AP US History Notes

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Colonial Period

The period marked by the arrival of migrators in the New World, the cultivation of maize, the Encomienda system, and the establishment of colonies like Jamestown and Roanoke.

The Three Sisters

The agricultural practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together to benefit from their complementary growth patterns and nutritional value.

Encomienda System

A Spanish labor system rewarding conquerors with the labor of non-Christian peoples, akin to plantation slavery but with Native Americans.

Jamestown

The first successful British colony in Virginia, established for permanent settlement rather than just economic gain like the Spanish colonies.

Headright System

A system granting 50 acres of land to anyone who came to America, serving as an incentive for immigration and land acquisition.

House of Burgesses

The first representative democracy in the colonies, controlling militia, finances, and eventually creating laws in Virginia.

Indentured Servitude

A labor system where individuals sold themselves for a set period in exchange for passage to the New World.

Bacon's Rebellion

A 1676 uprising led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkeley in Virginia, highlighting tensions between the wealthy elite and poor settlers.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement signed by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower to establish a crude government and abide by majority rule in Plymouth.

Toleration Act of 1649

Granted toleration to all Christians in Maryland but decreed death to those who denied Christianity, reflecting religious tensions in the colonies.

Navigation Acts of 1663

Required all goods to pass through England on English ships, aimed at controlling colonial trade

Salutory Neglect

British policy of lax enforcement of laws in the colonies, allowing for some degree of self-governance

Writs of Assistance

Open-ended warrants allowing for the search of illegal goods, challenged by James Otis as a violation of privacy

Stamp Act

Imposed taxes on documents, leading to colonial resistance and the formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty

Declaratory Act

Asserted Parliament's right to legislate for the colonies, passed alongside the repeal of the Stamp Act

Boston Tea Party

Protest against the Tea Act where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor in defiance of British taxation

Olive Branch Petition

Colonists' appeal to King George III for peace and intervention in Parliament's actions, rejected by the King

Declaration of Independence

Document justifying the colonies' break from Britain, citing violations of natural rights and social contract

Articles of Confederation

First American government with a weak central authority, leading to issues like lack of taxation power and disputes among states

Great Compromise

Established a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the House and equal representation in the Senate

Citizen Genet

French ambassador during the Napoleonic Wars who tried to involve America by recruiting privateers

Proclamation of Neutrality

Declaration by the US to remain neutral in the Napoleonic Wars, allowing trade with both sides

Jay's Treaty

Treaty with Britain that led to British evacuation from the Northwest Territory and addressed impressment of US sailors

Pinckney Treaty

Agreement with Spain granting the US navigation rights on the Mississippi River and the right of deposit in New Orleans

Political Press

Emergence of Federalist Gazette and Republican National Gazette shaping public opinion during Washington's presidency

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws signed by Adams restricting immigrants' rights and criminalizing criticism of the government

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, asserting states' rights to nullify unconstitutional laws

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Exploration of the Louisiana Purchase to find a water route to the West Coast

Barbary Wars

Conflict with North African states over tribute payments and piracy on American merchant ships

War of 1812

Conflict with Britain over trade restrictions, impressment of sailors, and territorial disputes, including the burning of Washington, D.C.

Panic of 1819

Causes include inability of the BUS to raise enough specie, inflation, land speculation leading to bank failures due to inability to sell land.

Monroe Doctrine

Policy statement declaring the Western Hemisphere off-limits for European colonization, with the US refraining from interfering in European affairs.

Corrupt Bargain (Election of 1824)

Alleged deal between Clay and Adams for Clay's support in exchange for the Secretary of State position, leading to Jacksonian discontent.

Industrial Revolution Innovations

Contributions such as the locomotive by Oliver Evans, steel plow by John Deere, and mechanical reaper by Cyrus McCormick.

Marshall Court Rulings

Notable cases like McCulloch v. Maryland affirming national government power and Gibbons v. Ogden establishing Congress's authority over interstate commerce.

Lowell-Waltham System

Utilized stolen ideas to create company towns, employing young women in textile mills and providing social structure changes.

