APUSH Semester Test Flashcards

APUSH Semester Test Flashcards

American Indians/Native Americans

Peoples who dominated the Western Hemisphere at the beginning of the Exploration period; their diversity and tribalism as well as European diseases & military force made it difficult for them to avoid conquest from European powers and their descendants

Great Columbian/Biological Exchange

Transfer of biological organisms between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres that began during the Exploration period; contributed to the increased food supply for Europeans (and subsequent increase in their population) and the ill effects of European diseases on Native Americans

Christopher Columbus

Individual who initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade, exploitation of indigenous Americans, exploration of the Americas, & the Great Biological Exchange yet remains a controversial figure

Bartolomeo de las Casas

Spanish critic of the treatment of indigenous peoples during the exploration of the Americas, his campaign to eliminate slavery of native peoples inadvertently led to the expansion of the trans-Atlantic slave trade

European colonization

This development allowed the Americas/Western Hemisphere to become eventually dominated by European nations as they attempted to gain economic and political advantages over their European rivals; encouraged European powers to attempt to conquer indigenous peoples of the Americas

Spanish empire

European power that commenced the first extensive exploration & colonization of the Americas; created the first university in the Western Hemisphere

African slavery

Labor system in the Eastern Hemisphere that was based on tribal domination rather than making human beings into market products; not practiced in the Americas/Western Hemisphere by European powers

French empire

European power that colonized the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys along with Canada yet gave those areas to the British to maintain their colonies in the Caribbean after the Seven Years' War; their influence on the city of New Orleans remains until today

Dutch colonies

These colonies emphasized trade and cooperation with native peoples in order to expand trade; the British eventually conquered their colonies on the American mainland in the mid-1600s

English/British empire

European power that controlled the smallest land area in the Western Hemisphere as of 1700 yet became the dominant colonial empire by 1763

Jamestown

The first successful settlement in British North America; led at one time by John Smith; experienced the "starving time," economically saved by its cultivation of tobacco, & developed into the Virginia colony

indentored servitude

Provided important cheap labor for colonial British America as well as opportunity for the European poor

Plymouth colony

Colony founded by the eventually incorporated into Massachusetts Bay Colony after the demise of the Pilgrims/Separatists in 1620; developed the Mayflower Compact and was Dominion of New England in the late 17* century

Mayflower Commpact

Created by New England colonial settlers, this was an agreement to obey laws created by the entire community despite their religious differences, this was an important step toward self-government

Chesapeake colonies

Virginia and Maryland made up these colonies; developed the beginning of religious freedom, self-gonverning and chattel slavery of British colonies.

Virginia colony

Colony that created the first legislature in the Western Hemisphere, witnessed the arrival of the first Africans to the English mainland colonies in North America, and witnessed the arrival of "marriable women" (that allowed for the creation of a permanent society). Its experience with Bacon's Rebellion contributed to the development of chattel slavery and was the colony of George Washington, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison

1619

Virginia colony experienced the creation of the first representative assembly/legislature, arrival of the first Africans, and the arrival of "marriable women" during this calendar year

House of Burgesses

First representative assembly/legislature in the Americas; created in Virginia during the colonial period

Bacon's Rebellion:

Revolt of backcountry & landless colonial Virginians against their colonial government that had the effect of expanding the use of slave labor in the Chesapeake region

Toleration Act:

Colonial-era legislation that allowed religious freedom for Christians in Maryland

Great Puritan Migration:

This mass movement of a persecuted religious minority from England during the 1630s led them to the Western Hemisphere & (most famously and importantly) to Massachusetts Bay Colony

New England colonies:

Colonies that developed the Mayflower Compact, saw themselves as a "City upon a Hill," used town meetings to govern themselves, and developed education ahead of other colonial regions yet decimated local indigenous peoples, and was the most religiously intolerant

Massachusetts Bay Colony:

Its first generation was led by John Winthrop who saw it as a "City upon a Hill"; had a major impact on the development of the eventual U.S. although its religious practices grew less influential over time & was responsible for the Salem Witch trials

John Winthrop:

He described Massachusetts Bay Colony as a "City upon a Hill"; opponent of religious freedom and toleration as demonstrated by his views towards Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson

"City upon a hill":

Articulated by John Winthrop, this was a belief of members of Massachusetts Bay Colony that they were creating a model community that would inspire other peoples; it came to influence the views of many Americans that the U.S.A. was to be a model nation for the world

Anne Hutchinson:

Accused of heresy and expelled from Massachusetts Bay colony, her experience demonstrated the need for freedom of religion

