Periods 1–5 APUSH Cause and Effect

Columbian Exchange

ID: Exchange of goods, people, ideas, diseases between Europe, Africa, and Americas.

Cause: European exploration after Columbus's 1492 voyage.

Effect: Death of millions of Native Americans; new crops and animals reshape societies.

APUSH Themes: Migration and settlement; impact of contact on Native societies.

Encomienda System

ID: Spanish forced Native Americans into labor for plantations/mines.

Cause: Spain needed labor in the Americas.

Effect: Massive Native deaths → shift to African slave labor.

APUSH Themes: Labor systems; racial hierarchies; early colonialism

Pueblo Revolt (1680)

ID: Native American uprising against Spanish rule in New Mexico.

Cause: Spanish suppression of Native religion and culture.

Effect: Temporary expulsion of Spanish; showed Native resistance.

APUSH Themes: Resistance to colonization; cultural conflict.

Mayflower Compact (1620)

ID: Agreement for self-government by Pilgrims.

Cause: Need for order in a new, isolated settlement.

Effect: Early example of colonial self-rule.

APUSH Themes: Growth of democratic ideals.

Salutary Neglect

ID: British policy of loosely enforcing colonial laws.

Cause: Britain focused on European wars, not colonies.

Effect: Colonies developed independence in economy and politics.

APUSH Themes: Road to Revolution; colonial autonomy.

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

ID: Britain vs France over North American land.

Cause: Competition for territory and trade.

Effect: Britain wins, gains land — but HUGE debt → taxes colonies.

APUSH Themes: Imperial conflicts; origins of Revolution.

Proclamation of 1763

ID: British law banning colonial settlement west of Appalachians.

Cause: Prevent conflicts with Native Americans.

Effect: Colonists angry; ignored law → growing resentment.

APUSH Themes: Westward expansion; colonial rebellion.

Stamp Act (1765)

ID: First direct tax on colonists (paper goods).

Cause: Britain needed money after war.

Effect: Colonists boycotted; "No taxation without representation!"

APUSH Themes: Resistance to British policies; path to Revolution.

Common Sense (1776)

ID: Pamphlet by Thomas Paine arguing for independence.

Cause: Rising anger over British abuses.

Effect: Spread revolutionary ideas to common people.

APUSH Themes: Enlightenment ideas; popular sovereignty.

Articles of Confederation

ID: First U.S. government, very weak central authority.

Cause: Fear of tyranny after British rule.

Effect: Failed to govern effectively → replaced by Constitution.

APUSH Themes: Debate over federal power.

Constitution (1787)

ID: Framework for stronger U.S. federal government.

Cause: Articles of Confederation were too weak.

Effect: Created executive, judicial, and legislative branches.

APUSH Themes: Government structure; Federalism.

Bill of Rights (1791)

ID: First 10 Amendments protecting individual freedoms.

Cause: Anti-Federalists' fears of government overreach.

Effect: Guaranteed civil liberties; secured Constitution's ratification.

APUSH Themes: Rights and liberties.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

ID: U.S. bought territory from France, doubling its size.

Cause: France needed money; U.S. wanted New Orleans.

Effect: Massive westward expansion; new slavery debates.

APUSH Themes: Expansion; Manifest Destiny beginnings.

War of 1812

ID: War between U.S. and Britain over trade rights and impressment.

Cause: British violations of American rights at sea.

Effect: Boosted nationalism; confirmed independence.

APUSH Themes: National identity; foreign policy.

Market Revolution

ID: Expansion of markets and economic connections.

Cause: Innovations like canals, roads, and factories.

Effect: Rise of cities; regional specialization (North/West/South).

APUSH Themes: Economic transformation; migration.

Second Great Awakening

ID: Religious revival movement across U.S.

Cause: Reaction to rationalism of Enlightenment.

Effect: Inspired reforms: abolitionism, temperance, women's rights.

APUSH Themes: Reform movements; religion in society.

Enlightenment (1700s)

ID: European intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights.

Cause: Scientific Revolution and dissatisfaction with monarchies.

