative Branch

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Created the Northwest Territory (area north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania), established conditions for self-government and statehood, included a Bill of Rights, and permanently prohibited slavery in these territories.

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out since there was no national guard to deal with anything.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution. Mainly two sides, Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Federalists: Urban, wanted strong central gov, George Washington (kinda), Alexander Hamilton, John Adams

Anti-Federalists: Rural, wanted weak central gov, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry

Virginia vs New Jersey Plans and the Great Compromise

Virginia: Elections based on proportion to population

New Jersey: Elections based equally on each state

Great Compromise: Legislative Branch was split into two houses - House of Representatives is based on population, Senate is based on states

3/5ths Compromise

agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as three-fifths of other persons in determining representation in Congress (though their votes would mean the votes of the slave owners)

Federalists Papers and Bill of Rights

Federalists Papers: Series of papers created by Alexander Hamilton (mainly), along with John Jay and James Madison to convince states to ratify the constitution.

Bill of Rights: Many wanted to make sure the government would adopt the ideas of freedoms displayed in the enlightenment, and the Bill of Rights (which became the first 10 amendments) was the strat, as it was adopted into the constitution.

Republican Motherhood

The idea that American women had a special responsibility to cultivate "civic virtue" in their children and teach children about the benefits of republicanism, and also in a way allowed women to gain political power.

Alexander Hamilton

1789-1795; First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank (through the elastic clause of implied powers), assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.

Whiskey Rebellion

In 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey, and several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the offenders. In October, 1794, the army, led by Washington, put down the rebellion. The incident showed that the new government under the Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem, in contrast to the inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to deal with Shay's Rebellion.

Democratic-Republicans

A poilitical party led by Thomas Jefferson, believed people should have political power, favored strong STATE governments, emphasized agriculture, strict interpretation of the Constitution, pro-French, opposed National Bank

Washington's Farewell Address

Washington Stepped down after 2 terms, setting precedent for other presidents to do the same. He warned Americans not to get involved in European affairs, not to make permanent alliances, not to form political parties and to avoid sectionalism.

XYZ Affair

During Adams' presidency, there were tensions between UK and France, and he supported UK (Federalist trend), and when he went to talk to France, there were 3 officials that demanded a bribe before they sat down (not actually named, but called X, Y, and Z). This showed tensions between US and France at the time

Alien and Sedition Acts

Alien: Legal and easy to deport any non-US citizen of the US, and also made the barrier higher for citizenship, since there were a lot of Irish and Scottish immigrants at the time who often supported the Democratic Republican party

Sedition: made it illegal to print, utter, or publish any "false, scandalous, and malicious" writings against the government of the United States during Adam's presidency (obviously not a good thing)

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Written anonymously by Jefferson and Madison in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, they declared that states could nullify federal laws that the states considered unconstitutional.

Indian Trade and Intercourse Act

1790 act to regulate and maintain fair trade between American Indian and white settlers. The act was widely ignored, and relations between the two groups continued to worsen.

Pinckey Treaty

(1795) Clarified border between US and Spain @ 31st parallel.

Naturalization Act

The Naturalization Act of 1790, also known as the Nationality Act, was the first US law to define the process for acquiring citizenship. It specified that naturalization was open to "free white persons" who had resided in the country for at least two years, demonstrated good moral character, and swore an oath to support the Constitution

Adams-Onís Treaty

Agreement in which Spain gave up all of Florida to the United States done by Andrew Jackson invading Florida basically (1819).

The Alamo

Never forget

American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS)

Shouldn't really have to explain this one but abolitionist society founded by William Lloyd Garrison in 1833 that became the most important northern abolitionist organization of the period. (key figures: Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tubman)

American system of manufacturing

a technique of production pioneered in the United States in the first half of the nineteenth century that relied on precision manufacturing with the use of interchangeable parts

Amistad mutiny

In 1839 a group of Africans were kidnapped from their homeland and transported to Cuba as slaves. While being transported from one port in Cuba to another, the Africans revolted, killed the captain and cook, and steered for the coast of Africa. The ship was eventually boarded by U.S. authorities in U.S. waters, and the Africans were imprisoned. Fierce legal battles ensued regarding entitlement to the Africans and the ship's cargo (John Quincy Adams represented the muntiny before the supreme court).

