APUSH(er)

Exam Format

AP U.S. History Exam has consistent question types, weighting, and scoring guidelines every year.
Overall format, weighting, timing, and number of questions in each section won't change.

Section 1A: Multiple Choice

55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Exam Score
Questions appear in sets of 3–4.
Students analyze historical texts, interpretations, and evidence.
Primary and secondary sources, images, graphs, and maps are included.

Section 1B: Short Answer

3 Questions | 40 Minutes | 20% of Exam Score
Students analyze historians’ interpretations, historical sources, and propositions about history.
Questions provide opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know best.
Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps.
Students choose between 2 options for the final required short-answer question, each one focusing on a different time period:
- Question 1 is required, includes 1–2 secondary sources, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1754 and 1980.
- Question 2 is required, includes 1 primary source, and focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1754 and 1980.
- Students choose between Question 3 (which focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1491 and 1877) and Question 4 (which focuses on historical developments or processes between the years 1865 and 2001) for the last question. No sources are included for either Question 3 or Question 4.

Section 2A: Document-Based Question

1 Question | 1 Hour (includes 15-minute reading period) | 25% of Exam Score
Students are presented with 7 documents offering various perspectives on a historical development or process.
Students assess these written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence.
Students develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.
The document-based question focuses on topics from 1754–1980.

Section 2B: Long Essay

1 Question | 40 Minutes | 15% of Exam Score
Students explain and analyze significant issues in U.S. history.
Students develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.
The question choices focus on the same skills and the same reasoning process (e.g., comparison, causation, or continuity and change), but students choose from 3 options, each focusing on historical developments and processes from a different range of time periods—either 1491–1800 (option 1), 1800–1898 (option 2), or 1890–2001 (option 3).

Unit 1 (1491-1607)

Chapter 1 (The Beginning)

Americas Before Whites- Some 10,000 years before Columbus, Asians got over a land bridge in Russia and started vibin
- Natives- Mayas, Aztecs, Incas; they just vibin in Tenochtitlan and Machu Picchu and stuff
- US Natives- Nomadic people; move around a lot, live in small hunting tribes; some were sedentary farmers; grew maize (corn), beans, and squash; Lakota Sioux
Europeans- Just ignore that Vikings already came to America.
- Reasons for Leaving; Nautical Revolution & Technological Improvements, spread of religion, interests in new trade routes to Asia
  - During European Renaissance, trade between Europe, Middle East, & Asia increased and new technology was invented, such as the compass, ship-making revolutions, the printing press spreading this knowledge easily; all lead to the Nautical Revolution.
  - Jews & Muslims in Spain were kicked out & Catholicism returned to Spain. Northern Europeans said frick that and made protestantism and then everyone bullied them until the Queen of England, and I quote, said “nah boi I’m protestant now u can’t stop me”. Spain & Portugal Catholics
  - Encomienda System- Spanish moved up to South-western present-day US. Wealthy Spaniards were given land grants by the King to use for farming and used Natives for labor b/c they were already there.
  - Asiento System- Natives died b/c disease; Spanish started to import West Africans for labor; paid tax to King for each slave vs. England & Holland Protestants wanted to spread their Christiniaty to Africa and Asia; wanted to travel.
  - With Ottoman Empire blocking Silk Road to East Asia, Europeans decided to sail around to get to India & China in fierce competition; Portugal is first to try to get around b/c they’re the furthest from Asia so they got the least trade; Portugese get wealthy from early slave trade
- Columbus
  - Legacy- “Discovered” America, killed a bunch of Natives with disease and just murder sometimes, lead to the:
  - Columbian Exchange- Natives got: Livestock, plants; sugar cane and bluegrasses, steel; guns and the wheel, and disease. Europeans got: food & plants; tobacco, potatoes, corn, beans, and disease; syphilis (not as deadly as all the diseases Europeans gave Natives.
Colonies
- Spanish & Portugese- Portugese got Brazil-ish territory & Spain had conquistadors to kill everyone (Aztecs, Incans, & Mayans (?)) & claimed basically rest of the Americas.
  - Bartolome de Las Casas- Advocate for not enslaving Natives b/c he saw them as equal people. Reported the cruelty he saw to the King but the King was 5,000 miles away so what was he gonna do
  - Tried extensively to Christianize Natives; lead to Pueblo Revolt where Natives drove some Spanish out of the area.
- English- John Cabot surveyed East Coast, but domestic English issues pre-occupied them; religious issues & naval war w/ Spain
  - After defeating Spanish; English eventually settled in America as families. Started w/ peaceful relations w/ Natives but then they slowly became violent b/c English saw natives as “savages”.
- French- Made claims in Canada, slow to develop, and were generally nice w/ Natives; traded furs & meats. French didn’t have many colonies; weren’t much of a threat to natives,
- Dutch- Made claims in Northeastern US; New York area. Gave control to Dutch India Company for economic development.
  - Great Migration- After Mass Bay became a royal charter, plenty of Puritans moved over under John Winthrope; “city on a hill”; religious paradise for Protestants.

