AP US HISTORY
Period 1: 1491-1607
Key Concepts: Native American societies before European contact, European exploration and colonization, Columbian Exchange.
Main Ideas:
Diverse Native American societies with unique social, economic, and political structures.
European motives for exploration: God, Gold, and Glory.
Impact of the Columbian Exchange: transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds.
Period 2: 1607-1754
Key Concepts: Early English colonization, development of colonial societies, transatlantic trade, early forms of resistance.
Main Ideas:
Establishment of Jamestown and other early colonies.
Growth of plantation economies and the introduction of slavery.
Development of distinct colonial regions: New England, Middle Colonies, Southern Colonies.
Triangular Trade and mercantilism.
Bacon's Rebellion, Stono Rebellion, and other early forms of resistance.
Period 3: 1754-1800
Key Concepts: The French and Indian War, causes of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution.
Main Ideas:
Impact of the French and Indian War on British-colonial relations.
Growing tensions over taxation and representation: Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act.
Declaration of Independence and Revolutionary War.
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Constitutional Convention and the creation of the U.S. Constitution: Great Compromise, Three-Fifths Compromise, Bill of Rights.
Period 4: 1800-1848
Key Concepts: The early Republic, the Market Revolution, expansion and reform, the Age of Jackson.
Main Ideas:
Jeffersonian Democracy and the Louisiana Purchase.
The War of 1812 and its consequences.
The Market Revolution: industrialization, transportation revolution, growth of cities.
Reform movements: abolitionism, temperance, women's rights.
Jacksonian Democracy: expansion of suffrage, Indian Removal Act.
Manifest Destiny and westward expansion.
Period 5: 1844-1877
Key Concepts: Westward expansion, the slavery debate, the Civil War, Reconstruction.
Main Ideas:
Manifest Destiny and territorial expansion: Texas annexation, Mexican-American War.
Growing sectionalism over slavery: Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott decision.
The Civil War: causes, course, and consequences.
Reconstruction: efforts to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved people into society. 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
Period 6: 1865-1898
Key Concepts: The Gilded Age, industrialization, urbanization, immigration, the rise of populism.
Main Ideas:
Industrial growth: railroads, factories, technological innovations.
Rise of big business: monopolies, trusts, and robber barons.
Immigration and urbanization: growth of cities, ethnic neighborhoods, social problems.
The Populist movement: farmers' protests, calls for reform.
Period 7: 1890-1945
Key Concepts: The Progressive Era, American imperialism, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the New Deal, World War II.
Main Ideas:
Progressive reforms: muckrakers, political reforms, social reforms.
American imperialism: Spanish-American War, acquisition of territories.
World War I: causes, U.S. involvement, consequences.
The Roaring Twenties: economic prosperity, social and cultural changes.
The Great Depression: causes, effects, Hoover's response.
The New Deal: FDR's programs to combat the Depression.
World War II: causes, U.S. involvement, consequences.
Period 8: 1945-1980
Key Concepts: The Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Great Society, the Vietnam War.
Main Ideas:
The Cold War: origins, major events, domestic impact.
The Civil Rights Movement: goals, strategies, key leaders.
The Great Society: LBJ's domestic programs.
The Vietnam War: causes, U.S. involvement, consequences.
Period 9: 1980-Present
Key Concepts: The Reagan Revolution, the end of the Cold War, globalization, the War on Terror.
Main Ideas:
The Reagan Revolution: conservative policies, economic changes.
The end of the Cold War: collapse of the Soviet Union.
Globalization: economic and cultural integration.
The War on Terror: response to 9/11, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Period 4: 1800-1848
Key Concepts: The early Republic, the Market Revolution, expansion and reform, the Age of Jackson.
Main Ideas:
Jeffersonian Democracy and the Louisiana Purchase:
Thomas Jefferson's election in 1800 marked a shift towards a more democratic and agrarian vision for the country.
The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the size of the United States, opening vast new territories for exploration and settlement.
The War of 1812 and its consequences:
The war was fought between the United States and Great Britain over trade restrictions and maritime disputes.
It led to a surge of nationalism and helped establish American economic independence.
The Market Revolution: industrialization, transportation revolution, growth of cities:
Industrialization began to transform the American economy with the growth of factories and mass production.
New transportation systems, such as canals and railroads, facilitated trade and westward expansion.
Urban centers grew rapidly, leading to new social and economic challenges.
Reform movements: abolitionism, temperance, women's rights:
Abolitionism sought to end slavery and racial discrimination.
The temperance movement aimed to reduce alcohol consumption.
The women's rights movement advocated for greater equality and opportunities for women.
Jacksonian Democracy: expansion of suffrage, Indian Removal Act:
Andrew Jackson's presidency was marked by an expansion of voting rights to more white men.