Battle of Horseshoe Bend

fought during the War of 1812 in central Alabama. On March 27, 1814, United States forces and Indian allies under General Andrew Jackson defeated the Red Sticks, a part of the Creek Indian tribe inspired by the Shawnee leader Tecumseh, effectively ending the Creek War.

Battle of New Orleans

A battle during the War of 1812 where the British army attempted to take New Orleans. Due to the foolish frontal attack, Jackson defeated them (also since they couldn't see Jackson's forces due to the fog), which gave him an enormous popularity boost.

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia and Worcester v. Georgia

Essentially, there was a Gold Rush in Georgia in 1828, and they found it on Cherokee land. Georgia wanted to push out the Cherokee people from Georgia so they could mine the gold, then they went to court.

First ruled in favour of Georgia, that the Cherokee nation was not a "foreign nation," therefore had no jurisdiction and did not have the legal power against Georgia to have them repeal their laws.

Second ruled in favour of Worcester, the Court held that the Cherokee Nation was "a distinct political community" within which Georgia law had no force. However, this didn't really matter as Jackson still forced the Cherokee people on the Trail of Tears.

"come outer" movement

Also known as the movement for Connor Bae, it was essentially leaving your religion since they didn't allign with your political beliefs during the Second Great Awakening (example: leaving cuz they weren't pro-abolitionist)

Corps of Discovery

The name given to the expedition led by Lewis and Clark in 1804-1806 that explored the Louisiana Purchase and the Oregon lands extending to the West Coast.

Corrupt Bargain

Refers to the presidential election of 1824 in which Henry Clay, the Speaker of the House, convinced the House of Representatives to elect Adams rather than Jackson, despite the fact that Jackson had won the most votes, but the rule at the time was the president needed to win majority otherwise it would go to the House. "Old Hickory" called this the "Corrupt Bargain"

cotton gin

A machine for cleaning the seeds from cotton fibers, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793. Made slavery HELLA profitable

cult of domesticity

idealized view of women & home; women, self-less caregiver for children, refuge for husbands (1800s)

Declaration of Sentiments

declared that all "people are created equal"; used the Declaration of Independence to argue for women's rights (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, presented at the Seneca Falls Convention, 1848)

Democrats

Political party lead by Andrew Jackson from 1828 to 1856. Campaigned against strong central government and fought to end elitism (since Old Hickory himself came from humble beginnings).

Embargo Act

1807 act which ended all of America's importation and exportation. Jefferson hoped the act would pressure the French and British to recognize U.S. neutrality rights in exchange for U.S. goods. Really, however, just hurt Americans and our economy and got repealed in 1809.

Erie Canal

A canal between the New York cities of Albany and Buffalo, completed in 1825. The canal, considered a marvel of the modern world at the time, allowed western farmers to ship surplus crops to sell in the North and allowed northern manufacturers to ship finished goods to sell in the West.

Liberty Party and Free-Soil Party

1) Party that straight up advocated for abolition of slavery across the US (1840).

2) Formed in 1847 - 1848, dedicated to opposing slavery in newly acquired territories such as Oregon and ceded Mexican territory.

Tariff of Abominations

Tariff implimented in 1828 which was highly protective and especially detrimental to the Southern colonies. Many spoke out against it such as Senator John C. Calhoun.

Nullification Crisis

Started with the Ordinance of Nullification said "No, I don't think I will," to the Tariff of 1828 (abominations), but then the Force Bill (1833) was like "How 'bout you do it anyway" and Jackson brought in the f*cking US military to deal with ts. it was also balanced by the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which gradually reduced tariff rates. This compromise helped to de-escalate the crisis and avoid a potential military conflict. (SC not liking stuff the government does also will come up in the future, cough cough Civil war)

Gag Rule

1835 law passed by Southern congress which made it illegal to talk of abolition or anti-slavery arguments in Congress (basically a topic that's too heated at the dinner table ur not allowed to talk about but it's the US government) - delaying the inevitable as well

Haitian Revolution

1790 first and only successful slave revolt led by Toussaint Louverture. It was inspired by the American revolution especially when looking at wording of their documents, and inspired abolitionist ideals in the US.

