AP U.S. History Review

Flashcards covering topics from the lecture notes on US History.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Transatlantic Trade

A system of trade routes across the Atlantic Ocean, primarily involving the exchange of enslaved Africans, raw materials from the Americas, and manufactured goods from Europe.

Second Great Awakening

A Protestant religious revival movement during the early 19th century in the United States, characterized by emotional preaching and conversions.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Progressive Movement

An early 20th-century reform movement seeking to return control of the government to the people, to restore economic opportunities, and to correct injustices in American life.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, from the mid-1940s until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

French and Indian War/Seven Years' War

A conflict between Great Britain and France (with Native American allies) from 1754 to 1763, primarily over territorial expansion in North America.

Albany Congress (Albany Convention)

A meeting in 1754 of representatives from several colonies to discuss colonial defense against the French.

Albany Plan of Union

A plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin to create a unified council to manage colonial affairs; it failed but served as a precursor to the revolutionary congress.

Impressment

The practice of forcing American colonists into the British Royal Navy.

Proclamation of 1763

A British proclamation that forbade American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent conflicts with Native Americans.

Pontiac's Rebellion

A Native American uprising led by Chief Pontiac from 1763 to 1766 to resist colonial expansion into their territories.

Salutary Neglect

An unofficial British policy of relaxed rule over the American colonies, especially prior to the French and Indian War.

Navigational Acts

British laws that restricted colonial trade to British ships and ports.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

A meeting of colonial representatives who petitioned against the Stamp Act, which imposed a tax on printed materials.

Declaratory Act

British law asserting Parliament's authority to pass laws for the colonies in all cases whatsoever.

Townshend Acts

British laws taxing goods such as tea, paper, and glass imported by the American colonies.

Boston Massacre (1770)

An incident in which British soldiers shot and killed several protesting colonists.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

A protest led by the Sons of Liberty, who dumped tea into Boston Harbor to resist the Tea Act.

Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea Party, aimed at punishing Massachusetts and asserting British authority.

Continental Congress (1774)

A meeting of colonial representatives to determine how to respond to British actions and assert colonial rights.

John Locke

Enlightenment thinker who influenced colonial leaders with his ideas of natural rights and self-rule.

Continental Congress (1774)

Meeting of colonists to determine how to prevent British encroachment.

John Locke

Enlightenment thinker who pushed ideas of natural rights and self-rule.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Enlightenment thinker who pushed the idea that people give up certain rights to be protected by the government through a “Social contract”.

Montesquieu

Created the idea of separation of powers/checks & balances, and the 3 branches of government (republican government).

Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”

Showed need for colonial independence, (used biblical references), was powerful as the first paper to be readily available to the mass public as well as the first writing to directly push independence instead of peace.

Jonathan Mayhew

Minister who argued resisting tyranny was a moral duty, blending religious ideas to political rhetorics.

Olive Branch Petition (1775)

The colonists’ final attempt for peace with Britain before the American Revolution, failed to work.

Patriot Cause

Movement of independence from Britain during the American Revolution.

Loyalists

Colonists who were against independence.

Patriotists

Colonists who were for independence.

Valley Forge (1778-79)

Site of colonial camps that were extremely difficult for them due to harsh winters but would unify the army.

Franco – American alliance (1778)

Alliance of France and American during the war to allow French naval power and troops to help.

Paris Peace Treaty (1783)

Officially ended the Revolutionary War and acknowledges the U.S. as an independent nation. (all land bordered west of the Mississippi river).

Republican Motherhood

Idea that women must be educated to have a strong democracy, to educate their children in Republican ideals.

Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)

Led by Toussaint Louverture to establish the first independent, black republic.

Simon Bolivar

Venezuelan military leader who liberated many countries, would be known as the “liberator” and pushed revolutionary ideas such as enlightenment and democratic ideals.

Articles of Confederation (1781)

1st constitution + 1st governing document of the U.S., largely influenced by state constitutions.

Legislative branch

Branch that makes laws. consisted of representatives of the people.

Property Qualifications

To hold any sort of political power (voting or holding office), you needed to reach a certain property quota. This was made to keep power in the hands of the rich and privileged.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Promoted public education and protected private property, but most significantly outlawed slavery in the Northwest territory & allowed a way for western land to have a population and gain statehood.

Shay’s Rebellion (1786-87)

Led by Daniel Shay, many angry farmers attempted an uprising in Massachusetts to the town arsenal to arm themselves.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Delegates from the states gather in Philadelphia to look at the weaknesses of the Articles or create a new constitution (made a new one.)

Virginia Plan

Called for a strong centralized state, bicameral legislature (2 houses in Congress), and representatives be based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Called for a unicameral legislature and every state to have equal representatives.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Compromise of both the Virginia and New Jersey plan, which included a bicameral legislature composed of the House of representatives (population based), and the Senate (equal) with each state having 2 votes.

3/5 Compromise

That 3/5 of the enslaved population could be considered for the HOR.