Unit 2 (1607-1754)

Chapter 2- (13 Colonies)

English Colonies- Began in Jamestown in 1607.
- 3 types of colonies (all charters):
  - Royal Colony- Under rule of King’s Gov (e.g. VA after 1624)
  - Corporate Colony- Under joint-stock company (e.g. Jamestown at first)
  - Proprietary Colony- Under individual w/ a charter granted by the King (MD & Penn)
- Jamestown- After the English defeated the Spanish Armada, severely weakening them, England became a major naval power. Population grew too large; used stock companies to send people over for wealth; Virginia Company.
  - Early Life- Miserable conditions despite leadership of John Smith & John Rolfe; disease; swampy area. Eventually got around to farming tobacco; good cash crop; VA company went into debt; King made it a royal colony in 1624
- Plymouth & Mass Bay- Move was fueled by Protestant escape from religious persecution from Anglican Church, unlike Jamestown which was for wealth.
  - Puritans/Pilgrims wanted to seperate from the Church; separatists
  - Mayflower Compact- New England; will of majority; early democracy
Bacon’s Rebellion- After VA Governor William Berkeley [my safety school ;)] antagonized poor farmers & didn’t allow them to fight back from Native attacks & expand westward, Nathaniel Bacon went bonkers and destroyed Native villages & burned Jamestown to go against wealthy farmers. Marked long-lasting effects: (1) Resistance to royalty (2) Major wealth difference between rich & poor.
Early Politics- Showed development and interest in self-rule since beginning
- House of Burgesses- 1st Representative Assembly in colonies; VA; guaranteed same law-making representation & rights as Englishmen in England
- Mass Bay- All members of Puritan Church, only males, could vote.
  - Voting rights only extended to White male property owners
Chesapeake Colonies
- MD- King George split VA up under Lord Baltimore to create MD; first proprietary colony; Catholics came to escape religious persecution; Protestant competition in colonies created- Act of Toleration- religious freedom to all Christians.
  - Protestant Revolt- Protestants took over and repealed the Act of Toleration for more power; took voting rights away from Catholics.
Labor- Farmers in VA & MD couldn’t get enough from Whites b/c everyone was dying and couldn’t use Natives b/c conflicts
- Indentured Servitude- Young servants under 4-7 year contracts; complete authority of master; once done they could do whatever but most continued to work for wages.
  - Headright System- Gave any paying immigrant 50 acres of land and 50 acres of land for every indentured servant brought in; let the rich get more power b/c more land; encouraged Englishmen to immigrate.
- Slavery- 1619 first West African slave arrived in America by Dutchmen. Early slaves were not held to bondage for life b/c English law didn’t say zip about slavery; House of Burgesses then said nah they’re slaves; they became slaves (1660s)
Economic Problems- First tariffs introduced when House of Burgesses tried to increase failing tobacco prices; English set tariff on exported goods.
New England- Began with formation of Connecticut and Rhode Island by dissidents banished by Puritan Church in Mass Bay.
- Roger Williams; Puritan minister kicked out for believing the individual should interpret the Bible instead of Church. Fled and eventually created Rhode Island; recognized Natives & paid for the land and religious freedom
- Metacom/King Philip's War- Colonist & Natives dispute; led to New England confederation fighting them off b/c England was busy w/ civil war; showed how different colonies could join together and fight for a common idea
- Anne Hutchison- Banished for believing in antinomianism- believing faith was enough for salvation; fled to Portsmouth; eventually went to Rhode Island and got killed in Native uprising
- Connecticut & New Hampshire- Both royal colonies with limited representative government.
  - Halfway Covenant- As newer generations became less interested and Church membership fell; Churches began allowing more people to become members with less regulations to get in; weakened Church’s power and influence
Carolinas- Royal charters; NC had tobacco and didn’t rely much on slavery, SC had rice and relied heavily on slavery from West Indies New Jersey & NY were royal charters; nothing much else
Pennsylvania- Created by William Penn as a refuge for Quakers- Christians who believed in male and female equality, that religious authority was in the soul of the individual, not the Bible- with a representative government, religious freedom, and unrestricted immigration
Georgia- Last colony; made as a defense to SC plantations from Spanish Florida and as a way to free up prisons of debtors in England.
Mercantilism- Economic system where European monarchies would use colonies to ship raw materials back to the homeland to enrich their country. Colonies made very little things; most products came from England; higher prices.
Navigation Acts- Set trade restrictions on colonies after England was done with political turmoil from 1650 to 1673; made all trade basically only happen w/ England. Good; caused NE ship-making industry to boom, provided Chesapeake tobacco a monopoly in England, & provided colonies with English protection from Spanish. Bad; limited development of colonial manufacturing, forced farmers to only trade w/ England & accept lower prices, & caused colonists to pay high prices from manufactured goods b/c of mercantilism. Ultimately, the Navigation Acts showed the colonies England could be authoritative, worsened England & colonies relations, incentivized smuggling; upset many colonists.
Dominion of New England- New King, James II, decided to take more power over colonies and revoked charters for NE colonies and made it all one b/c it was an area notorious for smuggling, giving the rights to Sir Edmund Andros. Andros levied taxes, limited town meetings, and revoking land titles. James II got overthrown in (English) Glorious Revolution and New England Dominion was no more.
Slavery
- Growth of Population- Many British & some Irish, Welsh, and Central European protestant families moved over (mostly in accepting states; middle and chesapeake states b/c NE was all Puritan) due to an abundance of American land opening, therefore having more children; expanding population; caused colonists to create their own culture
- Increasing Demand- Reduced migration from England for labor, plantations got bigger and they couldn’t rely on small farmers or indentured servants after Bacon’s Rebellion, needed cheap labor b/c prices fell.
- Slave Laws- Colonies started to create laws holding slaves to permanent bondage; began real American slavery
- Triangular Trade & Middle Passage- Three part trading system; raw materials from colonies-> gets traded for slaves in Africa -(Middle Passage)-> goes back to West Indies where slaves are bought-> ship goes back to colonies.

