APUSH Final Exam Review Notes

Spanish American War

• Military conflict between the United States and Spain in 1898.
• Resulted in the U.S. acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Open Door Policy

• A diplomatic policy advocating equal trading rights for all nations in China.

Jamestown

• The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in 1607 in Virginia.

Tobacco cultivation

• The process of growing and harvesting tobacco, which became a key economic driver in colonial Virginia.

Pilgrims

• English settlers who founded Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts in 1620.

Mayflower Compact

• An agreement made by the Pilgrims establishing a self-governing colony based on majority rule.

Mercantilism

• An economic theory that trade generates wealth and is reliant on the accumulation of profitable balances, which the government encourages through regulation.

Colonial Regions

• Distinct areas in colonial America categorized as New England, Middle, and Southern colonies, each with different economies and societies.

Containment

• A foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Korean War

• A conflict between North Korea (with support from China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (with support from the United States and its allies) from 1950 to 1953, primarily over the issue of communism.
• Ended with an armistice but no formal peace treaty.

Stamp Act

• A 1765 British law imposing a direct tax on the colonies for printed materials, sparking widespread protest.

French and Indian War

• A war between Great Britain and France from 1754 to 1763, part of a larger struggle between the two nations for global empire.
• Resulted in British dominance in North America but also significant debt that led to increased taxes on the colonies.

Reaganomics

• Economic policies promoted by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, including tax cuts, decreased social spending, deregulation of the economy, and increased military spending.

Common Sense

• A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 advocating for American independence from British rule.

Kent State

• Site of a college protest in 1970 against the United States invasion of Cambodia, where National Guardsmen shot and killed four students, increasing tensions in the anti-war movement.

Treaty of Paris 1783

• A treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized the independence of the United States.

Articles of Confederation

• The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a weak federal government.

Shay's Rebellion

• An armed uprising in 1786-1787 by debt-ridden Massachusetts farmers protesting the state’s economic policies.

Great Society

• A set of domestic programs initiated by President Lyndon B. Johnson aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.

Arab Oil Embargo

• A 1973-1974 energy crisis caused by OAPEC's (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries) decision to restrict oil exports to Western countries, resulting in significant fuel shortages.

Constitutional Convention

• A gathering in 1787 to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, resulting in the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

Iran-Contra Affair

• A political scandal in the 1980s involving the secret sale of arms to Iran to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua, against congressional prohibition.

Social Darwinism

• A belief that societies naturally evolve and that government intervention should not interfere with the competition among individuals and groups.

Immigration Waves

• Periods of increased immigration to the United States, often related to various push and pull factors such as economic opportunity and conflicts in home countries.

Collective Bargaining

• The negotiation process between employers and a group of employees aimed at reaching agreements to regulate working conditions.

Labor

• Refers to the human effort used in the production of goods and services, often associated with work in various forms.
• AFL (American Federation of Labor) and Knights of Labor: Two significant labor organizations that advocated for workers' rights.

Haymarket Riot

• A labor protest in Chicago in 1886 that turned violent when a bomb was thrown, resulting in deaths and a backlash against labor movements.

Laissez Faire

• An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention in business affairs.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

• A federal statute enacted in 1890 aimed at preventing monopolistic practices and promoting competition.

Jefferson and the Bank

• Refers to Thomas Jefferson's opposition to the establishment of a national bank due to concerns about federal overreach and its implications on state rights.

Washington's Foreign Policy

• Aimed to maintain neutrality and avoid entanglement in foreign conflicts, particularly seen in his Farewell Address.

Alien and Sedition Acts

• A series of laws passed in 1798 that made it harder for immigrants to become citizens and criminalized criticism of the government.

Embargo Act 1807

• A law prohibiting American ships from trading in foreign ports, aimed at harming Britain and France during their conflict but ultimately harmful to the U.S. economy.

Louisiana Purchase

• The 1803 acquisition of territory from France that doubled the size of the United States.

Political Parties

• Groups formed to influence government and policy, notably the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans with differing beliefs on the role of federal government.

Progressive Movement

• A social and political movement in the early 20th century aimed at addressing issues caused by industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption.

Impact of industrialization

• Transforming economies from agrarian to industrial, leading to urbanization, changes in labor, and social issues.

Middle Class Progressive Movement

• A segment of the Progressive Movement focused on reforms to improve society, including women's suffrage and education reforms.

Monroe Doctrine

• A U.S. policy established in 1823 declaring opposition to European colonialism in the Americas.

Clay's American System

• An economic plan proposed by Henry Clay in the early 19th century aimed at promoting economic growth through tariffs, a national bank, and infrastructure development.

Nullification

• The theory that states have the right to nullify federal laws deemed unconstitutional.

Muckrakers

• Journalists and writers in the early 20th century who exposed corruption, social injustices, and abuses of power.

Seneca Falls Convention

• The first women's rights convention held in 1848, advocating for gender equality and suffrage.

Anthracite Coal Strike 1902

• A significant labor strike that led to a national arbitration process and improved conditions for miners.

Manifest Destiny

• The 19th-century doctrine that it was the divine right of the U.S. to expand its territory across North America.

Gadsden Purchase

• A land purchase in 1853 from Mexico to facilitate a southern transcontinental railroad.

Era of Good Feelings

• A period of national unity and political cooperation in the U.S. following the War of 1812.

The Jungle

• A novel by Upton Sinclair that exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, leading to progressive reforms in food safety.

Trustbusting

• Government activities aimed at breaking up monopolies and trusts to promote competition and protect consumers.

Jackson on Nullification

• President Andrew Jackson’s opposition to the nullification crisis in South Carolina, emphasizing the supremacy of federal law.

