AP US History Ultimate Study Guide

Jamestown

First successful English colony in the New World, funded by the Virginia Company, focused on tobacco cultivation and faced early struggles with starvation and disease.

Joint-stock company

Group of investors who bought the right to establish New World plantations from the king, like the Virginia Company that funded Jamestown.

John Rolfe

Jamestown settler known for marrying Pocahontas, introducing tobacco as a cash crop, and significantly impacting Virginia's economy.

Headright system

Introduced in 1618 by the Virginia Company to attract new settlers by granting them land, usually about 50 acres, in exchange for coming to the region.

House of Burgesses

Established in 1619 in Virginia, allowed property-holding white males to vote, but decisions had to be approved by the Virginia Company.

French Colonization

French colonization in North America, including Quebec City in 1608, Jesuit missionary efforts, and the impact of French settlers on the region.

Mayflower Compact

Legal agreement signed by the Pilgrims in 1620, establishing a government based on the consent of the governed and aiding in the survival of the Plymouth settlement.

Great Puritan Migration

Movement of Puritans to the New World between 1629-1642, led by Governor John Winthrop to establish Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Mercantilism

Economic theory during the colonial period that emphasized a favorable balance of trade and control of specie, influencing British regulation of colonial trade.

Navigation Acts

Series of laws passed between 1651-1673 by Britain to regulate colonial trade, including restrictions on goods bought and sold by the colonies and import duties.

New Netherland

Captured by Charles II of England in 1664, leading to the establishment of New York as a royal colony.

Pennsylvania

Colony received by William Penn from King Charles II, known for its liberal policies towards religious freedom and civil liberties.

Carolina Colony

Split into North and South in 1729, settled by Virginians and descendants of Englishmen from Barbados respectively.

Slavery in the Colonies

Existed since 1619 in Virginia, with the arrival of settlers from Barbados marking the beginning of the slave era.

Stono Uprising

Successful slave rebellion in 1739 near Charleston, South Carolina, leading to more restrictive laws governing enslaved people.

Salem Witch Trials

Occurred in 1692, with mass hysteria leading to the accusation and execution of over 130 individuals on charges of witchcraft.

Benjamin Franklin

Self-made intellectual and statesman embodying Enlightenment ideals, known for his inventions and diplomatic efforts during the Revolutionary War.

The Seven Years' War

Fought between the British and French, resulting in England becoming the dominant colonial power in North America after gaining control of Canada and territories east of the Mississippi Valley.

Albany Plan of Union

Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754, aimed to create an intercolonial government for defense but was rejected by the colonies.

Sugar Act

Imposed in 1764 by Parliament to regulate trade and collect duties, leading to colonial discontent and resistance against British taxation policies.

Stamp Act

Broad-based tax on legal documents and licenses, goods produced within the colonies, affected lawyers, led to the slogan "No taxation without representation."

Sons of Liberty

Protest groups formed in various colonies in opposition to the Stamp Act, organized rallies, boycotts, and demonstrations.

Townshend Acts

Taxed goods imported from Britain, established vice-admiralty courts, suspended the New York legislature, instituted writs of assistance.

Boston Massacre

Incident where British soldiers fired on a colonial mob, killing five, leading to increased tensions and anti-British sentiment.

Olive Branch Petition

Last-ditch attempt by the Second Continental Congress for reconciliation with Britain before the outbreak of armed conflict.

Common Sense

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for colonial independence, widely read and influential in swaying public opinion towards the patriot cause.

Declaration of Independence

Document written by Thomas Jefferson, declared colonies' grievances against the Crown, asserted individual liberties and government's responsibility to the people.

Battle of Yorktown

Symbolic end of the American Revolution, where British General Cornwallis surrendered to the French navy and George Washington's troops.

Articles of Confederation

First national constitution of the United States, limited central government powers, led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution due to its shortcomings.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, resulted in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution with a stronger federal government structure.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Federalists who depicted the federal government as excessively powerful.

Federalist Papers

Persuasive essays authored by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to advocate for the ratification of the Constitution.

Washington's Presidency

George Washington's tenure as the first President of the United States, marked by careful exercise of authority and the establishment of a cabinet.

National Bank Debate

Disagreement between Hamilton and Jefferson over the necessity and constitutionality of a national bank.

Republican Motherhood

Concept emphasizing women's role in raising virtuous citizens and educating children in the early 1800s.

Adams Presidency

John Adams' presidency characterized by avoiding war with France, the Alien and Sedition Acts, and the XYZ Affair.

Revolution of 1800

Peaceful transfer of power from the Federalists to the Democratic-Republicans in the election of Thomas Jefferson.

Marbury v

Landmark Supreme Court case establishing the principle of judicial review under Chief Justice John Marshall.

Louisiana Purchase

Acquisition of the Louisiana Territory by President Jefferson, doubling the size of the United States through a treaty with France.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Exploration of the western territories, including the Louisiana Territory, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

Westward Expansion

Pioneers turned attention westward for land, riches, and economic opportunities.

War of 1812

Conflict between British and Americans due to trade blockades and impressment of sailors.

Embargo Act of 1807

Shut down American import/export, leading to economic turmoil and smuggling.

Monroe Doctrine

Policy asserting America's right to intervene in its hemisphere and non-interference.

Jacksonian Democracy

Era marked by universal white manhood suffrage and strong presidency.

Indian Removal Act

Policy to relocate Native Americans, leading to Trail of Tears.

Nullification Crisis

States' belief in right to nullify federal laws, sparked by Tariff of 1828.

Whig Party

Formed in opposition to Democrats, believed in government activism and social issues.