Hartford Convention

Meeting of Federalists near the end of the War of 1812 in which the party listed it's complaints against the ruling Republican Party. These actions were largley viewed as traitorous to the country and lost the Federalist much influence (Federalists fall off from this point)

Hudson River School

Founded by Thomas Cole (#109 The Oxbow, 1836 AD, oil on canvas) , it was an art movement (NOT AN ACTUAL SCHOOL) which attracted artists rebelling against the neoclassical tradition, painted many scenes of New York's Hudson River and landscape in general, very important for Romanticism period and US developing a new national identity seperate from Europe.

Indian Removal Act

(1830) a congressional act that authorized the removal of Native Americans who lived east of the Mississippi River

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETo5l_RFgPY

Marbury v. Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review, essentially created the role of the Supreme Court that it has today.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Ruled in favour of the creation of the Second National Bank through the constitution's implied powers, setting precident for implied powers in the future.

Missouri Compromise

"Compromise of 1820" over the issue of slavery in Missouri. It was decided Missouri entered as a slave state and Maine entered as a free state and all states North of the 36th parallel were free states and all South were slave states.

Monroe Doctrine

An American foreign policy opposing interference in the Western hemisphere from outside powers advocated by James Monroe - advocated for isolationism

Market Revolution

Drastic changes in transportation (canals, Railroads), communication (telegraph), and the production of goods (more in factories as opposed to houses) created mainly by the goat Henry Clay

Nat Turner's rebellion

Slave uprising in 1831 which killed a bunch of white people, which led to paranoia from slave owners throughout the south, prompting states to tighten slave codes and lessen the rights of African Americans.

National Republicans vs Democratic Republicans

National Republicans became Whig (Henry Clay, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Millard Fillmore)

Democratic Republicans (way back from Jefferson) became Democrat party.

National Road

A federally funded road, stretching from Cumberland, Maryland, to Vandalia, Illinois (1811 - 1837)

Non-Intercourse Act

The Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 was a US law that replaced the Embargo Act, allowing trade with all nations except Britain and France. It aimed to exert pressure on these two European powers while simultaneously easing some economic hardships caused by the earlier embargo.

Panic of 1819

Economic panic caused by extensive speculation and a decline of European demand for American goods along with mismanagement within the Second Bank of the United States during James Monroe's presidency. Often cited as the end of the Era of Good Feelings (Romatic era).

Panic of 1837

A financial crisis in the United States that led to an economic depression. Banks provided excessive credit for land speculation, leading to a boom and bust cycle. Jackson overrelied on this, meaning when Martin Van Buren became president, he was offloaded with all ts and was called Martin Van Ruin. Also, the lack of a national bank and decentralized state banking led to a lack of oversight and inconsistent standards. Many state banks printed paper money and made loans that exceeded the value of their reserves, resulting in inflation. (me when boring economic stuff 😴)

Petticoat Affair

Eaton, an ex-Senator and now Jackson's Secretary of War, married a bar maid named Peggy Eaton. Other senator's wives ostracized her, particularly Calhoun's wife. Andrew Jackson was sensitive to this given what happened to his wife (she died right before he first became president). Jackson upset at Calhoun for not controlling his wives behavior (the same guy who had beef with him for the tariff of abominations, who he had as VP for some strange reason?????).

Romantic era

Romanticism was a cultural and artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the US, emphasizing feely feely (emotion) over thinky thinky (rationality).

Second Bank of the United States

operating from 1816 to 1836, played a pivotal role in shaping early American financial history and politics, particularly through its involvement in the Bank War with President Andrew Jackson. It functioned as a central bank, regulating the nation's finances, issuing banknotes, and influencing credit availability, impacting the economy and sparking political conflict.