AP US History: Pre-1492 to Colonial Foundations & Early Conflicts

Peopling of the Americas

Migration via land bridges and coastal routes; led to diverse Native societies across the continents.

Adaptation to Environment

Different Cultures arose, needed adaptation to survive, and didn't waste what was in the area

Age of Exploration

European nations interacted with Asia and Africa for the 3 gs

Causes of Exploration (3 Gs)

God (spread Christianity), Gold (Monetary Gain), Glory (military and economic competition)

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of crops, animals, people, diseases, and ideas between Old and New Worlds; reshaped global populations and economies.

Imperial Rivalry

Competition between Britain, France, and Spain for North American control.

Treaty of Tordesillas (Line of Demarcation)

Spain to East (Americas) Portugal to West (Africa)

Encomienda System

Spanish labor system exploiting Native Americans for farming and mining.

Effect of Airborn Diseases on Native Americans

Smallpox and other diseases caused massive population decline and societal disruption.

Atlantic World

Interconnected trade and cultural exchange between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

New England Puritans

English Protestants seeking religious reform;

Spanish Missions

Spanish set up religious missions in new world

Religious Dissent

Disagreement with Puritan beliefs led to formation of new colonies and religious freedom.

Jamestown (1607)

First permanent English settlement; initially struggled due to poor leadership, disease, and starvation.

Tobacco and Jamestown

Tobacco became a profitable cash crop, supporting colony survival and growth.

Population Growth

Immigration and natural increase; fueled urbanization and economic development.

Triangular Trade & Middle Passage

Transatlantic trade exchanging goods, enslaved Africans, and raw materials.

New England Colonies

Small farms, religious communities, emphasis on education and town meetings.

Early French Colonies

Focused on fur trade, alliances with Native Americans; sparse settlement.

Bacon's Rebellion (1676)

Frontier uprising against elites; showed tensions between poor farmers and wealthy planters.

Great Awakening (1730s-1740s)

Religious revival; emotional faith and personal salvation; inspired reform movements.

French and Indian War (1754-1763) (7 years war) (War that made America)

Britain w/ Indians vs. France w/ Indians; Conflict over Ohio River Valley; Washington helps, French and surrenders

Albany Plan of Union (1754)

Franklin's proposal for colonial unity; not adopted but inspired future cooperation.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended war; Britain gained land; France lost most North American holdings.

End of Salutary Neglect (post Treaty of Paris)

British policy of loosely enforcing colonial laws; allowed self-government to develop.

Pontiac's Rebellion

Native uprising against British postwar policies; highlighted Native resistance.

Proclamation of 1763

Forbade settlement west of Appalachians (failed); angered colonists, sparked tension. Undermined British authority

Hands On!

Britain had Financial Problems from defending vast empire, French Indian War, British in ENgland Heavily taxed ---> Tax Colonies

Sugar Act (1764)

Taxed sugar/molasses to curb smuggling under threat of ship seizure; raised colonial resentment.

Quartering Act

Colonies requires to provide housing and supplies to British Soldiers

Stamp Act (1765)

Tax on printed materials; first direct tax; led to colonial protests. "Taxation without Representation". Repealed 1776

Declaratory Act (1766)

Asserted Parliament's authority to make laws applying to colonies after Stamp Act repeal.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Taxes on imports; fueled more colonial resistance.

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers killed colonists; inflamed anti-British sentiment.

Tea Act (1773) & Boston Tea Party

Monopoly on tea led to protest; tea dumped into harbor.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Punitive laws; closed Boston Harbor; restricted Massachusetts self-rule.

Sons of Liberty

Organized protests and intimidation against British policies.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Coordinated colonial resistance; petitioned Britain for redress.

Lexington & Concord (1775)

First battles; militias vs. British; started armed conflict.

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Managed war; created Continental Army; moved toward independence.

George Washington (1776)

Commander-in-chief; symbol of unity, leadership, and morale. Future Prez alert

Bunker Hill

Costly Win for British, colonists heartened, still not sold on war yet

Olive Branch Petition

Readying for war, hoping for peace; The Congress Petitioned the King, King George Rejected

Common Sense (1776)

Paine's pamphlet urging independence; widely influential.

Enlightenment and John Locke

Human right to life, liberty, and property, Right for people to dissolve their government. Heavily influence DoI

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Declared colonies free; listed grievances; inspired democracy.

Factors against Colonists (Post DoI)

Loyalists, Neutral colonists, Congress lacked power to tax, Untrained officers and men, English wealth, English military

Factors in Favor of Colonists (Post DoI)

Devoted patriots, home-field advantage, European aid: French, War unpopular in England, Corrupt British politics, British overconfidence, Long British supply lines

Loyalists vs. Patriots

Loyalists supported Britain; Patriots fought for independence; divided society.

Lexington and Concord (1775)

First armed conflict

Bunker Hill (1775)

Only battle in long siege Boston

Trenton (1776)

Washington's raid across Delaware River

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Turning point; U.S. victory convinced France to ally.

Yorktown (1781)

British surrender; effectively ended fighting.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Recognized U.S. independence; set territorial boundaries.

Articles of Confederation (1781)

First Constitution of U.S.A, weak central government; states get more power; limited federal authority.