King Philip's War:

Bloody conflict that almost destroyed colonial American settlements in the New England region, contributed to the witchcraft hysteria, and shaped Euro-American views toward indigenous peoples

Salem Witch Trials:

Controversial event that led to the deaths of over 20 Massachusetts colonists & has remained a fascinating subject for subsequent generations

Rhode Island colony:

Founded by an individual who was asked to leave Massachusetts Bay Colony, it was the first colony to practice complete religious freedom & disestablishment; had cordial relations with Indians during the first generation of its founding

Roger Williams:

Encouraged to leave his original American colony, his innovations of colonial public policy have been a model of toleration and freedom ever since

disestablishment:

No individual religion receives tax dollars from any government; also described as "separation of church and state"; first practiced by Rhode Island and later practiced by every state in the U.S.A.

Fundamental Orders:

Created by the Connecticut colony, it was the first written constitution in the Americas/Western Hemisphere

Mid-Atlantic/Middle colonies:

The most tolerant and economically diverse of the British colonies; two of them were originally settled by the Dutch; called the "bread colonies" due to their cultivation of grain crops

New Amsterdam:

Location of the most important Dutch settlement in mainland North America, its importance as a center of trade/commerce made it an important gain for the British when they conquered it in the mid-17th century.

New York colony:

Founded by the Dutch with an emphasis on commerce, it retained its ethnic and religious diversity after it was conquered by the British in the mid-1600s/17th century

Pennsylvania colony:

Described as the "Keystone" colony, it was one of the most ethnically and nationally diverse of all of the British colonies due to its amount of affordable land and practice of religious toleration; had cordial relations with Indians during the first generation of its founders

William Penn:

He was the founder of the influential "Keystone" colony in the Mid-Atlantic region that practiced disestablishment, freedom of religion, and cordial relations with American Indians; his Quaker upbringing had a major influence in the colony he founded

Georgia colony:

British colony that was a "buffer" to the Spanish mainland empire; founded by James Oglethorpe, it also provided opportunity for the "worthy poor" from Britain

*Colonies of the southern Atlantic coast and British West Indies:

British colonies that shared a common economy, politics, society, and culture in which chattel slavery, white supremacy, and sugar-growing were dominant; heavily influenced South Carolina

*Atlantic economy:

Area/Region in which the peoples of Europe, Africa, and the Americas economically interacted by trading goods, ideas, & peoples

*Atlantic slave trade:

Referred to as the "Middle Passage," this was the brutal transportation of West African slaves to the Americas that took place from the exploration period to the mid-19th century

Santa Fe:

Important Spanish settlement in the Southwest during the colonial period; cation of the Pueblo Revolt

Pueblo Revolt:

Colonial uprising in which a native tribe defeated the Spanish and kept them out of Santa Fe for a decade; the Spanish reconquest of Santa Fe was mitigated by the Spanish acceptance of much of native American culture

mercantilism:

Economic system (in which governments regulated economic activity in order to promote national power and, thus, colonies served the economic interest of empire/homeland) that guided European colonial powers in the 16th to 18th centuries vet was ignored or avoided by some colonial American merchants

Navigation Acts:

British imperial laws during the colonial period that attempted to enforce mercantilism; ignored and avoided by some colonial merchants due to "salutary/benign neglect"

*British colonial trade:

This trans-Atlantic trade between Great Britain and its worldwide colonies aided its development into a leading world power by the 1700s; also incorporated trade with other areas of the world, especially West Africa; "triangular trade" with West Africa, the Caribbean, and mainland North American colonies greatly expanded chattel slavery in British America

"salutary/benign neglect":

Description of British/English authorities' focus on their domestic and international issues that allowed American colonists to develop some political, economic, & social autonomy; its elimination in the post- Seven Years' War period strongly contributed to the American Revolution

Dominion of New England:

Government that briefly eliminated "salutary/benign neglect" during the colonial period; overthrown as a consequence of the Glorious Revolution in England after which "salutary neglect" of the British çolonies of North America recommenced

Puritanism:

This religion aided in the development of American morality & industriousness yet also contributed to intolerance, especially in Massachusetts Bay Colony

*Enlightenment:

The belief that rationality, logic, science, and reason can lead to a greater understanding of the world and a solution to its problems; played a role in the "Anglicization" of the diverse residents of the British colonies; major influence on the leaders of the American Revolution; evidenced in the writings of John Locke (who was a European intellectual whose writings analyzed the results of the Glorious Revolution yet had a major intellectual influence on the American Revolution)

*Anglicization:

Process by which various different peoples were integrated into the politics, economy, society, and culture of the British empire during the colonial period

(First) Great Awakening:

A reaction against the Enlightenment, materialism, and "soft religion", it was the first major religious revival movement in American history; development experienced by all the different regions and societies of colonial British America and led to the growth of religiosity amongst British North Americans

Jonathan Edwards & George Whitfield:

Most important preachers of the First Great Awakening during the colonial period; the former was the creator of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon and the theology of the First Great Awakening; the latter was the most popular religious preacher of the First Great Awakening and most responsiblefor spreading religiosity throughout the British American mainland colonies

18th century immigration:

Demographic/population movement that created a more nationally- and ethnically-diverse British American mainland colonial population by the eve of the American Revolution

*American chattel slavery:

Labor system that evolved into an important source of wealth for British North America (and continued to exist after the colonial period); practiced in every individual colony and region; laborers in this system were considered to be legal property for the duration of their lives (which was also passed on to their descendants)

Stono Rebellion:

Only significant slave rebellion of the colonial period within British mainland America; unsuccessful yet increased fear amongst colonial British Americans

Zenger case:

Legal decision during the colonial period that was the genesis of American press freedom

*French and Indian/Seven Years' War:

Conflict which increased British power and the size of its American empire yet increased tensions between native peoples and American colonists and contributed to the conditions that eventually culminated in the American Revolution

George Washington:

First came to prominence during his involvement in the French and Indian War, he was leader of the American military during the American Revolution; his effective and inspirational leadership was crucial in achieving victory against the British Empire despite the loss of more battles than he won during the conflict; his resignation of his military command at the end of the American Revolution was unprecedented in human history; presided over the Constitutional Convention, served as the first president of the U.S.A. (which oversaw innovations in domestic and foreign policy), retired from the presidency despite pressure not to do so, & created a process in which his slaves were freed & educated

Albany Plan of Union:

This attempt by Benjamin Franklin to forge British colonial unity at the beginning of the French and Indian War was rejected by all of the British colonial assemblies; the unwillingness of these colonies to unify against a common enemy was later contradicted by its unity against the British in the American Revolution

Benjamin Franklin:

Individual who personified the Enlightenment, participated in the writing of the Declaration of Independence, was the main American negotiator of the Treaty of Paris and played an important role at the Constitutional Convention

Pontiac's Rebellion:

Unsuccessful yet damaging rebellion by native peoples after the Seven Years'/French and Indian War led to the creation of the Proclamation of 1763 by Parliament to prevent future clashes

Proclamation of 1763:

Inspired by Pontiac's Rebellion, this Parliamentary restriction on the American westward movement was ignored by many colonists yet was an indication that "salutary/benign neglect" was ending

*Paxton Boys & Regulator movement:

Post-French and Indian War backcountry colonists who marched against their colonial leaders demanding redress of their grievances (especially access to land of American Indians); their actions demonstrated the tensions between the backcountry settlers and colonial leaders as well as ignoring agreements/treaties with Native Americans

Stamp Act:

Tax legislation by Parliament that united colonists against British authority and its governing philosophy for the first time; the success of the colonists to get this legislation repealed did not prevent future British repressive legislation

Sons of Liberty:

Led and/or represented by Samuel Adams, they harassed British officials who attempted to enforce the Stamp Act and other controversial British legislation; demonstrated organized opposition to British legislation

Daughters of Liberty:

Led and/or represented by Mercy Otis Warren, they aided the harassment of British officials who attempted to enforce the Stamp Act and other subsequent controversial British legislation; demonstrated organized opposition to British legislation

Declaratory Act:

Legislation in which Parliament proclaimed it had complete sovereignty over the American colonies despite its repeal of the Stamp Act

Boston Tea Party:

Destructive incident of valuable British trade goods that led to British repressive legislation and the formation of the First Continental Congress

Coercive/Intolerable Acts:

Parliamentary repressive legislation that was a reaction to the Boston Tea Party; unified colonists to create the First Continental Congress and support Massachusetts

(First & Second) Continental Congress:

Meetings of British American colonial leaders that developed resistance to British policies in the aftermath of the Coercive/Intolerable Acts; this eventually led to rebellion (especially after the King George's rejection of the Olive Branch Petition) as demonstrated by their eventual creation of the Declaration of Independence

*American Revolution (1775-1783):

Event in which British American mainland colonists defeated the world's most powerful empire and, thus, created a new nation based on liberty and equality that also inspired countless peoples to create more representative nations

Paine's Common Sense:

Popular pamphlet that inspired indecisive colonial Americans to support a rebellion against the British empire, reject the institution of monarchy, and create a republic

*Declaration of Independence:

This document announced the creation of thirteen mainland North American colonies as a sovereign nation; it also expressed its philosophy/guiding principles

*Declaration of Independence's influence on other revolutions:

France, Haiti, and Latin American nations had their own revolutions due to inspiration from the example of the founding document of the U.S.A.