Effect: Inspired American Revolution and Declaration of Independence.

APUSH Themes: Politics and Power; American identity.

John Locke

Beliefs: Natural rights (life, liberty, property); government must protect rights or be overthrown.

Impact: HUGE influence on Declaration of Independence (Jefferson basically copies Locke).

Baron de Montesquieu

Beliefs: Separation of powers (executive, legislative, judicial).

Impact: Direct influence on the U.S. Constitution's structure.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Beliefs: Social contract — government rules with the consent of the governed.

Impact: Inspired republicanism in America.

First Great Awakening (1730s-1740s)

ID: Religious revival movement across the colonies.

Cause: Reaction to declining religious piety (church membership falling).

Effect: New denominations (Baptists, Methodists); challenged traditional authority; promoted ideas of equality before God → led toward Revolutionary thinking.

APUSH Themes: American identity; society and culture.

Jonathan Edwards

Beliefs: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" — emotional preaching about hell and salvation.

Impact: Sparked massive religious enthusiasm; emotional connection to faith.

George Whitefield

Beliefs: Charismatic British preacher — toured the colonies and attracted huge crowds.

Impact: Unified the colonies culturally; first mass movement across the colonies.

Andrew Jackson

Beliefs: Common man democracy; against the national bank; supported Indian Removal Act.

Impact: Changed presidential politics; controversial legacy.

Hamilton's Financial Plan (BFAT)

B: Bank of the United States

F: Funding at Par, pay off national debt

A: Assumption of State Debts

T: Tariffs and Excise Taxes, rasied revenue

Manifest Destiny

ID: Belief that U.S. should expand across the continent.

Cause: Nationalism + economic opportunity.

Effect: Conflicts with Native Americans, Mexico; fueled slavery debate.

APUSH Themes: Expansionism; sectional tensions.

Mexian-American War (1846-1848)

ID: War with Mexico; U.S. gained Southwest.

Cause: Border disputes; Manifest Destiny.

Effect: Opened new land for slavery debate (Wilmot Proviso!).

APUSH Themes: Expansion; sectionalism.

Compromise of 1850

ID: Deal to ease sectional conflict after Mexican Cession.

Cause: Debates over slavery in new territories.

Effect: California free state; harsher Fugitive Slave Law.

APUSH Themes: Sectionalism; slavery conflict.

Kansas-Nesbraska Act (1854)

ID: Law allowing settlers to decide on slavery themselves ("popular sovereignty").

Cause: Desire for transcontinental railroad; settle territories.

Effect: Bleeding Kansas violence; destroyed Missouri Compromise.

APUSH Themes: Sectional conflict; path to Civil War.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

ID: Supreme Court ruled African Americans were not citizens.

Cause: Dred Scott sued for freedom after living in free territory.

Effect: Slavery effectively allowed in all territories; North outraged.

APUSH Themes: Slavery; judicial power.

Election of 1860

ID: Abraham Lincoln won with no Southern electoral votes.

Cause: Sectional divisions over slavery.

Effect: Southern states seceded → Civil War.

APUSH Themes: Sectionalism; political realignment.

Civil War (1861-1865)

ID: War between Union and Confederacy over secession and slavery.

Cause: Sectionalism, failed compromises, election of Lincoln.

Effect: Union preserved; slavery abolished.

APUSH Themes: National unity; social change.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

ID: Declared slaves free in Confederacy.

Cause: Shift war goals to moral cause; hurt South's war effort.

Effect: Prevented European support for Confederacy; changed meaning of war.

APUSH Themes: Civil rights; war aims.

13th, 14th, 15th Amendments

ID: Freed slaves (13), granted citizenship (14), protected voting rights (15).

Cause: Post-war Reconstruction goals.

Effect: Legal foundation for civil rights movements — but rights often undermined.

APUSH Themes: Rights and citizenship.

Compromise of 1877

ID: Deal to end Reconstruction — Hayes becomes President.

Cause: Disputed election of 1876.

Effect: Federal troops leave South; "Jim Crow" laws rise.

APUSH Themes: Reconstruction failure; racial discrimination.