Common Man Politics

• A political paradigm emphasizing the interests of the average citizen in government affairs, often associated with Andrew Jackson’s presidency.

Election of 1912

• A pivotal election characterized by the split in the Republican Party between incumbent William Howard Taft and former president Theodore Roosevelt running as a Progressive.

Missouri Compromise

• A legislative agreement in 1820 that allowed Missouri entry as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance between free and slave states.

Popular Sovereignty

• The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Reconstruction

• The period following the Civil War where the U.S. attempted to address the issues of reintegrating the Southern states and addressing the rights of freed slaves.
• Radical Republicans focused on civil rights and reconstruction policies.

Plessy vs. Ferguson

• A landmark Supreme Court case in 1896 that upheld racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine.

The Philippines

• An archipelago in Southeast Asia that was ceded to the United States following the Spanish American War, leading to debates over imperialism and independence.

Big Stick Policy

• A diplomatic policy associated with President Theodore Roosevelt, emphasizing the use of military power to achieve American goals, particularly in Latin America.

Roosevelt Corollary

• An extension of the Monroe Doctrine asserting the U.S.’s right to intervene in Latin America to maintain stability.

Dollar Diplomacy

• A foreign policy emphasizing economic investment and loans to countries to expand U.S. influence.

Moral Diplomacy

• A foreign policy proposed by President Woodrow Wilson aimed at promoting democratic ideals abroad.

Zimmerman Telegram

• A secret diplomatic communication from Germany proposing a military alliance with Mexico in the event the U.S. entered WWI, which contributed to U.S. involvement.

US Entry into WWI

• Occurred in 1917, prompted by unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman Telegram.

Sedition and Espionage Acts (1918)

• Laws that restricted speech deemed harmful to the U.S. war effort during WWI, targeting dissent and opposition.

League of Nations

• An intergovernmental organization founded after WWI to promote peace and cooperation among countries, ultimately failing to prevent WWII.

Appeasement

• A diplomatic strategy used prior to WWII where countries, particularly Britain, made concessions to Adolf Hitler to avoid conflict.

Isolationism

• A foreign policy stance advocating for a nation to remain uninvolved in international affairs and conflicts.

Japan's Invasion of Manchuria

• A military invasion by Japan in 1931 that marked the beginning of their expansionist policies in Asia and a precursor to WWII.

Japanese Internment

• The forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during WWII due to fears of espionage and prejudice.

End of Great Depression

• Marked by the U.S. entering WWII, spurring economic recovery and growth.

Women Post-WWII

• The changing role of women in society after WWII, marked by increased participation in the workforce and shifting cultural norms.

Kellog-Briand Pact

• An international agreement signed in 1928 aimed at outlawing war and promoting peaceful conflict resolution.

Treaty of Versailles

• The peace treaty that ended WWI, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

Republican Formula

• Fiscal policies favoring low taxes and limited government intervention in the economy.

Leisure Time of the 1930s

• Changes in American leisure activities during the Great Depression, including the rise of radio, cinema, and sports as popular entertainment options.

Red Scare

• The fear of communism and radical leftism in the U.S. following WWI, leading to widespread paranoia and government actions against suspected radicals.

Farmers in the 1920s

• Struggles faced by agricultural workers due to falling prices and economic instability leading to the Dust Bowl.

Stock Market Crash

• The catastrophic decline in stock prices in 1929 that marked the beginning of the Great Depression.

Hoover and the Depression

• President Herbert Hoover's response to the Great Depression, which faced criticism for being inadequate and passive.

Bonus Army

• A group of World War I veterans who marched on Washington in 1932 demanding the immediate payment of bonuses owed to them.

FDR Winning in 1932

• Franklin D. Roosevelt's election as president during the height of the Great Depression, leading to the implementation of New Deal reforms.

New Deal Programs

• A series of programs and policies designed to address the economic turmoil of the Great Depression, focusing on relief, recovery, and reform.

CCC and CWA: what's the point?

• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (CWA) were New Deal programs aimed at providing jobs and public works projects to reduce unemployment.

Agricultural Adjustment Act

• A federal law passed in 1933 aimed at reducing agricultural production to raise crop prices.

National Recovery Administration

• A New Deal agency that aimed to regulate industry and stimulate economic recovery through fair practices and minimum wage laws.

Huey Long's Share the Wealth

• A social reform program proposed by Louisiana politician Huey Long advocating for wealth redistribution to combat poverty during the Great Depression.

Court Packing Controversy

• A political controversy during FDR's presidency involving his attempt to increase the number of Supreme Court justices to secure favorable rulings for his New Deal policies.

New Deal

• A series of programs and policies implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression aimed at economic recovery and social reform.

Social Security Act

• A 1935 law that established a system of old-age benefits for workers and unemployment insurance.

Key Dates and Presidents

• Significant events and their relation to U.S. presidents throughout history.

Watergate

• A political scandal in the early 1970s that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon due to the cover-up of a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

McCarthyism

• The practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence, particularly associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-communist investigations in the 1950s.

Flappers

• Young women in the 1920s who challenged traditional gender norms, often characterized by their fashion and behavior.

Dust Bowl

• A severe drought and failure of agricultural practices in the 1930s that led to widespread crop failures and economic distress in the Great Plains.

Persian Gulf War

• A conflict initiated in 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to a U.S.-led coalition intervention to restore Kuwait's sovereignty.

Atomic Bombs

• Powerful nuclear weapons developed during WWII, used by the U.S. against Japan in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 to expedite the end of the war.

Impeachment of Clinton

• The political process initiated in 1998 against President Bill Clinton, leading to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, though he was acquitted by the Senate.