Patriot movement:

Colonial Americans that supported the goals of the American Revolution despite the opposition of the Loyalists/Tories

Continental Army:

Patriot military that fought and eventually defeated the British during the American Revolution

Battle of Saratoga:

"Turning point" of the War of the American Revolution, this caused the French to openly support the Patriot cause with the creation of a military alliance with the U.S.A.

French Alliance (during the Revolution period):

A consequence of the Battle of Saratoga, this support greatly aided the Patriots and made the American Revolution into a worldwide conflict

Tories/Loyalists:

Americans (like Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson) who did not support the American Revolution primarily because they were more fearful of the disorder it created

Articles of Confederation:

Central government created during the American Revolution; successful in developing territorial land policy yet unable to maintain order and economic stability during peacetime; peacefully replaced by the Constitution

Newburgh Conspiracy:

Stopped personally by General George Washington during the last year of War of the American Revolution, this event demonstrated the need for a stronger central government

Peace of Paris (1783):

The British recognized the independence of the United States of America and its territorial size (from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River)

republicanism:

A foundational principle of American government, it states that the people are sovereign and, thus, elect public officials who are answerable to the people

Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom:

Created by Thomas Jefferson & shepherded into law by James Madison, this state legislation was a major influence on the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights

"republican motherhood":

Promoted to have women educate their American children away from monarchy, it also led to the expansion of education for women in the post-American Revolution period

Land & Northwest Ordinances:

Articles of Confederation legislation that established teritorial-western-statehood land policy & prohibited slavery north of the Ohio River (which aided the development of a slave-free North)

Northwest Territory:

Created by the Articles of Confederation govemment, it eventually became the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin that also did not allow these states to have slavery

Spanish missions in California:

Institutions that the Catholic Church used in its attempt to integrate native peoples into Spanish society, culture, & economy during the late 18th century (in what eventually became part of the USA)

Shays' Rebellion:

Domestic disturbance in the Massachusetts backcountry that demonstrated the weakness of the Articles of Confederation government and inspired the Philadelphia Convention of 1787

Philadelphia Convention:

Meeting that was originally called to improve the Articles of Confederation, it proceeded to engage in a "peaceful revolution" by replacing that central government; its creation is still in existence

Constitutional Convention compromises:

Demonstrated by the 3/5 Compromise, the Great Compromise, and the creation of the electoral college, this supports the view of Benjamin Franklin that "compromisers don't make great heroes, but they make great democracies"

Great Compromise:

Compromise that created the structure of the legislative branch of the national/federal government (Congress with a Senate and House of Representatives) that still exists

3/5 Compromise:

Constitutional compromise that recognized the existence of slavery at the state level (yet did not recognize "property in man" in national law; eliminated by the 13th Amendment because of the results of the Civil War

The Constitution:

Product of a "peaceful revolution" that replaced the Articles of Confederation, this established a central-federal government with three separate branches in order to divide power; controversial at the time of its creation, it has developed into a revered document despite the fact that Americans interpret it in different and contradictory ways

Charles Beard's Constitution thesis:

Historical opinion that argues the Founding Fathers were more concerned about creating a government that would protect their property than one that promoted the ideals of the American Revolution

Constitution ratification debate:

This political battle focused not only on whether the U.S. would accept a new central government, but also on the nature of government and political leadership; Federalist/pro-Constitution James Madison and Alexander Hamilto vs. Anti-Federalist/anti-Constitution Patrick Henry were the leaders of the opposing sides; creation of the Bill of Rights was a consequence (along with the elimination of the "Federalists vs. Anti- Federalists" terminology)

The Federalist Papers:

Series of newspaper articles that supported the ratification of the Constitution; primarily written by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison and still used as an explanation of the U.S. federal government

Alexander Hamilton and James Madison:

Important creators of the Constitution; eloquently & effectively defended it during the ratification debate through their authorship of (most of the) Federalist Papers; divided over the implementation of the Constitution during the 1790s

Bill of Rights:

Amendments to the Constitution that established that the new central-federal government would not violate "inalienable rights" like freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free religious practice, individual right to bear arms, individual states having militias, rights of the accused and defendants, etc.; also recognized states' rights; James Madison was most important in its creation