Chapter 3- (Colonial Society in 18th Century)

Also; slavery played a huge part in population boost
Characteristics- show root of American ideals
- Self-Gov- Though forms differed, every colony generally had a voting system, often heavily limited, to elect an assembly; governors were usually placed in by British Monarchy
- Religious Freedom- Some states allowed very little religious freedom (Mass) while other states allowed for non-Christians and Catholics (Penn & Rhode Isl.)
- John Locke- CEO of Enlightenment; Second Treatise of Government; argued the state (gov) is supreme yet it follows natural laws, people just being people. Argued sovereignty was in the citizens and for their rights, also arguing citizens could revolt against the gov, “Consent of the governed”. Increased colonial nationalism and ideas went into the Constitution by prompting people to think for themselves
- No Hereditary Aristocracy- Unlike Europe, no nobility or extremely rich people; class was based on economics, not status. (Wealthy farmers -> craft workers -> small farmers)
- Social Mobility- Other than African slaves; colonists could improve their quality of life through hard work
Family- More families lived on farms and gave birth to many more kids than in Europe. Men had wealth and land owning was generally reserved for men, while women worked as mothers and did chores around the house, with limited political and social rights.
Economy- Relied heavily on trade w/ England
- New England- Not great for farming so it relied on early industry through ship-building, rum making, fishing, and timber; barely any slaves b/c production was familial
- Middle Colonies- Soil was rich for wheat and corn; used some slaves and indentured servants to help familial farms. Some early manufacturing like iron-making making Philadelphia and New York relatively large cities
- Southern Colonies- Majority of farmers didn’t have slaves; wealthy plantation owners did. Self-sufficient farming. Tobacco in Chesapeake & NC; rice & indigo in SC & GA
- Money- Colonies were forced to use English money-- gold & silver --; tried to use paper money but it often led to inflation
The Enlightenment- Inspired by European Enlightenment; higher-thinking, literature, science, etc.
Great Awakening- Public expression and preaching of religious feeling done mostly by Protestants; 1730s-1740s
- Jonathan Edwards- Argued that people who believed in God could be saved from damnation but ones who didn’t couldn’t; New England Congregationalist (New Puritans)
- George Whitefield- Big time gospel preacher; said that those who didn’t follow the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God were kinda just screwed
- Impact- Introduced emotionalism into Protestant culture, therefore American culture, & caused division in Church:
  - Response to Enlightenment as Preachers urged for people to stay religious by scaring them into thinking they would suffer damnation if they didn’t; moved people back to religious thinking w/ some Enlightenment ideas
  - New Lights- Modern thinkers of Great Awakening; emotionalism and preaching
  - Old Lights- Older members of Church; more Orthodox; though GA was unnecessary
Art & Literature- No need for specifics, just know it started some nationalism and unification
Education- Enlightenment prompted further education and better ones at that. First big American colleges were created (Princeton, Rutgers, Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia) and people started to get more education and getting better jobs; doctors, lawyers, etc.

