APUSH General Study Guide

Pre-Columbian Societies

Diverse cultures and civilizations in North America before European contact, such as Mississippians and Iroquois.

Columbian Exchange

Significant exchange of plants, animals, goods, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds.

Spanish Conquistadors

Spanish conquerors who overthrew Native empires like the Aztec and Inca.

Seven Years' War (French and Indian War)

Conflict that established British dominance in North America and led to increased colonial taxation.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that American expansion across the continent was justified and inevitable.

Jacksonian Democracy

Political movement during Andrew Jackson's presidency advocating for the common man and expanded suffrage.

Civil Rights Movement

Social movement aimed at ending segregation and discrimination against African Americans, leading to significant legislation.

Reconstruction Era

Period focused on reintegrating Southern states and establishing rights for freed slaves post-Civil War.

Gilded Age

Period of rapid industrial growth, marked by political corruption and stark social inequalities.

Progressive Movement

Reform movement aimed at addressing issues caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption.

Cold War

Geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union marked by military and ideological rivalry.

The Great Society

President Lyndon B. Johnson's programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.

The New Deal

Franklin D. Roosevelt's programs aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression.

Post-9/11 America

A period marked by shift in U.S. foreign policy, war on terror, and heightened security measures.