apush terms

Alien and Sedation Acts

Laws allowing expulsion of foreigners and restricting free speech.

Antifederalists

• opposed the ratification of the Consitution because it gave more power to the federal government and less to the states, and because it did not ensure individual rights

• wanted to keep the Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation

First national constitution of the United States.

Bacon’s Rebellion

A rebellion lead by Nathaniel Bacon with backcountry farmers to attack Native Americans in an attempt to gain more land

Battle of Breed’s Hill

Also known as the Battle of Bunker Hill, though fought primarily on Breed’s Hill, was the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War, taking place on June 17, 1775.

Battle of Concord

• occurred on April 19, 1775

• marked the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War

• British troops, aiming to seize colonial military supplies in Concord, faced resistance from colonial militia

• victory for the colonists 

Battle of New Orleans

• a key event in the War of 1812

• American victory

• took place on January 8, 1815

• resulted in significant British casualties, while American losses were comparatively low

• boosted American morale and solidified future President Andrew Jackson’s reputation

Battle of Princeton

• took place on January 3, 1777

• was a significant victory for the Continental Army

• followed the victory at Trenton and was part of Washington's "Ten Crucial Days" campaign

• resulted in a decisive win for the Americans and boosted morale

• forced the British to withdraw from New Jersey

Battle of Saratoga

• turning point in the American Revolutionary War

• boosted American morale and solidified hope for independence

• secured crucial foreign support from France

Battle of Trenton

• against a Hessian garrison in Trenton, New Jersey, on December 26, 1776

• victory for the Americans

• boosted morale and led to re-enlistments

• crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night and launched a surprise assault

Battle of Yorktown

Final battle of the American Revolution, leading to British surrender.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments to the Constitution

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

Broad constructionism

• also known as loose construction

• an approach to interpreting legal documents, especially the Constitution

• emphasizes a permissive and flexible reading, allowing for a broader interpretation of powers granted to the government

• contrasts with strict constructionism, which focuses on a narrow, literal interpretation

Checks and balances

each branch of the federal government (legislative, executive, and judicial) has the power to limit the authority of the other two branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful. This system of overlapping powers ensures that no single branch dominates the others. 

Columbian Exchange

Period of rapid exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old World and the New World

Daniel Shay

In the context of US history, especially APUSH, Daniel Shays is known for leading Shays' Rebellion, a post-Revolutionary War uprising in Massachusetts. Shays, a former Continental Army captain and farmer, was a key figure in the rebellion sparked by high taxes, economic depression, and the threat of property foreclosure. His actions and the rebellion itself highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and ultimately contributed to the call for a stronger national government

Doctrine of nullification

Doctrine that states can reject federal laws they deem unconstitutional

Doctrine of predestination

In the context of American history, especially during the period of the Great Awakening and the Protestant Reformation, the doctrine of predestination refers to the belief that God has predetermined who will be saved and who will be damned, and that human actions cannot change this fate. This doctrine was central to the Calvinist theology that influenced many Puritan beliefs. The belief in predestination had a significant impact on Puritan culture, shaping their views on salvation, good works, and social interactions. 

Election of 1800

The Election of 1800 was a pivotal contest in American history where Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, defeated incumbent President John Adams, a Federalist. This election marked the first peaceful transfer of power between political parties in the United States, setting a precedent for future elections and highlighting the growing divide between Federalist and Democratic-Republican ideologies.

Eli Whitney

United States inventor of the mechanical cotton gin (1765-1825)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a key figure in the early women's rights movement in the 19th century, particularly known for organizing the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 and drafting its Declaration of Sentiments. She was also a prominent abolitionist and advocate for temperance, and later partnered with Susan B. Anthony to found the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA). 

Federalists

Supporters of strong federal government.

Frederick Douglass

In the context of APUSH, Frederick Douglass is defined as a prominent abolitionist and civil rights leader who, after escaping slavery, became a powerful orator, writer, and statesman advocating for the immediate end of slavery and equality for all African Americans. He was a key figure in the abolitionist movement and played a significant role in shaping public opinion and the course of the Civil War. 