Unit 3 (1754-1800)

Chapter 4 (Imperial Wars & Colonial Protests)

Seven Years’ War (French & Indian War)- Final of 4 wars fought in between European nations; this one solidified the importance of Europe’s colonies
- Beginning- France began to place forts along the Ohio River to stop British colonies from expanding westward; Governor of VA sent troops led by George Washington and later Braddock; war started; English vs French & Natives; French stopped British invasion of Canada under William Pitt btw
- Effects of War
  - Treaty of Paris- Britain won; got territories north and south of colonies; certified British supremacy of NA;
  - Immediate Effects- Established Britain as naval superpower; stopped any threat of French or Spanish colonial invasions; changed views between Britain & colonists
    - British View- Low opinion of Colonies; unorganized troops, unwillingness to send troops or pay for war efforts, wouldn’t defend new frontiers well
    - Colonial View- Very proud; confident they could defend themselves; unimpressed w/ British troops and how they fought b/c it didn’t fit w/ American woodlands
  - Shift in British Policy
    - End of Salutary Neglect- After war, Britain enforced the Navigation Acts and began to assert much more power on the colonies; wanted to expand British troops on frontier; wanted colonists to pay for war
    - Pontiac’s Rebellion- Chief Pontiac was angered by colonial expansion; began uprising in 1763; England didn’t rely on colonial troops; sent their own troops; first major test of England's new policy
    - Proclamation of 1763- To end conflicts between colonists and natives while also stabilizing the western frontier, England prohibited westward expansion past the Appalachians; angered colonists but they still expanded out
British Taxes- British thought it was justified; Americans believed it was an infringement of liberty & “taxation w/o representation”
- Sugar Act- (Revenue Act); 1764; taxed sugar; stricter enforcement against smuggling
- Quartering Act- 1765; required colonists to house and feed British troops
- Stamp Act- Tax on legal documents, newspapers, etc. First direct tax on colonists (import taxes were paid by merchants not ordinary citizens); infuriated colonists
  - Stamp Act Congress- 9 colonies met under peaceful committee; decided taxation needed to be done by representative; taxation w/ representation
  - Sons & Daughters of Liberty- Violent group that protested against Stamp Act; harassed tax collectors
  - John Dickinson- Letters from a Farmer- Argued against taxation w/o representation; caught colonists’ attention
  - Repealment- Protests pressured British Parliament to repeal Stamp Act in 1766; showed protests could work
- Declaratory Act- Said parliament could tax and make laws for colonies “in all cases whatsoever”; infuriated Colonists
2nd Phase of British Taxes- 1767-1773; uh oh
- Townshend Acts- Went apeshit and taxed literally everything; tea, glass, & paper. Required raised revenues to go to crowned officials, making those separate from the independent representative assemblies; weakened power of representative assemblies. Allowed for search of private homes where smuggling was suspected.
  - Response- Colonists weren’t super angry at first b/c the taxes were indirect (only affected merchants)
    - Circular Letter- James Otis & Samuel Adams passed message to legislatures to petition for the repealment of Townshend; Parliament tried to stop it by enforcing troops in Boston; colonial boycotts on British goods increased
  - Repealment- New British Prime Minister argued it was bad for trade; still taxed tea but smaller tax, seemed to alleviate issues
- Boston Massacre- Small fight between British troops & colonists; renewed conflicts after brief alleviation; increased Anti-British sentiments
- Boston Tea Party- Boycott of British Tea; dumped it all in the sea; some colonists thought it was justified while others thought it was too radical
- Intolerable Acts- Response to Boston Tea Party (Coercive Acts)
  - Coercive Acts- Series of Acts; closed Boston port, reduced power of Mass. legislature while increasing power of royal governor, allowed for royal officials charged w/ crimes to be tried in England (allowed for corruption and bias), expanded Quartering Act to all colonies
Influence of Enlightenment Ideas- John Locke grew popular as did future American leaders, shaping their minds to be more focused on the science of man and individual rights which would translate into the ideas behind America’s Constitution
First Continental Congress- Intolerable acts drove colonies to send out delegates to Philadelphia expect Georgia; focused on Colonial resistance to Intolerable Acts using free speech and open debate