Market Economy

Transition from subsistence to market economy in the 19th century.

Transportation Revolution

Innovations like steam engine and telegraph revolutionized travel and communication.

Telegraph

Allowed for immediate long-distance communication, leading to widespread use almost immediately.

Mechanization

Revolutionized farming in the 19th century with machines like plows, reapers, and threshers.

Manifest Destiny

Belief in the God-given right to expand westward across the American territories.

Republic of Texas

Independent country formed after rebellion against Mexico, faced Congressional battles over statehood.

Oregon Trail

Route used by settlers to reach the Willamette Valley, part of the Oregon Territory.

Cult of Domesticity

Ideology glorifying home life, supported by popular magazines and novels.

Second Great Awakening

Period of religious revival leading to social reform movements in the United States.

Abolitionism

Movement to end slavery, divided into gradualists and immediatists.

Temperance Movement

Campaign to reduce or prohibit the consumption of alcohol, a prominent reform movement.

Mexican Cession

Land acquired by the U.S. from Mexico after the Mexican-American War, including parts of the Southwest.

Slavery Expansion & Debates

Expansion of new territories raised issues on the status of slavery, with the East of Mississippi evenly divided between suitable and unsuitable lands for plantation agriculture.

Popular Sovereignty

Territories deciding through voting whether to allow slavery within their borders, as advocated by Southerners to expand slavery into new areas.

The Compromise of 1850

Proposed by Henry Clay, it clarified Texas boundaries, banned slavery in the Mexican Cession, and enacted a stringent Fugitive Slave Act.

Antislavery Sentiments

Increased by Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a powerful piece of propaganda awakening millions to the issue of slavery.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Enacted in 1854, it led to violence in territories like "Bleeding Kansas," polarizing the nation and contributing to the formation of the Republican Party.

Reconstruction

Period following the Civil War aimed at rebuilding the South, granting rights to freedmen, and readmitting Southern states to the Union.

Enforcement Acts

Laws passed to combat the activities of the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups during Reconstruction.

Redeemers

Southern Democrats who sought to regain control of the South from Republicans during Reconstruction.

Compromise of 1877

Agreement that resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election, leading to the end of Reconstruction and the withdrawal of federal troops from the South.

Sharecropping

System where freedmen and poor whites rented land and paid with a share of the crop, leading to cycles of debt and poverty.

Freedman’s Bureau

Government agency established to aid freedmen in the South by providing food, housing, education, and employment assistance.

Hiram Revels

First African American to serve in the U.S. Senate, representing Mississippi during Reconstruction.

Sherman Antitrust Act

Legislation aimed at preventing monopolies and promoting fair competition in business, though initially interpreted narrowly by the Supreme Court.

Knights of Labor

National labor union advocating for workers' rights, including an 8-hour workday and equal pay, but declining in popularity due to violence.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation and discrimination, particularly targeting African Americans in the South.

Populist Movement

Advocated for silver coinage, government ownership of railroads, graduated income tax, direct election of senators, and shorter workdays.

Granger Laws

Regulated railroads in the 1870s and 1880s to protect farmers and consumers.

McKinley Tariff

Raised duties on imported goods by almost 50% in 1890.

Spanish-American War

Fought between the US and Spain, leading to the US acquiring territories like the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Open Door Policy

Aimed to gain entry into Asian markets through equal trading rights.

Progressive Movement

Urban, middle-class reformers seeking government intervention for social and political change.

Roosevelt Corollary

Addition to the Monroe Doctrine, justifying US intervention in Latin America for national security reasons.

Espionage Act and Sedition Act

Laws passed during WWI to curb opposition to the war effort, limiting freedom of speech.

Committee on Public Information (CPI)

Wartime propaganda arm that created a frenzied atmosphere during WWI.

Treaty of Versailles

Peace treaty ending WWI, punishing Germany and creating the League of Nations.

Decline of Labor Unions

Pro-business atmosphere in the 1920s led to a drop in labor union popularity and membership levels.

Welfare Capitalism

Businesses in the 1920s offered pension plans, profit sharing, and company events to attract workers, known as welfare capitalism.

Automobile Revolution

The 1920s saw the rise of the automobile as a major consumer product, transforming the nation's spirit and leading to suburbanization.

Radio and Culture

Radio in the 1920s changed American culture, with millions owning radios and gathering for broadcasts, fueling consumerism and entertainment.

Harlem Renaissance

A major cultural development in the 1920s, the Harlem Renaissance in NYC saw growth in theaters, jazz, literature, and cultural clubs.

Prohibition Era

Prohibition in the 1920s banned alcohol, leading to organized crime, the Gangster Era, and was later repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.

Great Depression

Herbert Hoover's presidency in the late 1920s saw the onset of the Great Depression, marked by the 1929 stock market crash and economic turmoil.

New Deal

Franklin D. Roosevelt's response to the Great Depression, the New Deal, included programs like the CCC, WPA, and Social Security to revive the economy.

Foreign Policy Pre-WWII

US foreign policy in the 1920s and 1930s focused on promoting peace, isolationism, and economic coercion, leading to the Neutrality Acts.

World War II

WW2 involved key battles, wartime conferences, the Manhattan Project, and the impact on American society, including government expansion and civil liberties restrictions.

Iron Curtain

The division between Eastern and Western Europe marking the beginning of the Cold War.

Truman Doctrine

Policy to contain the spread of communism after WWII.

Marshall Plan

Initiative to aid European economic recovery post-WWII.

Berlin Crisis

Conflict over the division of Germany and Berlin after WWII.

McCarthyism

Period of intense anti-communist fear and investigations in the US.