APUSH Review Guide Notes
Unit 1: (1491-1607)
This unit covers the time before European contact with the Americas up to the establishment of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America.
Key Concepts:
1.1: Native populations in North America had diverse social, political, and economic structures influenced by their environment and interactions with one another.
1.2: European overseas expansion led to the Columbian Exchange, facilitating interactions and adaptations across the Atlantic.
1.3: Contact among American Indians, Africans, and Europeans challenged and changed the worldviews of each group.
Civilizations of Central and South America:
Aztecs: Capital in Tenochtitlan, with a written language and complex irrigation systems.
Mayans: Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, had large cities, irrigation, and temples.
Incas: Encompassed a vast empire in the Andes, maize was crucial for economic development.
North American Societies:
Southwest: Pueblo peoples were sedentary.
Great Plains and Great Basin: Nomadic hunter-gatherers.
Pacific Northwest: Fishing villages dotted the coast.
Mississippi River Valley: Home to Hopewell and Cahokia cultures.
Northeast: Notable Iroquois League formed among tribes.
Reasons for Exploration:
Population growth in Europe.
Political unification among European nations.
Desire for luxury goods, especially as land-based trade routes were controlled by Muslims.
Pursuit of water routes to Asia.
Early Colonial Powers
Portugal:
Explored African coasts to establish a trading post empire; aimed to reach Asia and exploited maritime technology.
Spain:
Funded Columbus’ voyage, leading to the discovery of the Caribbean and parts of South America.
Encomienda system led to native enslavement for agriculture.
Mercantilism:
Dominant economic system driven by state intervention.
Columbian Exchange:
Transfer of food, animals, minerals, people, and diseases among Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
Produced economic growth in Europe and laid the foundation for capitalism.
African Slave Trade:
Initiated by Europeans trading goods for enslaved Africans, who were preferred over natives due to high mortality from disease among Native Americans.
Treatment of Natives and Social Structures
Encomienda System:
Instituted by Columbus, allowed Spanish lands and labor of natives, justified by religious conversions via Requerimiento.
Caste System:
Peninsulares: Born in Spain.
Criollos: Spanish born in Americas.
Mestizos: Mixed Spanish and Native ancestry.
Mulattoes: Mixed Spanish and African ancestry.
Africans
Native Americans.
Pueblo Revolt:
Led by Pope, successfully dismantled Spanish control briefly after periods of drought.
Bartolome De Las Casas:
Advocated for native rights and argued against native brutalization. Suggested replacing Native American labor with Africans.
Unit 2: (1607-1754)
Focuses on European colonization from the founding of Jamestown to the beginning of the Seven Years War.
Key Concepts:
2.1: Diverse colonization patterns influenced by imperial goals and varying environments, leading to competition for resources with American Indians.
2.2: British colonies engaged in political, social, and economic exchanges with Great Britain that fostered both reliance on and resistance to British control.
Colonial Motivations/Goals
Spain:
Focused on precious metals and religious conversion.
Population was predominantly male with harsh treatment of natives.
France:
Driven by fur trade with a loose control model over colonists.
Fostered trade relationships with natives but viewed themselves as superior.
England:
Settled by families.
The treatment of natives was poor, characterized by land encroachment and conflict.
Characteristics of Early Colonies
Virginia:
Jamestown, first permanent English settlement, was saved by tobacco cultivation.
Plymouth:
Separatist Pilgrims seeking religious freedom.
Established the Mayflower Compact as a governance framework.
Massachusetts Bay:
Founded by Puritans; primarily for economic opportunity alongside religious self-governance.
Pennsylvania:
Established by Quakers as a religious haven; engaged in negotiations with Native Americans for land.
British West Indies:
First colonies focused on sugarcane and tobacco, creating the demand for enslaved labor.
Transatlantic Trade:
Triangular trade routes connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas facilitated the exchange of goods, including enslaved individuals.
Navigation Acts:
Mandated colonial trade with England to maximize profits and impose taxes, laying the groundwork for resistance against British economic control.
Slavery and Social Dynamics
Demand for Enslaved Laborers:
Increased need for agricultural workers transformed after indentured servitude became insufficient.
Bacon’s Rebellion:
Led by Nathaniel Bacon in opposition to Governor Berkeley's policies, illustrating class conflict and concerns over governmental authority.
Forms of Slave Resistance:
Both covert (cultural retention) and overt (rebellions) resistance approaches were utilized by enslaved Africans.
Consumer Revolution
Shift toward materialism in response to economic prosperity in the colonies fostering social class divisions defined by financial means rather than familial status.
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Spanish vs. English Treatment of Slaves
Differences between the two colonial powers mitigate interactions with native populations and unique social structures.
Enlightenment and Great Awakening Influence
Enlightenment thinkers emphasized the potential for individual rights and governance, prompting colonists to reconsider political structures.
The Great Awakening revived religious fervor, establishing a common social identity amidst growing national consciousness.
Unit 3 (1754-1800)
Focuses on the evolving relationship between British authorities and the American colonists, culminating in the American Revolution.
Key Concepts:
3.1: Colonial resolve for self-governance sparked by British attempts to exert control, leading to the independence movement.
3.2: American Revolution's ideals inspired new governance forms.
3.3: Migration and resource competition escalated conflicts among various peoples.
The French and Indian War
Causes:
Colonial encroachment on Native lands created tensions with the French; territorial disputes ignited the war in 1754.
Effects:
Proclamation Line of 1763 generated resentment among colonists.
Post-war taxes imposed by Britain to recoup war expenses led to colonial unrest.