Chapter 5 (American Revolution)

Intolerable Acts Impact- Made some colonists believe the only way left was to sever ties w/ Britain and become independent. Most colonists, however, only wanted to go back to how things w/ Britain were before the 7 Years War
- Actions- Proposed repeal of Intolerable Acts (Suffolk Resolves, passed the Declaration & Resolves urging the King to fix colonial problems while still letting Parliament control commerce, created Continental Association to enforce the economic sanctions of the Suffolk Resolves, and promised that if these were not resolved, Delegates would meet again
- Olive Branch Petition- Colonists pledged loyalty to Britain and asked for Parliamentary protection of colonies; King George didn’t read it and Parliament declared colonies in rebellion; led many Americans to now want independence
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense- Pamphlet which argued for independence; appealed to a lot of colonists b/c of its simple language, statistics, and emotional aspects. Led many Americans to now want independence
- Battle of Saratoga- Major American victory; persuaded France to help Patriots; wanted to weaken Britain
- Yorktown- Ended Revolutionary War w/ American victory
Lexington & Concord- Lexington was first battle; British Thomas Gage, Colonial Minutemen (Revere and William Dawes); Concord; first time fought, “the shot heard round the world”
Declaration of Independence- Drafted by TJ, listed specific grievances against King George; “all men are created equally”
Fighting Begins- Britain sees Mass as being in rebellion; sends troops.
- Bunker Hill- First major Colonial victory; heavy losses on British side
Second Continental Congress- NE delegates wanted independence, middle colonies wanted to mend relationships w/ Britain
Revolutionary War
- Patriots- New England & VA; George Washington was big commander
- African Americans- English tried to pay African Americans their freedom to use in the army; Patriots eventually did so too
- Tories- Pro-British Loyalists; NY, NJ, & GA had most; fought w/ British
- French Alliance- Basically saved Patriots after many losses
- Treaty of Paris- (1) Britain recognized America as an independent nation, (2) Mississippi would be western border of America (3) America had the fishing rights on the coast of Canada. (4) Americans would pay debt to British merchants & Tories for land confiscation
New Government- Conservatives wanted law & order vs Liberals who wanted to prevent tyranny. Separation of powers in gov (3 branches), basic human rights, voting for all white land-owning men, higher property qualification for office-holders
Articles of Confederation- Ratified in 1777; unicameral system (one house; Congress), gave Congress power to wage war, make treaties, send diplomats, and borrow $.
- Accomplishments
  - Won the War
  - Abolished nobility
  - Northwest Ordinance of 1787- Granted limited self-gov and prohibited slavery in area from Ohio River to Great Lakes
  - Separation of Church & State- Religious freedom everywhere and no church tax
  - Land Ordinance of 1785- Congress established policy for surveying and selling western lands for town-building
- Problems- Fed Gov had no power compared to states
  - Financial- Congress had no taxing power; couldn’t pay back war debt
  - Shays Rebellion- Daniel Shay and other farmers protested the high state taxes, imprisonment for debt, and lack of paper money in Mass. Federal gov couldn’t enforce anything; made US look weak
Role of Women- Ran farms and businesses of men, nurses, cooks, some even fought (Molly Pitcher); became somewhat more important but were still 2nd class; Abigail Adams was big feminist of the time

Chapter 6 (Constitution & New Republic)

