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:

  1. Peninsulares: Born in Spain.

  2. Criollos: Spanish born in Americas.

  3. Mestizos: Mixed Spanish and Native ancestry.

  4. Mulattoes: Mixed Spanish and African ancestry.

  5. Africans

  6. 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.