AP US History Flashcards

Flashcards of key terms and definitions, pulled from AP US History notes

Separatist Puritans

Radical Calvinists who argued for a break from the Church of England.

Non-Separatist Puritans

Radical Calvinists against the Church of England

Northwest Passage

A shortcut from the Atlantic to the Pacific, sought by explorers like Giovanni de Verrazano.

Conversion Experience

Required of members of the Puritan Church, replacing baptism required by the Catholic Church.

Social Reciprocity

The idea that society naturally punishes criminals indiscriminately.

Church of England

Protestant church led by the king of England, independent of the Catholic Church.

Atlantic Slave Trade

Often involved debtors sold to slave traders by African kings, part of the Columbian Exchange.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in the Americas (1607), along James River.

John Smith

Introduced work ethic to Jamestown colony, focused on sanitation, and served as a diplomat to local Native American tribes.

Pocahontas

Key to English-Native American relationship, died in England in 1617.

Mayflower Compact

Foundation for self-government laid out by the first Massachusetts settlers before arriving on land.

John Winthrop

Calvinist who devised the concept of “city on a hill” and founded successful towns in Massachusetts Bay.

City on a Hill

Exemplary Christian community, rich to show charity, held to Calvinistic beliefs.

Indentured Servants

Settlers who paid the expenses of a servant’s voyage and were granted land for each person they brought over; headright system.

Maryland Act of Religious Toleration (1649)

Mandated the toleration of all Christian denominations in Maryland.

James I, Charles I

Reluctant to give colonists their own government, preferred to appoint royal governors.

William Penn and the Quakers

Settled in Pennsylvania, believed the “Inner Light” could speak through any person, and ran religious services without ministers.

Roger Williams

Challenged New Englanders to completely separate Church from State.

Anne Hutchinson

Challenged New England Calvinist ministers’ authority, as they taught the good works for salvation of Catholicism.

The Half-Way Covenant

Allowed New Englanders who did not wish to relate their conversion experiences to become half-way saints.

Bacon’s Rebellion

Rebellion due to the governor of Virginia's failure to protect the frontier from Native Americans.

Navigation Acts

Dictated that only English and American ships were allowed to colonial ports; dissent began in 1763.

Mercantilism

Ensured trade with the mother country, fostering nationalism but too restrictive on the colonial economy.

Charles II, James II

Tried to rule as absolute monarchs without using Parliament, with little to no sympathy for colonial legislatures.

William and Mary

Ended the Dominion of New England, giving power back to the colonies.

Dominion of New England

Combined Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Plymouth into one "supercolony".

The Glorious Revolution

William and Mary kicked James II out of England, allowing more power to the legislatures.

James Oglethorpe

Established the colony of Georgia as a place for honest debtors.

The Enlightenment

Emphasis on human reason, logic, and science.

Benjamin Franklin

Connected the colonies to Britain, opposed unnecessary unfair taxation, and had a strong influence on the Albany Plan.

The Great Awakening

Began by Edwards to return to Puritanism, increased overall religious involvement, gave women more active roles in religion.

Deists

Believed that God created the universe to act through natural laws; Franklin, Jefferson, Paine.

George Whitefield

Powerful speaker, toured the country and inspired many into Christianity.

Jonathan Edwards

Puritan minister, led revivals, stressed immediate repentance.

New Lights vs. Old Lights

New Lights brought new ideas, rejected by Old Lights; both sought out institutions independent of each other.

Albany Plan of Union

Colonies proposed a colonial confederation under lighter British rule, but it never took effect.

French and Indian War

Removed the French threat at the borders, leading the colonies to feel less need for English protection.

Proclamation of 1763

Prohibited settlements west of the Appalachian, restricting colonial growth.

Salutary Neglect

Parliament took minor actions in the colonies, allowing them to experiment with self-government.

Writs of Assistance

Search warrants on shipping to reduce smuggling; challenged by James Otis.

Townshend Act (1767)

Raised money to pay colonial officials by American taxes; led to the Boston boycott of English luxuries.

Sugar Act

Increased tariff on sugar and other imports, attempting to harder enforce existing tariffs.

Stamp Act

Taxes on all legal documents to support British troops, not approved by colonists through their representatives.

Stamp Act Congress

Held in New York, agreed to not import British goods until the Stamp Act was repealed.

Virginia Resolves

"No taxation without representation," introduced by Patrick Henry.

Currency Act

Prohibited colonies from issuing paper money, destabilizing the colonial economy.

Virtual Representation

All English subjects are represented in Parliament, including those not allowed to vote.

The Loyal Nine

Group of Bostonians in opposition to the Stamp Act, sought to drive stamp distributors from the city.