Climate of Tension (about Articles of Confederation)

Anarchy v. Tyranny, Liberty v Order, State Sovereignty v. National Government

Land Ordinance of 1785

Organized western lands for sale and settlement, money for Public Education

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Established territories; banned slavery; set path to statehood.

Annapolis Convention (1786)

Agreed to a "Grand" convention in Philly. Addressed trade issues; led to Constitutional Convention.

Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787)

Enden by a state Militia. Protest over debt and taxes, showed weakness of Articles of Confederation

Philadelphia Convention (Constitutional Convention) (1787)

First called to revise AoC. Replaced Articles; stronger federal government; set framework. BUNDLE OF COMPROMISES

Virginia Plan - "Large state plan"

Representation based on population; bicameral legislature. James Madison and Edmund Randolph

New Jersey Plan - "Small state plan"

Equal state representation; unicameral legislature. William Paterson

Native American Resistance

Tribes resisted U.S. expansion in Northwest; defeated in Battle of Fallen Timbers; Treaty of Greenville (1795) ceded land for little payment and hunting rights.

Great Compromise/Sherman Compromise/Connecticut Compromise

House by population; Senate equal per state; bicameral Congress. Roger Sherman

Pinckney's Treaty (1795)

Agreement with Spain granting U.S. free use of Mississippi River, access to New Orleans, and border adjustments.

Legislative Branch

Senators: Chosen indirectly by state legislatures, six-year terms. Members of the House: Chosen directly by direct vote, two-year terms

Executive Branch

President: Chosen indirectly by Electoral College, four year terms. Wins with majority-not plurality- of electoral votes

Election of 1796

John Adams (Federalist) defeated Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican); first administration with opposing-party president and VP.

Judicial Branch

Federal Counts capped by Supreme Court. Justices appointed for life.

Three Branches Create...

System of Checks and Balances

Slavery and Sectionalism

BIG Q: Does a state count as a person in appointing direct taxes and determining representation in the HoR?

South: No for taxes, yes for representation!

North: Yes for taxes, no for representation!

Three-Fifths Compromise

Slaves counted as 3/5 for representation and taxation.

Slave Trade Compromise

African slave trade allowed to continue until 1807

Commerce Compromise

Congress could tax imports, not exports

federalists

Supported ratification of the Constitution and stronger national government. Included: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. Published The Federalist Papers

Midnight Judges

Before transfer of power, Federalist attempt to control judicial branch by electing favorable judges

The Whiskey Rebellion

Western PA mad a whiskey tax. Army of 15,000 sent to dissolve rebellion, sent by Hamilton. Showed commitment of national government to enforce its laws and taxes

Spoils system

Jobs given to political supporters for their help in winning an election

Anti-Federalists

Opposed ratification, favored stronger state power, Included: Sam Adams and Patrick Henry. Feared freedoms and individuals jeopardized by the absence of a bill of rights

Bill of Rights: Another Compromise (1791)

First ten amendments; protected individual liberties. Helped get support to ratify the Constitution

First Presidential Election

Candidate with majority of votes wins. George Washington elected 1789. John Adams Vice Prez

Difficulties of New Country (13 Colonies, post First Prez Election)

No judicial branch, no federal officers, large war debt, no capital, No precedents

Judiciary Act of 1789

A law passed by the first Congress to establish the federal court system headed by Supreme Court

Cabinet Officers (when Washington was in office)

Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson

Secretary of Treasure: Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton's Financial Plan

National government would assume war debt. Federal Government already $50 mil in debt. Most national and state debt owed to European Banks, American merchants, and gambler.

GOOD CAUSE: Lenders would not want a government that owed them money to collapse

Why would Hamiltons Financial Plan slowly pay back?

Get the creditors to go along, national government needed money for regular payments, Tarrif: Tax on imports, Whiskey Tax

Opposition of Hamilton's Financial Plan

Jefferson and many others objected to the interference of federal government in local and state affairs, dislikes new taxes, feared assault on liberties, and southern states didn't want to pay north debts.

Strict Construction of Constitution

Thomas Jefferson, National government shouldn't do anything that the constitution did not explicitly say. Favored States Rights

Loose Construction of Constitution

Favored by Alexander Hamilton and Federalists (Capital F). Saw Constitution as loose framework of laws on which the government could build the nation. National government may do anything unless Constitution explicitly prohibits

Implied Powes

Congress has the power to pass all laws necessary and proper.

Jay's Treaty (1794)

Washington, Hamilton, and Federalists preferred Britain in British French War. Chief Justice John Jay negotiated the pulling out of forts in the Northwest Territory with the British. Improved trade relations

Elastic Clause

Enabled Congress to expand its powers with the growing needs of the nation.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

Prez Washington doesn't take a side in the French and Britain War

Washington's Farewell Address (1796)

Warned against permanent alliances and political parties; set precedent for peaceful retirement.

XYZ Affair (1797)

French diplomats demanded bribes; led to undeclared naval war (Quasi-War) with France; increased anti-French sentiment.

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Laws allowed deportation of foreigners and punished criticism of government; targeted Democratic-Republicans.

Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions (1798-1799)

Argued states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws; response to Alien and Sedition Acts.

Gabriel Prosser's Rebellion (1800)

Planned slave revolt in Virginia; suppressed; resulted in stricter laws for slaves and free Blacks.