APUSH important events/documents

Moral Imperialism

Woodrow Wilson advocated for this from 1913-1921

The justification of a country’s imperialistic actions by claiming it is to uplift or civilize lesser peoples.

The Good Neighbor Policy

Enacted by FDR in thr 1930s.

Meant to improve diplomatic relations with Latin America; United States would not interfere with the domestic affairs of Latin America.

NAFTA 1992

Free trade agreement made in 1992 between Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Lessened trade restrictions between the countries and increased trade and investment, but caused job loss in the American manufacturing industry.

American Know-Nothing Party

Political party in the 1850s thatemphasized nativism and opposed immigration, particularly targeting Irish and German Catholics.

Free-Soil Party

Political party in mid 1800s before merging into the Republican party.

Opposed expansion of slavery into the western territories.

The People’s Populist Party

Agrarian political party in the late 1800s.

Aimed for regulation of industry and railroads, as well as election of senators by popular vote and advocating for monetary reform.

Wanted a national currency issued by the government and was backed by bimetalism.

The Mayflower Compact of 1620

Signed in 1620 by the passengers of the Mayflower.

Established self-governance in the Plymouth Colony, creating a social contract.

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut of 1639

Adopted in 1639 and considered the first written Constitution in the American colonies.

Created a representative government with an elected General Court. Stated the powers and limits of the government. Preamble created a government under the guidance of God.

The Half-Way Covenant of the 1660s

Policy created in New England in the 1660s, allowing children of unconverted members to be baptized, giving them church membership and political rights.

It aimed to increase church attendance and maintain the influence of the church in colonial society.

In the 1660s, Puritans maintained higher social and political power.

The Cambridge Agreement of 1629

Agreement made in 1629 between the Puritans and the Massachusetts Bay Company. Allowed the Puritan emigrants to move to the New World with the company charter and governmental control. Helped create the Massachusetts colony.

The First Continental Congress of 1774

Meeting of delegates from twelve colonies to address the Intolerable Acts.

Aimed to coordinate response against Britain (boycotting goods), paved way for the Second Continental Congress which declared independence.

Passed a declaration of rights.

Sent a list of grievances to King George III

The Boston Massacre of 1770

British soldiers killed five protesting colonists. Fueled anti-British resentment.

Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania

Written by John Dickinson in the 1760s.

Protested the Townsend Actsand argued against taxation without representation. The letters were influential in uniting colonial opposition to British policies.

The Townsend Acts of 1767

Imposed taxes on American colonieson imported goods such as paper, glass, and tea.

Led to huge boycotts, smuggling, and protests.

Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676

One of the first uprisings against English rule in the American colonies.

Virginia settlers, led by Nathaniel Bacon, were revolting against government policies regarding Native Americans and lack of American frontier defense.

Historians connect this to the decline of indentured servitude and the rise of slavery.

Shays’ Rebellion of 1786

Uprising of farmers in Massachusetts by Daniel Shays.

Protested state debt collection practices that targeted farmers. Exposed weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation in domestic security (lacked ability to raise a military without unanimous consent).

Led to creation of U.S. Constitution

The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794

Tax protest against rising taxes on distilled spirits. Farmers often distilled grain to make it easier and cheaper to ship, but this tax would raise prices.

George Washington stopped the uprising by sending federal troops.

Pontiac’s Rebellion of 1763

Native American uprising against British forces and expanionism into the Great Lakes region.

Forced British appeasement with Native Americans with the Proclamation of 1763.

Proclamation of 1763

A British proclamation, issued in response to Pontiac’s Rebellion, that limited British westward expansion to the Appalachian Mountains.

Westward expansion in the 1840s

Motivated by manifest destiny and gold rushes. More moved to California than Oregon.

Louisiana Purchase of 1803

Transfer of Louisiana territory from France to U.S. Gave control of Mississippi to U.S. Settlers expanded westward past the Mississippi.

Dred Scott v. Sandford of 1857

Supreme court ruling that stated that enslaved people were not citizens and could not sue in court.

Declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

Missouri Compromise of 1820

Allowed the admittance of Maine and Missouri into the country as a free and slave state.

Drew a line at the 36th parallel to outlaw slavery in territories north of the line.

Gave U.S. government ability to control the legality of slavery.

First Great Awakening of the 1700s

Religious revivals that focused on individual religious experience and personal piety.