Horace Mann

United States educator who introduced reforms that significantly altered the system of public education (1796-1859)

Indentured servitude

Colonists who received free passage to North America in exchange for working without pay for a certain number of years

James Madison

In the context of APUSH (United States History), James Madison is defined as a key Founding Father, primarily known for his role in the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, and his presidency (1809-1817). He is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his extensive involvement in the drafting process and his influential arguments in The Federalist Papers. 

John Marshall

American jurist and politician who served as the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1801-1835) and helped establish the practice of judicial review.

John Winthrop

As governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, Formed the colony's government and shaping its legislative policy. He envisioned the colony, centered in present-day Boston, as a "city upon a hill" from which Puritans would spread religious righteousness throughout the world.

Jonathan Edwards

American theologian whose sermons and writings stimulated a period of renewed interest in religion in America (1703-1758)

Lexington and Concord

First battles of the Revolutionary War

Louisiana Purchase

Jefferson's acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France

Marbury v. Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

Mercantilism

Economic theory that emphasizes the importance of a favorable balance of trade and control of specie.

Missouri Compromise

The Missouri Compromise was a package of agreements made in 1820 to resolve the issue of slavery in the Louisiana Territory. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance of power in Congress. Additionally, it established a line of demarcation (36°30′ north latitude) prohibiting slavery in the remaining Louisiana Territory north of that line. 

Nathaniel Bacon

In the context of APUSH, Nathaniel Bacon is most known for leading Bacon's Rebellion, a 1676 armed rebellion in the Virginia colony against Governor William Berkeley. Bacon and his followers, primarily frontier settlers, protested against Berkeley's policies, particularly his inaction on Indian attacks and the governor's perceived favoritism towards wealthy Tidewater planters. 

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for new government with equal representation for each state.

Northwest Ordinances

The Northwest Ordinances, specifically the Ordinance of 1787, established a plan for governing the Northwest Territory, a vast area north of the Ohio River, and westward from Pennsylvania. This included outlining the process for admitting new states from the territory, guaranteeing a Bill of Rights for residents, and dividing the land into smaller units for settlement. 

Robert Fulton

In the context of APUSH (Advanced Placement United States History), Robert Fulton is primarily known for his invention of the North River Steamboat (also known as Clermont) in 1807. This was a commercially successful steamboat that significantly impacted transportation, particularly river transportation. He is remembered as a key figure in the Transportation Revolution of the early 19th century

Shays’s Rebellion

Shay's Rebellion was an armed uprising in 1786-1787 in western Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shays, protesting economic injustices and government inaction. It highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and led to calls for a stronger federal government

Stamp Act

1765 act imposing taxes on legal documents and licenses.

Stono Rebellion

Slave rebellion in South Carolina in 1739, resulting in stricter laws governing the behavior of enslaved people.

Strict constructionism

In the context of the APUSH (Advanced Placement U.S. History) exam, strict constructionism refers to a philosophy of interpreting the U.S. Constitution that focuses on the literal meaning of the text, avoiding the consideration of external factors like intent, historical context, or societal changes. Strict constructionists believe that the Constitution should be interpreted precisely as it is written and that only the text and facts associated with a specific case should be considered when making a ruling. 

Temperance movement

Effort to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption

Three-fifths compromise

Method for counting enslaved people in southern states for representation.

Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears refers to the forced displacement of approximately 60,000 Native Americans, primarily the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw), from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern United States to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) between 1830 and 1850. This forced removal was a direct result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and President Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy. The journey, marked by hardship and death, is often considered a significant event in American history. 

Virginia Plan

Proposal for new government with representation based on population.

War of 1812

A war (1812-1814) between the United States and England which was trying to interfere with American trade with France.

Washington’s Farewell Address

Warned Americans not to get involved in European affairs, not to make permanent alliances, not to form political parties and to avoid sectionalism.

William Lloyd Garrison

William Lloyd Garrison was a prominent American abolitionist and journalist. He is best known for publishing the anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator and founding the American Anti-Slavery Society. Garrison advocated for the immediate end of slavery and was a radical figure in the abolitionist movement.