APUSH MIDTERMS Periods 1-6

Pueblo People

Native Americans that lived in modern-day Utah and Colorado; they were farmers who cultivated crops and developed advanced irrigation systems and built urban centers.

Iroquois People

Native Americans that lived in the northeast; they were farmers who planted crops and lived communally in longhouses.

Columbian Exchange

The process of introducing plants, animals, diseases, people, and ideas between the Old World and the New World, leading to increased trade and food production.

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

The division of the New World between Spain and Portugal, where Spain claimed the west and Portugal claimed the east of Brazil.

John Cabot

An explorer who sailed from England to discover Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island in 1497.

Ponce de Leon

First European to reach Florida, landing at the coast in 1513, naming it Florida due to its discovery during Easter.

Coronado

Spanish explorer who led an expedition to the southwestern US looking for the seven cities of Cibola.

Mestizo

A person of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry.

Founding of Roanoke (1584)

Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe were the first Europeans to visit Roanoke Island, seeking resources and to Christianize Native Americans.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in Virginia in 1607.

Headright System

A land grant system that provided land to settlers who paid for immigrants to come to the colonies.

Bartolomé de las Casas

The first European advocate for Native American rights in the New World.

Spanish Mission System

Catholic missions established by the Spanish Empire to convert Native Americans to Christianity.

Founding of Quebec (1608)

The first permanent French settlement in North America founded by Samuel de Champlain.

Tobacco Farming in Virginia (1614)

John Rolfe introduced tobacco as a cash crop in Virginia.

Slaves Brought to British America (1619)

The introduction of enslaved Africans from Angola to Virginia.

Rice Cultivation in the Carolinas

Evoked in the 1690s, when planters in the southern Carolinas found the geography suitable for rice farming.

Plymouth Colony and Mayflower Compact (1620)

Rules for self-governance established by English settlers who arrived on the Mayflower.

Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629)

Chartered and settled by Puritans who sought to establish a community based on their religious beliefs.

City Upon a Hill

John Winthrop's vision of Massachusetts Bay Colony as a model of Christian society for the world.

Roger Williams

The man banished from Massachusetts Bay for his controversial religious views.

Maryland Toleration Act (1649)

An act ensuring freedom of religion for Christians in the Maryland colony.

Navigation Acts (1650)

Laws that restricted colonial trade with nations other than England.

Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)

An armed rebellion in Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkley.

Dominion of New England (1686)

An administrative union of several New England colonies established to tighten British control.

King William’s War (1689)

The first of six colonial wars fought between New France and New England.

Salem Witch Trials (1692)

A series of hearings and prosecutions in Massachusetts for witchcraft.

Enlightenment

An 18th-century intellectual movement emphasizing reason and science over tradition.

John Locke

British philosopher who introduced ideas on natural law, government, and the social contract.

King Philip’s War

A conflict between Indian tribes and New England colonists and their allies.

Great Awakening

A religious revival movement in the 18th century in America.

George Whitefield

A preacher instrumental in spreading the Great Awakening.

Molasses Act

A British law taxing molasses, sugar, and rum imported into American colonies.

French and Indian War Begins (1754)

Conflict between British and French interests in North America.

Albany Plan of Union (1754)

Proposal to create a unified government for the American colonies.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Agreement that ended the French and Indian War, resulting in British territorial gains.

Pontiac's Rebellion

An Indian uprising against British expansion after the French and Indian War.

Proclamation Line of 1763

Boundary established by the British government preventing colonists from settling west of the Appalachians.

Sugar Act (1764)

Law imposing tariffs on sugar and other goods imported into the colonies.

Stamp Act (1765)

Tax requiring colonists to purchase stamps for paper documents.

Stamp Act Congress

Meeting of colonial delegates to organize resistance against the Stamp Act.

Quartering Act (1766)

Law requiring colonial governments to provide accommodations for British soldiers.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Laws imposing duties on imported goods in the colonies.

Boston Massacre (1770)

Incident in which British soldiers killed five colonists during a confrontation.

Committees of Correspondence

Organizations that facilitated communication and coordination among patriots.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Political protest against British taxes where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

A series of punitive measures against Massachusetts in response to the Boston Tea Party.