Nullification Crisis

Conflict over states' rights to nullify federal laws, culminating in the Webster-Hayne debate and Jackson's response to South Carolina's nullification of tariffs.

Jackson's Native American Policy

Advocated Indian Removal Act leading to the Trail of Tears, disregarding Supreme Court rulings in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia and Worcester v. Georgia.

Bank Debate and Specie Circular

Jackson's opposition to the BUS, vetoing its renewal, and implementing the Specie Circular leading to the Panic of 1837.

Second Great Awakening

Spiritual and social reform movement emphasizing temperance, abolitionism, and women's rights, with transcendentalism promoting individualism and reform.

Utopian Communities

Experimental societies like the Oneida Community that aimed to create ideal living conditions by rejecting individual freedoms and emphasizing disciplined community life.

Millenarianism

Belief in the imminent second coming of Christ, leading to the rejection of past moral ideas and the practice of carefully regulated "free love" in communities like those led by John Humphrey Noyes.

Education Reform

Transition from religious training to secular education, with Horace Mann advocating for public education reform and the establishment of free state schools supported by taxes.

Women's Rights

Movement inspired by the Second Great Awakening, with figures like Angelina and Sarah Grimké challenging the cult of domesticity and advocating for women's suffrage.

Abolitionist Movement

Efforts to end slavery, led by figures like William Lloyd Garrison who called for immediate emancipation without compensation for owners, and supported by other abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and the Tappan brothers.

Mexican-American War

Conflict resulting in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war, ceded territories to the US, and set the stage for rising tensions over slavery in new states like California.

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Legislation that made running away illegal and required federal marshals to assist slave catchers, leading to fines and jail time for those aiding runaways and contributing to tensions between North and South.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe's influential novel depicting the harsh realities of slavery, which sparked debates and differing reactions between the North and South.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Legislation proposed by Stephen Douglas that repealed the Missouri Compromise, introduced popular sovereignty, and led to violent conflicts like "Bleeding Kansas" over the issue of slavery in new territories.

Dred Scott v Sandford

Landmark Supreme Court case where Dred Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom, resulting in a ruling that denied rights to black men and declared slavery could not be denied in any territory, intensifying tensions over slavery in the US.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Series of debates in Illinois between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas to gain support for their respective parties, making Lincoln a national figure.

John Brown and the Raid at Harpers Ferry

Violent abolitionist who led a poorly planned raid at Harpers Ferry to free slaves, captured, tried for treason, and hanged.

Sectionalism

Division between Puritans and Cavaliers, leading to paranoia, evolution of the South from agricultural to industrial, and states' rights conflicts, notably over slavery.

Election of 1860

Abraham Lincoln wins despite not being on the ballot in 10 southern states, leading to secession of Southern states.

Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln's announcement that slaves in rebellious states would be freed by January 1 unless they stopped rebelling.

Battle of Gettysburg

Three-day battle, turning point in the Civil War, where Lee's invasion of the North was repelled, leading to heavy casualties and Pickett's failed charge.

Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction

Issued by the president, it initiated a conflict between Congress and the president over Reconstruction, aiming to replace Southern majority rule with "loyal rule" by requiring an oath of loyalty from individuals.

Wade-Davis Bill

It required 50% of 1860 voters to take an "iron-clad" oath of allegiance, highlighting the struggle between Congress and the president over Reconstruction.

State Suicide Theory

Proposed by Charles Sumner, it argued that Southern governments had destroyed themselves, giving Congress authority over them during Reconstruction.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery and was the only amendment signed by a president

Freedmen's Bureau

Established to assist freedmen in transitioning to freedom, it faced opposition from Southern Democrats and played a crucial role in providing education to freedmen.

Andrew Johnson

Jacksonian Democrat who faced backlash for his lenient Reconstruction policies, including granting pardons and implementing Black Codes.

14th Amendment

Ensured rights and security for freedmen, defined citizenship, and aimed to protect against neo-Confederate political power, emphasizing equal protection under the law.

Military Reconstruction Act

Restarted Reconstruction in states that did not ratify the 14th Amendment, dividing them into military districts and overriding the president's veto.