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands.
Manifest Destiny and westward expansion:
The belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent fueled territorial expansion.
This led to conflicts with Native Americans and Mexico.
Period 5: 1844-1877
Key Concepts: Westward expansion, the slavery debate, the Civil War, Reconstruction.
Main Ideas:
Manifest Destiny and territorial expansion: Texas annexation, Mexican-American War:
The annexation of Texas in 1845 and the subsequent Mexican-American War (1846-1848) added vast territories to the United States, including California and the Southwest.
Growing sectionalism over slavery: Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott decision:
The issue of slavery increasingly divided the nation, leading to political compromises that ultimately failed to resolve the conflict.
The Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, and the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision of 1857 heightened tensions between the North and South.
The Civil War: causes, course, and consequences:
The Civil War (1861-1865) was fought over the issues of slavery and states' rights.
The Union victory preserved the nation and led to the abolition of slavery.
Reconstruction: efforts to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved people into society. 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments:
Reconstruction aimed to rebuild the South and grant civil rights to formerly enslaved people.
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship and equal protection under the law, and the 15th Amendment guaranteed voting rights regardless of race.
Period 6: 1865-1898
Key Concepts: The Gilded Age, industrialization, urbanization, immigration, the rise of populism.
Main Ideas:
Industrial growth: railroads, factories, technological innovations:
The late 19th century witnessed rapid industrial growth, fueled by railroads, factories, and technological innovations such as the telephone and electricity.
Rise of big business: monopolies, trusts, and robber barons:
Large corporations and monopolies dominated key industries, leading to concerns about economic inequality and political corruption.
Immigration and urbanization: growth of cities, ethnic neighborhoods, social problems:
Millions of immigrants flocked to American cities, leading to overcrowding, poverty, and social tensions.
The Populist movement: farmers' protests, calls for reform:
Farmers organized to protest unfair railroad rates, high debt levels, and unresponsive government policies.
Period 7: 1890-1945
Key Concepts: The Progressive Era, American imperialism, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the New Deal, World War II.
Main Ideas:
Progressive reforms: muckrakers, political reforms, social reforms:
Progressive reformers sought to address social and economic problems through government regulation and activism.
Muckrakers exposed corruption and social ills, leading to calls for reform.
American imperialism: Spanish-American War, acquisition of territories:
The United States expanded its influence overseas, acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
World War I: causes, U.S. involvement, consequences:
The United States entered World War I in 1917, helping to turn the tide of the war in favor of the Allies.
The war had a profound impact on American society and foreign policy.
The Roaring Twenties: economic prosperity, social and cultural changes:
The 1920s were a time of economic prosperity, technological innovation, and cultural change.
However, the decade also saw rising social tensions and inequalities.
The Great Depression: causes, effects, Hoover's response:
The Great Depression of the 1930s was the worst economic downturn in American history.
President Herbert Hoover's response to the Depression was widely criticized as inadequate.
The New Deal: FDR's programs to combat the Depression:
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform.
The New Deal had a lasting impact on the role of government in American society.
World War II: causes, U.S. involvement, consequences:
The United States entered World War II in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The war transformed American society and solidified the country's role as a global superpower.
Period 8: 1945-1980
Key Concepts: The Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Great Society, the Vietnam War.
Main Ideas:
The Cold War: origins, major events, domestic impact:
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.
It shaped American foreign policy and domestic politics for decades.
The Civil Rights Movement: goals, strategies, key leaders:
The Civil Rights Movement sought to end racial segregation and discrimination.
Key leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for nonviolent resistance.
The Great Society: LBJ's domestic programs:
President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs aimed to address poverty, inequality, and social injustice.
The Vietnam War: causes, U.S. involvement, consequences:
The Vietnam War was a conflict between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, with the United States supporting South Vietnam.
The war was highly controversial and had a lasting impact on American society.
Period 9: 1980-Present
Key Concepts: The Reagan Revolution, the end of the Cold War, globalization, the
Period 2: 1607-1754
Key Concepts: Early English colonization, development of colonial societies, transatlantic trade, early forms of resistance.
Main Ideas:
Establishment of Jamestown and other early colonies:
Jamestown, founded in 1607, was the first permanent English settlement in North America. It faced numerous challenges, including disease, starvation, and conflict with Native Americans.
Other early colonies, such as Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, were founded by religious groups seeking greater freedom.
Growth of plantation economies and the introduction of slavery:
The Southern colonies developed plantation economies based on the cultivation of cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo.
The plantation system relied heavily on enslaved African labor, leading to the growth of a brutal system of slavery.
Development of distinct colonial regions: New England, Middle Colonies, Southern Colonies:
New England colonies were characterized by small towns, family farms, and a diversified economy based on trade, fishing, and shipbuilding.
*