APUSH Master List

Iroquois Confederacy

Union of Native American tribes in Northeastern North America, formed for mutual defense and governance.

St. Augustine

The first permanent European settlement in North America, founded by the Spanish in 1565 in present-day Florida.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread exchange of plants, animals, culture, and diseases between the New World and the Old World after Christopher Columbus's voyages in 1492.

Encomienda

System in Spanish colonies where settlers were granted land and natives to work for them in exchange for "protection" and Christianization.

John Smith

One of the first English colonists in America and played a key role in the establishment of the Jamestown colony in 1607.

The Starving Time

Harsh winter in Jamestown (1609-1610) with food shortages, disease, and cannibalism. Reduced settlers from 500 to 60 due to harsh conditions and lack of supplies.

Headright System

A land distribution system in colonial America where settlers were granted land in exchange for bringing other people and indentured servants to work the land.

Virginia Company

A joint-stock company chartered by King James I in 1606 to establish colonies in North America, leading to the founding of Jamestown in 1607.

Joint Stock Company

A business entity where shares of the company can be bought and sold by shareholders, allowing them to invest in and profit from the company's activities.

Powhatan Indians

Indigenous people of Virginia, led by Chief ________. Interacted with English settlers at Jamestown, including Pocahontas.

House of Burgesses

First legislative assembly in English colonies, established in Virginia in 1619, allowing settlers to make local laws and have a say in governance.

Primogeniture

Inheritance practice where the eldest son receives the entire estate, leading to the concentration of wealth and power in one heir. This caused many younger sons to move to the new world because of the land they could get there.

Indentured Servant

Laborer who worked under a contract for a specified period in exchange for passage, food, shelter, and eventual freedom in the New World.

Bacon’s Rebellion

A 1676 armed uprising in colonial Virginia led by Nathaniel _____ against Governor William Berkeley's administration due to grievances over Native American policies and lack of protection from them.

Mayflower Compact

Document signed by Pilgrims in 1620 aboard the Mayflower, establishing self-government and a social contract for the Plymouth Colony in America. It’s significant because it’s the first written document in the New World showing a step toward representative democracy.

Pilgrims vs. Puritans

Two religious groups, One was made up of separatists who sought religious freedom in America on the Mayflower, settling in Plymouth in 1620. The other wanted to purify the Church of England and settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630.

Pequot War

Conflict in 1637 between English settlers and ______ tribe in Connecticut over land and trade, leading to the near destruction of the ______ tribe.

King Philip’s War

A conflict in 1675-1678 between Native American tribes and New England colonists. It resulted in the defeat of Native American resistance and the expansion of English control in the region.

Pueblo Revolt 1680

Uprising by ______ people in present-day New Mexico against Spanish colonizers, resulting in the expulsion of the Spanish for 12 years.

Massachusetts Bay Colony

Founded in 1630 by Puritans seeking religious freedom, it became a major center of trade and government in New England.

John Winthrop

A Puritan leader who served as the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He famously described the colony as a "city upon a hill," emphasizing its role as a model society for others to emulate.

City Upon A Hill

Concept from John Winthrop's sermon referring to a community with high moral standards, serving as an example for others to follow.

Anne Hutchinson

A Puritan spiritual advisor and religious reformer in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was expelled for her beliefs, like that she could talk directly to God, and played a key role in the Antinomian Controversy.

Roger Williams

A Puritan minister who founded Rhode Island in 1636 as a haven for religious freedom and separation of church and state after being banished from Massachusetts for showing those beliefs.

Salem Witch Trials

Infamous series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts in 1692. Led to the execution of 20 individuals.

Quakers

Religious group known for their beliefs in equality, simplicity, and pacifism. They worship in silence and make decisions through consensus.

William Penn

Founder of Pennsylvania, a Quaker who promoted religious freedom and peaceful relations with Native Americans. Signed a treaty with the Lenape tribe.

Fundamental Orders of CT

First written constitution in America, established a representative government in Connecticut in 1639.

John Peter Zenger

New York printer who challenged British colonial rule by publishing articles critical of the government, establishing freedom of the press in America. He was also persecuted for this.

Scots-Irish

Ethnic group of Scottish descent who settled in Ireland before migrating to the Appalachian Mountains in America in the 18th century. Known for their strong work ethic and contributions to American culture.

Halfway Covenant

A 1662 agreement allowing partial church membership for the children of Puritan church members who had not experienced a conversion.

Great Awakening

Religious revival in the American colonies during the 1730s and 1740s, emphasizing emotional preaching and individual spiritual experiences.