Tenure of Office Act

Restricted the president from firing officials without Senate approval, aiming to protect Secretary of War Edwin Stanton during Reconstruction.

Sharecropping

System that emerged post-Civil War, forcing blacks into agricultural labor contracts and perpetuating pre-emancipation racial dynamics in the South.

Captain William J Fetterman

Led small troops into a Native American ambush, resulting in a massacre.

Treaty of Medicine Lodge

Reserved areas for Native American tribes.

Battle of Little Bighorn

Lieutenant Colonel Custer's failed attempt to return Sioux to reservations, resulting in a massacre.

Dawes Severalty Act

Policy aiming at assimilation by granting land to Native American families.

Arapaho "Ghost Dance"

Belief that a dance would bring back buffalo and end the influence of white settlers.

Wounded Knee

Massacre of Native Americans by the US Army, marking the end of Native American resistance.

Yellowstone National Park

The first national park, symbolizing the beginning of the conservation movement.

John Muir

Early environmentalist advocating for the preservation of natural lands.

Technological Innovations

Bessemer process, refrigerated cars, and Edison's inventions revolutionized industries.

Gospel of Wealth

Carnegie's belief that the wealthy should use their money to benefit society.

Sherman Antitrust Act

Legislation aimed at regulating trusts and monopolies in the US.

Knights of Labor

Labor union advocating for workers' rights and social reforms.

Homestead Steel Strike

Conflict between workers and management at Carnegie's steel mill in Homestead.

Pullman Strike

A labor strike in the company town of Pullman where workers were forced to live, leading to a nationwide railway strike.

Eugene V. Debbs

President of the Railway Union involved in the Pullman Strike, advocating for public control of economics and socialism.

International Workers of the World

Known as "Wobblies," a union of unions led by "Big Bill" Haywood, justifying violence to overthrow capitalism.

Populism

A movement in reaction to agricultural issues, advocating for public control of economics and political reforms.

Bland-Allison Act

Legislation limiting silver coinage and maintaining a fixed ratio of silver to gold.

Grange Movement

An organization focused on cooperative associations to combat railroad monopolies and advocate for farmers' rights.

Populist Party

Also known as the People's Party, a political party formed by a coalition of farmers, labor organizations, and reformers.

Omaha Platform

The political agenda of the Populist Party, advocating for various reforms including government ownership of railroads and an 8-hour workday.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

A tragic event leading to improved sweatshop conditions and legal protections for workers.

Pure Food and Drug Act

Legislation requiring accurate labeling of ingredients and banning harmful additives in food products.

Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Party

After being denied the Republican nomination in 1912, Roosevelt and his supporters formed the Progressive Party, advocating for the New Nationalism platform and key reforms such as women's suffrage, minimum wage, and social insurance for the poor.

Socialist Party Platform

Led by Eugene V. Debs, promoted government ownership of means of production, income tax, an 8-hour workday, and other progressive policies like improving housing and abolishing the Senate and presidential veto.

Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom

Wilson's reform agenda included government control of monopolies, tariff reduction, direct election of senators, and the establishment of a Department of Labor, but notably opposed women's suffrage and a central bank in favor of the Federal Reserve.

Imperialism and Alfred Thayer Mahan

Imperialism involves forcible expansion through military or economic means, as advocated by Mahan who emphasized the importance of a modern fleet, Caribbean bases, and the Panama Canal for the US to become a global power.

Panama Canal

The construction of the Panama Canal, championed by Theodore Roosevelt, was a significant technological accomplishment that connected the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, changing global trade routes and naval strategies.

Isolationism

Belief in avoiding involvement in foreign affairs to focus on domestic issues.

Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act

Legislation imposing high tariffs on imports, contributing to economic difficulties for European powers.

Washington Naval Treaty

Agreement limiting the size of naval forces among major powers to prevent an arms race.

Kellogg-Briand Pact

International agreement declaring war illegal, though lacking effective enforcement mechanisms.

18th Amendment

Prohibition amendment banning the manufacture, sale, and importation of alcohol in the United States.

Speakeasies

Illegal bars and nightclubs that emerged during the Prohibition era.