Sons of Liberty

A group formed to oppose British policies and promote colonial rights.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies to respond to British policies.

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Assembly that managed the colonial war effort and moved incrementally towards independence.

Paine’s Common Sense (1776)

Pamphlet advocating for American independence from Britain.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Document proclaiming the colonies' separation from Great Britain.

Articles of Confederation (1777)

First constitution of the US, establishing a weak federal government.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Agreement ending the Revolutionary War and recognizing US independence.

Shay’s Rebellion (1786)

Uprising in Massachusetts protesting economic injustices and the government.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Meeting to address the governance failures of the Articles of Confederation.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Debate over the balance of power between federal and state governments.

Great/Connecticut Compromise

Agreement defining legislative representation in the US Congress.

3/5 Compromise

Agreement counting three out of five slaves for representation.

Northwest Ordinance

Law establishing a method for admitting new states and governing the Northwest Territory.

Bill of Rights Ratified (1791)

First ten amendments to the Constitution safeguarding individual liberties.

First Bank of the United States Established (1791)

Central bank proposed by Alexander Hamilton for managing national finances.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson

Conflict over the scope of federal power and the ideal government structure.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Tax protest in the US that tested the government's authority.

Jay's Treaty (1795)

Agreement with Britain to settle outstanding issues and promote trade.

Pinckney’s Treaty

Treaty with Spain granting US navigation rights on the Mississippi River.

Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)

Advisory speech urging national unity and foreign non-intervention.

XYZ Affair

Diplomatic incident between the US and France that led to the Quasi-War.

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Laws aimed at controlling foreign influence and sedition in the US.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Statements asserting states' rights to nullify federal laws.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Land acquisition from France expanding US territory westward.

Marbury vs. Madison (1803)

Court case establishing the principle of Judicial Review.

Embargo Act (1807)

Law restricting American ships from trading with European nations.

Non-Intercourse Act (1809)

Replaced the Embargo Act; allowed trade with nations except France and Britain.

War of 1812

Conflict between the US and Britain driven by trade restrictions and territorial interests.

Hartford Convention (1814)

Meeting of New England Federalists during the War of 1812 to discuss grievances.

Second Bank of the United States (1816)

Established to stabilize the national economy after the First Bank's charter expired.

McCulloch vs. Maryland

Supreme Court case affirming federal authority over state taxation.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Agreement admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain balance.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Policy declaring the Western Hemisphere off-limits to further European colonization.

Corrupt Bargain

Scandal concerning the outcome of the 1824 presidential election.

Tariff of Abominations (1828)

High tariff benefitting Northern interests, leading to Southern discontent.

Calhoun’s South Carolina Exposition

Pamphlet arguing against the Tariff of 1828 and promoting nullification.

Kitchen Cabinet

Informal group of trusted advisors to President Andrew Jackson.

Second Great Awakening (1830s)

Religious revival movement emphasizing salvation through good works.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Legislation authorizing the relocation of Native American tribes to western lands.

The Liberator (1831)

Abolitionist newspaper advocating for immediate emancipation.

Nat Turner Rebellion

Slave-led uprising in Virginia resulting in stricter slave control.

Trail of Tears

Forced relocation of Cherokee Indians leading to extensive death and suffering.

Republic of Texas (1837)

Independent nation formed after Texas' secession from Mexico.

Panic of 1837

Economic crisis triggered by bank failures and declines in prices.

Democrats vs. Whigs (1840)

Political struggle between pro-expansion Whigs and limited government Democrats.

Oregon Trail (1843)

Route for pioneers moving west to Oregon.

Election of 1844

Presidential election won by James K. Polk.

Frederick Douglass

Formerly enslaved man who became a leading abolitionist and advocate for equality.

Annexation of Texas and Florida

Incorporation of Texas and Florida into the United States.

Mexican-American War

Conflict between the US and Mexico over territorial disputes.

Wilmot Proviso (1847)

Proposal to ban slavery in territory acquired from Mexico.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848)

Treaty concluding the Mexican-American War, resulting in significant territorial gains for the US.

Seneca Falls Convention

First women's rights convention in the US, organized in 1848.