US under AOC- Weak federal gov, troubling foreign views on US, weak economy
- Annapolis Convention- James Madison & Alexander Hamilton convinced delegates further conventions should be held to revise AOC
Drafting of Constitution- In Phili; All states went except RI b/c they were afraid of the power larger states might have; small vs large states
- Important Figures- GW, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alex. Ham., Gouverneur Morris, John Dickison; all wanted to strengthen nation & federal gov
- Issues
  - Representation- VA Plan; Madison; favored large states. NJ Plan; small states. Compromise; Connecticut Plan/ Great Compromise-- two houses; HOR based on size; Senate equal
  - Slavery- Couldn’t ban b/c no Southern support; slave representation; 3/5s Compromise made 3 out of 5 slaves count for representation & taxation; Congress would leave slave trade up to 1808 where it would then be decided
  - Trade- North wanted commerce to be controlled by gov; South didn’t b/c tariffs; Commerce Compromise made Congress regulate interstate commerce, but no tariffs on exports (imports allowed)
  - Presidency- Limited it to 4-year terms; had power to veto acts from Congress; voted in by electoral college
- Ratified on Sept 17, 1787- started use in May 1790
Federalists vs Anti-Federalists-
- Federalists- GW, Ben Franklin, James Madison, John Jay, Alex. Ham.;North rich people; supported Constitution
  - Federalist Papers- John Jay; Alex Ham; Madison; argued for Constitution
- Anti-Federalists- George Mason, some other ppl; small farmers on western frontier; wanted to amend AOC
  - Bill of Rights- Legacy of Anti-Federalists; addition to protect individual rights for no tyranny; First 10 amendments (freedom of speech, etc.)
  - Democratic-Republicans- Anti-Federalists after Constitution passed (Madison became Dem-Rep)
Washington’s Presidency- it was good, setted precedents like cabinet and 2 term limit.
- Cabinet- TJ- Secretary of State, AHam- Treasurer, Henry Knox, & Edmund Randolph
- Whiskey Rebellion (1794)- Congress set heavy taxes on whiskey & other products; farmers in Penn protested; GW put them down w/ a militia w/ almost no bloodshed spilled; showed how much more powerful Const. was; most Americans liked; Westerners & TJ did not
- Hamilton’s Financial Program- (1) Pay off nat debt at face value (2) Protect nation’s developing industry w/ tariffs & such (3) Create a nat bank to stabilize currency & econ
  - Opposition- TJ & Anti-Federalists argued bank was unconstitutional; Ham argued “necessary & proper” clause- Congress could do whatever they wanted as long as it benefited society. Loose vs Strict interpretation of Constitution
- Foreign Affairs
  - Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)- America would stay uninvolved w/ foreign affairs; specifically, stayed out of French Revolution even though TJ wanted to aid France
  - Jay Treaty- Britain was capturing US ships & putting US navy into British Navy; impressment; John Jay was sent over to negotiate; Britain agreed to get rid of posts on Western frontier; nothing about impressment; unpopular among Americans but kept US neutral
  - Pinckney Treaty- Got new territory in Miss. from Spain
- Domestic Concerns
  - Treaty of Greenville- Opened up land in Ohio; Natives surrendered & gave it up
- Farewell Address- Warned America to not get involved in foreign affairs and make alliances, not to form political parties, and to minimize sectionalism. Also set precedent for 2 term limit.
John Adams’ Presidency- Federalist
- XYZ Affair- French were impressing ships; French ministers requested bribes to even negotiate; enraged Americans; Federalists wanted to go to war; Adams stopped it
- Alien & Sedition Acts- Allowed for deportation of immigrants considered “dangerous” and prohibited news of criticizing president; used mostly to keep Federalists in power
- KY & VA Resolutions- Virginia & Kentucky nullified -- rejected -- the Alien & Sedition Acts b/c it was unconstitutional; secretly written by Dem-Rep TJ & Madison; all happened before judicial review; SCOTUS decided whether a law was constitutional or not
- Impact- Peaceful transition from Federalists to Dem-Rep; basically unheard of at the time. Jefferson called it the “Revolution of 1800”
Election of 1800- Federalists lost popularity b/c of A&S acts & taxes. Dem-Rep; Aaron Burr vs TJ; tie; had to go to the HOR; Hamilton helped TJ get in office despite not really liking him; better than Burr

Unit 4 (1800-1860)