Commerce & Slave trade compromise

Allowed federal power to control interstate commerce but prohibited interference with slave trade in 1808.

Federalists

Approved the constitution

Federalist’s papers

Essays to promote and convince those to approved of the constitution, by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

Anti-federalists

Disapproved of the constitution due to high federal power and weak state power.

Bill of Rights

Added to the constitution to satisfy the anti-federalists, which named individual rights and protections of individuals and states of federal power. (1st 10 amendments)

Federalism

The sharing of power btwn the federal gov and state gov.

Supremacy clause

States that national laws override state laws when they clash.

Separation of powers

Legislative (make laws), executive (enforce laws), judicial (interpret laws).

Alexander Hamilton

Secretary of the treasury, made many developments during G.W. presidency, mainly the national bank.

National bank

Unify the states and improve US credit.(stabilize national government). This allowed the US to borrow money from other countries, while also making states more dependent on the federal government.

Elastic clause

Congress can make all laws in certain circumstances.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

Declaring neutrality on the war between Britain and France, stating the U.S. was too young to fight.

Pinckney Treaty (1795)

Treaty with Spain that allowed the U.S. to continue trade in the Mississippi River through New Orleans. Allowed western expansion and trade.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Tax on whiskey, causing Pennsylvanian farmers to attack tax collectors. Washington would send the federal militia to stop the rebellion, showing the power of the federal government and to maintain order/enforce laws.

Jay’s treaty (1794)

Stop the British from attacking U.S. naval ships, which in turn made the British withdrawal all posts on the western frontier.

Washingtons Farewell Address (1796)

Warns against the formation of political parties & foreign alliances, suggesting avoiding European conflict.

Alien & sedition acts (1798)

Made it illegal to say anything bad about the Federal government and was believed to be unconstitutional.

Virginia & Kentucky Resolution (1798-1799)

States right to nullify any Federal government law if it goes against the constitution, showing that states have equal power to the central government.

Republican Motherhood

Women must be educated to empower America. Emphasized the growing role of women at the time.

Benjamin Rush

"an essay on female education"

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Separation of Church and State.

Indian Intercourse Act (1790)

Placed the Federal government in control of all Indian matters.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Required the force removal of Natives to move to Oklahoma, later causing the trail of tears.

Trail Of Tears (1830-1850)

Forced movement of 60k Natives from the Southeast to modern day Oklahoma.

Missouri Compromise

To keep slave and non-slave states equal, they made Missouri a Slave state but Maine a a free state, while also prohibiting slavery passed the northern part of the Louisiana Purchase.

Federalists

Known for a strong central government and industrialization.

Democratic-Republicans

Known for a weaker central government and strived for agrarianism.

Revolution of 1800

One of the few times powers was transferred peacefully between 2 parties, when Thomas Jefferson became president after John Adams. (Federalists taken out of power).

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

After France lost during the Haitian Revolution, they could no longer maintain the land of the Louisiana Purchase, so James Monroe was sent to France to buy it

Strict Constructionism

The Federal government can only do what's strictly written in the Constitution.

John Marshall

Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Expanded federal power and of the court.

Marbury v Madison (1803)

The court stated that they are the final rule and they can name laws unconstitutional.

Judicial Review

States that the Supreme Court can name laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v Maryland (1819)

National laws trump state laws when they contradict.

The War of 1812

The US would win and cause a jump in nationalism

War Hawks

Wanted war.

Treaty of Gent

Ended war of US and Britain.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

That European militaries can not attack any nations in the western hemisphere, or the US will attack them.

Market Revolution

The linking of northern industries with western and southern farms which was caused by agricultural, technological, and industrial advancements.

Eli Whitney

interchangeable parts (used on guns at first, later for the cotton gin)

Cotton Gin

Spead up cotton seeds from fibers.

Nativists

an advocate for natives (no immigrants).

Cult of domesticity

Women's purpose was to have kids and to have a nice home, and a job for men to work.

Franchise

Right to vote

Panic of 1819

The 2nd Bank tightened up lending policies to stop inflation, causing many state banks to close.

Corrupt Bargain

Henry Clay would use his majority in the HOR to get Adams to win, so he could have a chance of power since he most likely couldn’t be president. Henry Clay would be appointed Secretary of State by Adams after he won the election.

Democrat Beliefs

Supported limited power in the federal government, free trade, and local rule. They were against corporate monopolies, high tariffs, and national banks.

Whigs Beliefs

Supported vigorous and involved federal government, national bank, protective tariffs, and federally funded internal improvements. Were against immigrant crimes.

Protective Tariffs

Tariffs made to increase the sale of domestic made goods and lower the sale of imported goods.

Doctrine of Nullification

Calhoun developed the doctrine to remove the Tariff, stating that if a state believes a federal law to be unconstitutional, they can nullify it.

Force Bill

Gave Jackson the ability to respond to the Ordinance of Nullification with military force.

Compromise of 1877

Democrats would agree to concede Hayes for removal of federal troops in the South.