Old Lights vs. New Lights

Two groups of religious people during the Great Awakening. One was made up of conservative, traditionalist clergy, while the other was made up of people who were revivalist, enthusiastic preachers advocating emotional religious experiences.

Whitefield and Edwards

Two influential figures in the Great Awakening, a religious revival movement in colonial America during the 1730s and 1740s.

Middle Passage

The journey across the Atlantic Ocean that enslaved Africans were forced to endure during the transatlantic slave trade. A prime example of this was that they were all stuffed into cramped rooms under the decks of ships.

Triangular Trade

System of trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas involving the exchange of slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods.

Gullah

A Creole language spoken by African Americans in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina and Georgia, with influences from West African languages.

Stono Rebellion

A slave rebellion in 1739 in South Carolina, where a group of slaves seized weapons and killed several white colonists before being captured and executed.

Mercantilism

Economic system in which a country's wealth is measured by its accumulation of gold and silver through trade, colonization, and protectionism.

Dominion of New England

A British administrative union of colonies in New England from 1686-1689, aimed at increasing royal control and enforcing the Navigation Acts. Led by Sir Edmund Andros after King James II created it.

Glorious Revolution

Event in 1688 where William of Orange and Mary overthrew James II to ensure Protestant rule in England. Established constitutional monarchy and limited royal power.

Salutary Neglect

British policy of lax enforcement towards American colonies, allowing them to self-govern and flourish economically, prior to the French and Indian War.

Navigation Acts

British laws (1651-1673) restricting colonial trade, requiring goods to be transported on British ships, and limiting trade partners to benefit England. An example of salutary neglect as they were not enforced well until the French and Indian War.

Albany Plan of Union

A proposal by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 to create a unified government for the American colonies, but was not approved by the colonies or the British Crown.

French and Indian War

Conflict between British and French colonies in North America from 1754-1763 for control of territory. Led to British victory and increased tensions with American colonies.

Treaty of Paris 1763

Treaty that ended the French and Indian War, transferring Canada and territory east of the Mississippi River from France to Britain.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

A Native American uprising in 1763 against British expansion in the Ohio River Valley after the French and Indian War.

Proclamation of 1763

British decree prohibiting colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflicts with Native Americans.

George Grenville

British Prime Minister from 1763 to 1765. Known for implementing the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act in the American colonies, which led to increased tensions and protests.

Sugar Act

Law passed by British Parliament in 1764, taxed sugar and other goods imported to the American colonies to raise revenue. (Indirect tax)

Stamp Act

British law in 1765 taxing printed materials in American colonies, leading to protests as colonists saw it as a violation of their rights. (First direct tax)

Stamp Act Congress

A meeting in 1765 where delegates from nine American colonies protested against the _____ ___, asserting their rights and grievances.

Sons of Liberty

A secret organization of American colonists who protested against British taxation and policies before the American Revolution.

Samuel Adams

A Founding Father and one of the leaders of the American Revolution. He played a key role in organizing the Boston Tea Party and promoting colonial independence from Britain.

Patrick Henry

American Revolutionary leader known for his "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech. He was a key figure in the movement towards independence from Britain.

Quartering Act

A law passed in 1765 requiring American colonists to provide food and housing for British troops. It was one of the measures that fueled resentment towards British rule.

Internal vs. External Tax

Two different types of taxes in the colonists’ eyes. One is levied on goods within a country, like the Stamp Act. The other is imposed on imports or exports, such as the Townshend Acts.

Virtual vs. Actual Representation

Two types of representation. One was the British belief MPs represent all British subjects, not just those who voted. The other was the colonists demanded direct representation in Parliament to have a say in laws affecting them.

Direct vs. Indirect Tax

Two types of taxes. One is levied directly on individuals or businesses (Ex. Stamp Act). The other is imposed on goods and services, paid by consumers but collected by intermediaries (Ex. Sugar Act).

Townshend Acts

Series of British laws passed in 1767 imposing taxes on items such as glass, lead, paint, and tea in the American colonies.

Boston Massacre

Event on March 5, 1770, British soldiers fired on a crowd in Boston, killing 5 colonists. Heightened tensions between colonists and British government.

Circular Letter

A document written by Samuel Adams in 1768, urging colonies to resist British taxation and unite against oppressive measures. Spread around the colonies to help get them all on the same page.

Committees of Correspondence

Committees formed by American colonists to share information and coordinate efforts of resistance against British policies before the Revolutionary War.

Tea Act

Legislation passed by the British Parliament in 1773, granting the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies, leading to the Boston Tea Party protest.

Boston Tea Party

Event in 1773 where American colonists protested British taxation by dumping tea into Boston Harbor. Led to increased tensions before the American Revolution.