Lead Up to American Revolution
Grenville's Policies:
Series of acts aimed at raising revenue from the colonies met with backlash (e.g., Stamp Act, Townshend Acts).
Intellectual Foundations:
Enlightenment ideals influenced calls for governance reform embodied in key revolutionary texts and documents.
Continental Congress:
Unified colonial response to British policies.
The American Revolution
Key conflicts defined by strategic military actions led to international support, notably from France, to combat British forces.
Treaty of Paris established the United States as an independent entity.
Post-Revolutionary Influence
Articulated Ideals:
Ongoing debates about slavery, citizenship, and women's rights emerged post-independence, influencing societal structures.
Articles of Confederation:
Implementation illustrated weaknesses in federal governance; led to the Constitutional Convention to address these flaws.
The Constitutional Convention and Ratification
Major Compromise:
Connecticut Compromise established bicameral legislature; Three-Fifths Compromise addressed slave representation.
Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Arguments:
Bill of Rights integrated to safeguard individual liberties, cementing foundational principles in governance.
Washington's Presidency
Established functional policies and institutions; navigated foreign relations amid international turmoil.
Two-Party System Development:
Emergence of Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, highlighting political divides.
Unit 4 (1800-1848)
Focuses on the Market Revolution and societal reforms influenced by the Second Great Awakening.
Key Concepts:
4.1: Development of modern democracy aligned with national identity.
4.2: Technological, agricultural, and economic changes reshaped American society.
4.3: Expansionist policies influenced both domestic and international dynamics.
Jefferson's Presidency
Marbury v. Madison asserted judicial review, cementing courts' role in governance.
Louisiana Purchase doubled territory, revealing Jefferson's pragmatic flexibility beyond strict constitutional interpretation.
The War of 1812
Causes rooted in maritime conflicts and encroachments; American victory fostered national pride.
The Monroe Doctrine
Asserted hemispheric hegemony; resistance to European colonialism and intervention.
The Second Great Awakening
Revivalist movement prompted calls for societal reform; uplifted movements advocating women's rights and abolition.
Unit 5 (1844-1877)
Addresses Manifest Destiny repercussions, regional tensions pre-Civil War, and Reconstruction efforts.
Key Concepts:
5.1: Expansionist policies reshaped American identity and international relations.
5.2: Rising sectional divisions fueled debates on slavery and European involvement.
5.3: Civil War outcomes redefined federal authority and citizenship principles.
Tensions Over Slavery
Compromise Efforts: Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850 aimed to balance slave and free states; failed to offer sustainable solutions.
Dred Scott v. Stanford affirmed property rights over citizenship for African Americans.
The Civil War
Union versus Confederacy; strategies and advantages highlighted differing economic bases and ideologies.
Emancipation Proclamation shifted war purpose, strengthening moral resources for the North.
Reconstruction Era
Initiated steps toward civil rights; Radical Republicans sought systemic transformations post-Civil War.
Resurgence of white supremacy groups and legislation hindered progress.
Unit 6 (1865-1898)
Focused on industrialization impacts, labor rights movements, and societal shifts amid the Gilded Age.
Key Concepts:
6.1: Technology and production methods catalyzed economic changes.
6.2: Urbanization resulted from migrations and transformations in labor patterns.
6.3: Rise of reform movements in response to economic stratification.
Industrial Growth
Mechanization and the growth of corporations redefined labor landscapes; significant migration patterns emerged, leading to urban centers.
Labor Movements
Strikes and formations of unions sought rights for workers against oppressive corporate tactics.
Responses to Immigration
Nativism surged in reaction to increased immigrant populations; policies enacted targeted specific ethnic groups.
Social Movements
This period saw nascent calls for social reform, from labor rights to women and civil rights movements.
Unit 7 (1890-1945)
Analysis of expansionist policies and significant conflicts through two World Wars.
Key Concepts:
7.1: Economic turbulence prompted social reform efforts.
7.2: Advances in technology highlighted societal shifts and cultural changes.
7.3: U.S. position as a global power framed its international policies in response to conflicts.
The Progressive Era
Reform efforts targeting corporate influence culminated in strong governmental interventions.
The Great Depression
Economic downturn initiated widespread reforms; federal interventions aimed at recovery and growth.
WWII Impact
American emergence as a global superpower; wars ignited debates over domestic policies and civil rights movements.
Unit 8 (1945-1980)
Postwar dynamics, including the Cold War and civil rights movements.
Key Concepts:
8.1: U.S. leadership asserted globally through interventionist policies.
8.2: Civil rights and liberal influences reshaped broader society.
8.3: Postwar economic changes led to demographic shifts and cultural transformations.
Cold War Dynamics
Global confrontation defined by ideologies, impacting U.S. domestic policy and international relations.
Civil Rights Movement
Wide-reaching implications for policies upheld equality, with landmark legislation achieving significant legal milestones.
Unit 9 (1980-Present)
Focuses on post-Cold War developments and contemporary issues shaping U.S. identity.
Key Concepts:
9.1: Conservative resurgence influenced policies through the lens of social and political values.
9.2: Rapid technological advancements redefined economic landscapes and labor demands.
9.3: The end of the Cold War prompted a reevaluation of foreign policy priorities and initiatives.
Conservative Movement
Rise in politics reflecting economic and moral priorities, shaping governance and public policy responses.
Economic Shifts
Technological proliferation highlighted disparities in wealth distribution and labor dynamics.
Notable Movements
Activism among diverse groups called for equal rights and recognition across American society.