APUSH Semester 1 Final Exam Study Guide

These flashcards cover key concepts and events important for the APUSH Semester 1 Final Exam.

Native American populations

Indigenous groups living in North America before European settlement.

The Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World.

Puritans

A religious group that sought to purify the Church of England; they settled in New England.

Bacon's Rebellion

An armed rebellion in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley.

Mercantilism

An economic policy that emphasizes government regulation of a nation's economy for augmenting state power.

The Great Awakening

A religious revival in the American colonies during the 1730s and 1740s that emphasized a personal approach to religion.

The French and Indian War

A conflict between Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763 that was part of the larger Seven Years' War.

The Stamp Act

A 1765 law that taxed printed goods in the American colonies, leading to widespread protest.

The Declaration of Independence

The document adopted on July 4, 1776, declaring the American colonies free from British rule.

The Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, which created a loose confederation of sovereign states.

Shays's Rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786-1787 by farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic injustices.

The Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson

A political rivalry in the early United States over issues like national banking and the economy.

Strict vs. loose interpretations of the Constitution

Debates over the extent of power granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

Statements drafted in 1798 and 1799 asserting state rights against federal overreach.

The Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of the Louisiana territory from France in 1803, which doubled the size of the United States.

The Embargo Act

A law passed in 1807 that prohibited American ships from trading in foreign ports.

The Missouri Compromise

Legislation passed in 1820 that maintained the balance between free and slave states.

The Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. foreign policy statement made in 1823 warning European nations against colonizing in the Americas.

Jackson's Indian policy

Policies under President Andrew Jackson that led to the forced relocation of Native Americans.

The Gag Rule

A rule that prohibited debate on slavery in Congress.

The Second Great Awakening

A Protestant religious revival during the early 19th century that focused on personal piety.

Seneca Falls Convention

The first women's rights convention held in 1848, promoting women's suffrage.

The Market Revolution

A shift in the American economy from local markets to a national market sold through cash transactions.

The Republican Party & its platform

A political party founded in the 1850s to oppose the expansion of slavery.

The Dred Scott Decision

A 1857 Supreme Court ruling that stated that African Americans could not be American citizens.

The Reconstruction Amendments

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments that abolished slavery and granted citizenship and voting rights to former slaves.