Created a society less reliant on church attendance.

Creation of Methodists and Baptists.

Second Great Awakening of the 1800s

Religious revivals meant to increase church attendance, particularly among women, and urge social reform.

Impacted popularity of women’s rights and temperance movements.

Free Silver campaign

Central issue for Democrats in the 1896 and 1900 elections.

Wanted unlimited coinage of silver. Mines, farmers, and debtors supported.

Ended by the Gold Standard Act of 1900.

Gold Standard Act of 1900

Ended the free silver movement.

Created a currency backed solely by gold.

Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883

Created a merit-based system for federal government employment.

Ended the spoils system in the government.

Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890

Prohibited trusts, monopolies, and noncompetitive business activities.

Failed because its language was vague and not enforced.

Harmed labor unions.

Ten Percent Plan of the 1800s

Reconstruction plan after the Civil War.

Presented by Abraham Lincoln.

Aimed at readmitting the Confederate states by requiring only 10% of the states voting population to take an oath of loyalty to the Union and accept the end of slavery.

Considered too lenient by Radical Republicans.

Led to passing of the Wade-David Bill

Wade-Davis Bill of 1864

Required majority of white population to swear loyalty to the Union, approve the abolition of slavery, and prohibit former Confederate leaders from voting in constitutional conventions.

Passed by Congress, vetoed by Lincoln.

The Square Deal of the 1900s

Theodore Roosevelt’s plan.

The three “c’s” of conservation of natural resources, corporate law, and consumer protection.

Became the platform of the Progressive Party.

Regulated railroads.

Created Pure Food and Drugs Act.

Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914

Legislation preventing monopolies and trusts.

Prevented interlocking directorates and price discrimination.

Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

Successful compared to the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Elkins Act of 1903

Regulated railroad pricing, keeping pricing fair and equal for all shippers.

Interstate Commerce Commission enforced.

Hepburn Act of 1906

Expanded the power of the Interstate Commerce Commisssion to regulate railroad rates and extend jurisdiction.

Allowed the ICC to investigate railroad companies private records and to set rates.

American Federation of Labor

Federation of labor unions in the 1900s.

Organized skilled workers but no women.

Wanted higher wages, shorter hours, and safer conditions.

The First Red Scare

Early 20th century.

Fear of Bolshevism and anarchism because of the Russian Revolution and German Revolution.

Thousands of Russians were deported without trial.

Led to increased conservatism and a shift toward conformity.

Led to the Palmer Raids.

The Palmer Raids of 1920

Conducted under Woodrow Wilson.

Thousands of suspected anarchists and communists were arrested and deported.

Led to creation of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The American Civil Liberties Union

Founded in 1920 by Roger Baldwin in response to the Palmer Raids.

Focused on freedom of speech, supporting labor unions and movements, and combatting racial violence.

Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society

Series of domestic programs by LBJ in the 1960s.

Aimed to address poverty, reduce racial injustice, improve education, and enhancing healthcare access.

“War on Poverty”

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Medicare and Medicaid

Departmen of Housing and Urban Development

War on Poverty

A part of LBJ’s Great Society plan.

Created the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 which created the Office of Economic Opportunity; Administered local programs and federal funds to combat poverty.

Created Head Start for low-income children to prepare for school.

Job Corps provided job training and work experience.

Food stamps gave family food related assistance.

Elementary and Secondary Education Act provided federal funding to imrpove education in disadvantaged areas.

College Work-Study Programs assisted low-income college students afford education.

The New Deal

Program during the 1930s in response to the Great Depression.

Three “r’s”: relief, recovery, and reform.

Provided jobs, stabilized the economy, and aided the public.

First time the government interfered in the economy on such a large scale.

Created the Social Security Act, Works Progress Administration, and the National Labor Relations Act.

Works Progress Administration

Created as a part of the New Deal.

Created jobs and other work projects to employ civilians.

Example: Hoover Dam

Jimmy Carter’s legacy

Reorganized U.S. foreign policy on emphasis of human rights.

Normalized relations with China and the USSR.

Tet Offensive of 1968

Surprise attack by Viet Cong soldiers on American and South Vietnamese soldiers.

Eroded public support for the war.

Berlin Air Lift

American aide to the East Bloc of Berlin that was under a Soviet Blockade.

Demonstrated Allied power and commitment to resisting USSR policies.