Chapter 7 (Jeffersonian Era)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)- Established judicial review-- SCOTUS could decide on constitutionality of an act by Congress or the President
Jefferson’s Presidency- Tried to unite Dem-Reps & Federalists & limit power of fed gov
- Louisiana Purchase- Jefferson bought Louisiana from France for cheap b/c they were struggling to maintain the land & had other affairs to deal with; proved to challenge Jefferson’s strict interpretation of Constitution; doubled size of US, removed Europeans from borders w/ US, & allowed for farmers to move westward
John Marshall & SCOTUS- Federalist courts; troubled Jefferson; John Marshall; Chief Justice
Aaron Burr- Dem-Rep but opponent of TJ b/c TJ “abandoned” Dem-Rep ideals
- Federalist Conspiracy- Didn’t get nominated for VP again; joined w/ radical Federalists in NY to combine NY w/ NE states & secede
- Duel w/ Hamilton- Since Federalists mostly followed AHam; Burr killed him
- Treason- Burr tried to take Mexico & become the ruler to go against US; TJ accused him of treason; SCOTUS let Burr go
Foreign Affairs- Wanted to stay neutral; proved to be difficult
- Chesapeake-Leopard Affair- British & French had already been impressing US ships; British ship Leopard fired at US ship Chesapeake; Americans wanted war; TJ preferred economic pressure
- Embargo Act (1807)- Wanted to pressure England by stopping trade completely; completely failed and ended up greatly hurting US econ & merchants since Britain & France were main trading partners; repealed in 1809 but US ships weren’t allowed to trade w/ GB or France (Nonintercourse Act of 1809)
Madison’s Presidency- Dem-Rep; heavily helped by TJ
- Macon’s Bill No.2 (1810)- Restored trade w/ GB & Fr; if one agreed on US’ neutral rights; US’ would stop trade w/ the other; Napoleon agreed; US stopped trading w/ GB but French kept seizing US merchant ships

Chapter 8 (Era of Good Feelings)

Era of Good Feelings- Nationalism & unity after War of 1812; one party; Dem-Rep; Federalists collapsed; somewhat misleading since debates over tariffs, the national bank, slavery, and the Panic of 1819 occured.
- James Monroe- Dem-Rep; won in 1816; represented growing nationalism of Americans
Cultural Nationalism- Younger generations now felt distinct and American; had their own literature, art, etc.; wanted to expand westward & didn’t care about European politics
Econ Nationalism- Political movement of protecting US industries & internal improvements
- Tariff of 1816- First protective US tariff; most, even South, supported it
- Henry Clay’s American System- Clay’s plan to develop the domestic economy through protective tariffs to protect US industries, a national bank to provide a national currency, & internal improvements (roads, canals, etc.) to facilitate transportation & communication. Tariffs for East, internal improvements for West & South, National Bank for all; Monroe rejected internal improvements by arguing the Constitution didn’t give fed gov the power to fund them; states had to do so
- Panic of 1819- First major econ downfall; happened b/c 2nd National Bank tightened credit & too much land speculation out West; unemployment, poverty, bankruptcies; shoke nationalism & left westerners upset & wanting land reform to reassure their land
Political Changes- Political factions occurred in Dem-Rep party; old Dem-Reps wanting strict interpretation like John Randolph & John C. Calhoun (wanted states’ rights); new Dem-Reps wanting protective tariffs & the national bank and looser interpretation like Daniel Webster
- SCOTUS- John Marshall; last major federalist; often sided w/ Dem-Reps
  - Fletcher v Peck (1816)- Ruled states could not pass legislation invalidating a contract; first time SCOTUS declared state law to be unconstitutional
  - Dartmouth v Woodward (1819)- Struck down state law; contract for private corporation couldn’t be messed w/ by states
  - McCulloch v Maryland (1819)- Ruled that National Bank was constitutional & ruled Supreme/Federal Law over State Law
  - Cohens v Virginia (1821)- Ruled that the SCOTUS could review a state court’s decision
  - Gibbons v Odgen (1821)- Ruled that states could not control interstate commerce; only fed gov
- Missouri Compromise- Missouri applied for statehood; would break the balance of free/slave states; Clay’s Proposal; (1) Make Missouri slave (2) Create Maine as free state (3) Prohibit slavery in Lousiana Purchase territory north of the 36,30 line; established precedent for free/slave states balance & border for slavery’s expansion
- Monroe Doctrine- Told Europe to stay away from the Western Hemisphere and not intervene w/ any American affairs; set precedent for US foreign policy in 1800s; pushed by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams
Westward Expansion
- Causes- Large amounts of land open after Native defeat