Sons of Liberty

Organized and controlled resistance against Parliamentary acts, advocated nonimportation.

Declaratory Act

Allowed Parliament to completely legislate over the colonies, limiting colonists’ say.

Boston Massacre

British soldiers shot into a crowd of snowball fight; two of nine soldiers (defended by John Adams) found guilty of manslaughter.

Committees of Correspondence

Appointed from different colonies to communicate on matters, asserted rights to self-government.

Tea Act (1773)

Intended to save the British East India Company from bankruptcy, could sell directly to consumers.

Boston Tea Party

Peaceful destruction of British tea in Boston Harbor by colonists disguised as Indians.

Quebec Acts

Former French subjects in Canada allowed to keep Catholicism, while American colonists expected to participate in the Church of England.

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

In reaction to the Boston Tea Party; closing of Boston Harbor, revocation of Massachusetts charter.

Suffolk Resolves

Organize militia, end trade with Britain, refuse to pay taxes to Britain.

Olive Branch Petition

Politely demanded from the king a cease-fire in Boston, repeal of Coercive Acts, guarantee of American rights.

Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Stressed the need for revolution and appealed to American emotions.

George Washington

American commander-in-chief; first president, set precedents for future presidents.

Whigs (Patriots)

Most numerous in New England, fought for independence.

Tories (Loyalists)

Fought for a return to colonial rule, usually conservative.

Battle of Saratoga

American general Horatio Gates was victorious over British general Burgoyne.

Valley Forge

Scarce supplies; army motivated by von Steuben.

Battle of Yorktown

Last major battle; surrender of Cornwallis, led King George III to officially make peace with the colonies.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Full American independence, territory west of Appalachian ceded to America.

Articles of Confederation

States joined for foreign affairs, Congress lacked executive and judicial branches.

Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom (1786)

Foundation for First Amendment, offered free choice of religion, not influenced by state.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Defined process for territories to become states, forbade slavery in the new territories.

Alexander Hamilton

Pushed for Assumption (federal government to assume state debts), creation of the National Bank.

James Madison

Strong central government, separation of powers, “extended republic”.

Shays’s Rebellion

Mistreated farmers, fear of mobocracy, forced people to think about central government.

Connecticut Compromise

Advocated by Roger Sherman, proposed two independently-voting senators per state and representation in the House based on population.

Federalism

Strong central government provided by power divided between state and national governments.

Elastic Clause (“necessary and proper”)

Gives Congress the power to pass laws it deems necessary to enforce the Constitution.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Anti-Federalists wanted states’ rights, bill of rights.

The Federalist Papers

Written anonymously by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison; commentary on the Constitution.

Judiciary Act of 1789

Established federal district courts that followed local procedures, Supreme Court had final jurisdiction.

Bill of Rights

Protected rights of individuals from the power of the central government.

Bank of the United States

Hamilton’s plan to solve Revolutionary debt, Assumption highly controversial.

Report on Public Credit

Proposed by Hamilton to repair war debts; selling of securities and federal lands.

Report on Manufactures (tariffs)

Hamilton praised efficient factories, promote emigration, employment opportunities.

Strict vs. Loose interpretation of the Constitution

Loose interpretation allowed for implied powers of Congress.

Whiskey Rebellion

Western Pennsylvanian farmers’ violent protest against whiskey excise tax.

Impressment

British Navy would take American sailors and force them to work for Britain.

Jay’s Treaty

Provided for evacuation of English troops from posts in the Great Lakes.

Nullification

States could refuse to enforce the federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.

Federalists and Republicans

The two political parties that formed following Washington’s presidency.

Washington’s Farewell Address

Warned against permanent foreign alliances and political parties, called for unity of the country.

XYZ Affair

French foreign minister (Talleyrand) demanded bribe in order to meet with American peace commission.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Meant to keep government unquestioned by critics, particularly of the Federalists.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Argued that states had the right to determine whether or not the laws passed by Congress were constitutional.

12th Amendment

Required separate and distinct ballots for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Second Great Awakening

Emphasis on personal salvation, emotional response, and individual faith.

Election of 1800

Adams, Jefferson, and Burr: Adams lost, Jefferson and Burr tied, Hamilton convinced other Federalists to vote for Jefferson to break the tie

Barbary Pirates

North African Muslim rulers solved budget problems through piracy and tributes in Mediterranean.

Midnight judges

Judges appointed to Supreme Court by Adams in the last days of his presidency to force them upon Jefferson.

Marbury v. Madison

John Marshall declared that the Supreme Court could declare federal laws unconstitutional.

Lewis and Clark expedition

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark sent by Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Territory on “Voyage of Discovery”

Non-Intercourse Act

Sought to encourage domestic American manufacturing