Intolerable Acts

Laws passed by British Parliament in 1774 to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. They restricted colonial rights and increased British control.

Quebec Act

1774 British law expanding Quebec's territory and granting religious freedom to French Catholics, sparking discontent among American colonists. Not part of the intolerable acts but usually grouped in with them.

1st Continental Congress

A meeting of delegates from the American colonies in 1774 to address grievances against British policies and plan a united response.

Declaration of Rights & Grievances

Document created by American colonists at the 1st Continental Congress in 1774 stating their rights and grievances against British rule, demanding change.

2nd Continental Congress

Met in 1775 to manage the colonial war effort. It established the Continental Army, named George Washington as commander, and drafted the Declaration of Independence. They also made the Olive Branch Petition

Olive Branch Petition

A document sent by the Second Continental Congress to King George III in 1775, seeking reconciliation and peace before the Declaration of Independence.

Hessians

Mercenaries hired by the British during the American Revolutionary War. They were German soldiers known for their discipline and effectiveness in battle.

Loyalists/Tories

American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War. They opposed the Patriots seeking independence.

Common Sense

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence from Britain, published in 1776, influencing public opinion and the Revolutionary War. It got everyone on the same page, wanting to declare war.

Thomas Paine

An English-American political activist, philosopher, and author. He wrote "Common Sense," a pamphlet advocating for American independence from Britain.

Bunker Hill

Battle fought on June 17, 1775, during the American Revolutionary War. Although technically a British victory, it showed the colonists' ability to stand up to professional soldiers.

Declaration of Independence

Document adopted on July 4, 1776, declaring the 13 American colonies independent from British rule, drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

John Locke

An English philosopher known for his ideas on empiricism and social contract theory. His work greatly influenced modern philosophy and political thought. His ideas of natural rights were also very influential to the Declaration of Independence.

Natural Rights

Rights that are inherent to all human beings, such as life, liberty, and property. They are not granted by government but are fundamental and inalienable.

Consent of the Governed

Principle stating that a government's legitimacy and authority are derived from the consent of the people it governs. It is a key concept in democratic societies.

Saratoga

A turning point in the American Revolutionary War, fought in 1777. The American victory convinced France to openly support the colonies against Britain. (Allies forever)

Yorktown

Battle in 1781 where American and French forces defeated the British, leading to the surrender of General Cornwallis and effectively ending the American Revolutionary War.

General Cornwallis

British general during the American Revolutionary War. Surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, effectively ending the war.

Treaty of Paris 1783

Ended the American Revolutionary War, recognized American independence, and established boundaries between the U.S. and British North America.

Phillis Wheatley

First African American woman to publish a book of poetry in the United States, showcasing her talent and intellect.

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams, the 2nd U.S. President. Known for her intelligence, advocacy for women's rights, and influential letters to her husband. “Remember the Ladies”

“Remember the Ladies”

A phrase used by Abigail Adams in a letter to John Adams, urging him to consider women's rights in the founding of the United States.

Republican Motherhood

Ideal in early U.S. history where women were seen as educators of virtuous citizens in the new republic, promoting civic duty and morality.

Cult of Domesticity

A 19th-century belief that women's role is to be homemakers, nurturing, and submissive to their husbands.

“Molly Pitcher”

A nickname given to a woman who carried water to soldiers during the American Revolutionary War, and later helped with cannon duty.

Articles of Confederation

First constitution of the United States, established in 1781. Created a weak central government with limited powers, leading to its eventual replacement by the U.S. Constitution in 1789.

Land Ordinance 1785

Legislation that established a system for surveying and selling western lands to settlers in the United States.

Shays’ Rebellion

1786-87 uprising by American farmers in Massachusetts against high taxes and debt, highlighting weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. This showed George Washington that uprisings were unacceptable and change had to be made while Thomas Jefferson thought a little uprising is good sometimes.

Northwest Ordinance 1787

Legislation that established a system for governing the Northwest Territory, including guidelines for admitting new states and prohibiting slavery.

Virginia Plan

Proposed by Edmund Randolph at the Constitutional Convention, favored by large states, called for a bicameral legislature based on state population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention that advocated for equal representation of states in Congress, benefiting smaller states.

Great Compromise

Also known as the Connecticut Compromise, it proposed a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.

3/5 Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of taxation and representation in Congress.

Slave Trade Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that allowed the slave trade to continue for 20 years before Congress could abolish it.

Montesquieu

Enlightenment philosopher who advocated for the separation of powers in government to prevent tyranny. Influenced ideas of the Constitution.