AP US History

Noah Webster

"Schoolmaster of the Republic." Wrote reading primers and texts for school use. He was most famous for his dictionary, first published in 1828, which standardized the English language in America.

French and Indian War

(1754-1763) Was a war fought by French and English on American soil over control of the Ohio River Valley-- English defeated French in1763. Historical Significance: established England as number one world power and began to gradually change attitudes of the colonists toward England for the worse.

Neutrality Act (1793)

(Washington) France waged war against England and Spain in 1793 and sought the U.S. as their ally. Washington did not want to become entangled with the European problem so he kept America out of the war.

Dorr rebellion

1842 (Jackson) Short-lived armed insurrection in the U.S. state of Rhode Island; Agitation for changes to the state's electoral system

Election of 1800

Jefferson and Burr each received 73 votes in the Electoral College, so the House of Representatives had to decide the outcome. The House chose Jefferson as President and Burr as Vice President.

Quasi War with France

John Adams was angry as a result of XYZ affair a trade was cutt off with French treaties of 1778 were repudited and impressment of French sailors was ordered; 1798 - Navy was being funded - captured 35 French ships; Britain - ally; Finally France reconciled and new treaty allied with French; undeclared war

Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom

When: January 16, 1786 Where: Virginia Significance: Written by Thomas Jefferson and passed by the Virginia General Assembly. It was a principle of the separation of church and state, and an example of the first amendment, freedom of religion.

New York

colony the English peaceably took back from the Dutch, then given to James II, duke of York and Albany (not yet king), who held almost unlimited power of the colony. Religious tolerance and property protection were promised to the people of New York. very diverse

John Marshall

created the precedent of judicial review; ruled on many early decisions that gave the federal government more power, especially the supreme court

Boston Tea Party

demonstration (1773) by citizens of Boston who (disguised as Indians) raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor

Intolerable Acts

in response to Boston Tea Party, 4 acts passed in 1774, Port of Boston closed, reduced power of assemblies in colonies, permitted royal officers to be tried n England, provided for quartering of troop's in barns and empty houses in Boston

Cotton Mather

minister, part of Puritan New England important families, a sholar, one of first americans to pemote vaccination of smallpox when it was believed to be dangerous, strongly believed on witches, encouraged witch trials in salem

Nationalist republicans

nationalists.supporters of John Quincy Adams modeled after federalists want close-knit nation opposed the Democratic republicans

Judith Sargent Murray

well educated daughter of wealthy massachusetts merchant. Wrote "On Equality of the Sexes". She argued men and woman had an equal capacity for memory and women had a superior imagination. She concluded that most women were inferior to men in judgement and reasoning, but only bc they had not been trained.

Suffrage Reforms

(Jackson) Starting in Ohio and the West, all white males could vote, not just landed ones. Older eastern states began to extend this right, too, because they were concerned about population loss to the west and thought it might give people more of an incentive to stay. The wave of suffrage reforms leads to Dorr rebellion. Nowhere could blacks or women vote, and nowhere was the ballot secret.

Department of the Navy

(John Adams) An American navy was ceased to exist at the end of the Revolution, but in 1794 Congress authorized the arming of six ships. Three of them: the Constitution, the United States, and the Constellation were completed in 1797. The official Department of the Navy was created in 1798, and by the end of 1799 the number of ships had increased to 33. American ships had also captured 8 French vessels and provided secure passage for American commerce.

Militia Diplomats

(TERM) Nicknamed by John Adams, the name of American representatives sent to European countries near the end of the American Revolutionary War to create trading partnerships before their ties were forever broken from Great Britain; this showed European countries that America was ready to stand on its own; caused France to help supply the Americans with war supplies.

Treaty with Spain of 1786

(under articles of confederation) -Spain accepts American def. of Florida border -limited rights to Americans to go on Mississippi R. for 20yrs -southern states oppose & it isnt ratified -increased America's bad rep.

Ordinance of 1785

(under srticles of confederation) -system of buying/selling land -cut area above Ohio R. into square township + subdivisions -model for future city planning

Hamilton's Program

-excise tax on distilled liquor -tariff on imports

Townshend Acts of 1767

1. disbanded NY assembly until they agreed to follow the mutiny act 2. raised taxes on other goods (townshend duties)

Dominion of New England

1686-The British government (James II) combined the colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut into a single province headed by a royal governor (Andros). Ended in 1692, when the colonists revolted and drove out Governor Andros

Sugar Act

1764 -raised duty on sugar and lowered for molasses -more prevention of illegal sugar trade between colonies and foreign countries -est. special courts for smugglers so local courts couldn't be lax

Stamp Act Crisis

1765, was a tax on stamps and printed materials in colonies to pay for keeping troops there and paying off war debts. It angered many colonists because of taxation without representation and led to protesting and violence; often by the sons of liberty.

Tea Act of 1773

1773, An act passed by Parliament to help the British East India Company by allowing the company to sell tea directly to the colonies without using colonial merchants. Colonial merchants were angry because they felt cheated by the British government. Colonists felt the British were violating their right to free enterprise.

Alexander Hamilton

1789-1795; first to call for a national convention to overhaul the acts of confederation. First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.

Bank of United States

1791 Proposed by Alexander Hamilton as the basis of his economic plan. He proposed a powerful private institution, in which the government was the major stockholder. This would be a way to collect and amass the various taxes collected. It would also provide a strong and stable national currency. Jefferson vehemently opposed the bank; he thought it was un-constitutional. nevertheless, it was created. This issue brought about the issue of implied powers. It also helped start political parties, this being one of the major issues of the day.

Jay's Treaty

1794 Was made up by John Jay. It said that Britain was to pay for Americans ships that were seized in 1793. It said that Americans had to pay British merchants debts owed from before the revolution and Britain had agreed to remove their troops from the Ohio Valley -failed to get British to pay compensation for capturing American ships -created a commercial relationship

Pinckney's Treaty

1795 agreement between the united states and spain that changed floridas border and made it easier for american ships to use the port of new orleans. Spainish have to prevent indians from raiding across the florida border

Samuel Chase

1805 Jefferson tried to impeach him from the Supreme Court, but not enough votes in Senate to go through. Accused him of impeding the branches of government and ignoring the will of the people. Set precedent that impeachment wouldn't be used lightly

Bill for National Improvements

1815 madison wants to build better roads funded by the government. Calhoun proposes the plan and it's passed but Madison vetoes it because he thinks they need to amend the constitution first

Protective Tariff

1816 at the end of the war of 1812. passed by congress to prevent GB's merchants from taking over american markets

Second Bank of the US

1816 created new bank. Couldnt forbid states from issuing notes but could require them to back up their currency

Rush Bagot Agreement

1817 an agreement that limited navel power on the Great lakes for both the United States and British Canada.

Stephen Long

1818/1820 Called the Great Plains the "Great American Desert" and concluded that I was almost "wholly unfit for cultivation" He also predicted that "the scarcity of wood and water would prove to be an insuperable obstacle in settling."

Dartmouth v Woodward

1819--New Hampshire had attempted to take over Dartmouth College by revising its colonial charter. The Court ruled that the charter was protected under the contract clause of the U. S. Constitution; upholds the sanctity of contracts.

McCulloch v Maryland

1819--The Court ruled that states cannot tax the federal government, i.e. the Bank of the United States; the phrase "the power to tax is the power to destroy"; confirmed the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States.

Monroe Doctrine

1823 a statement of foreign policy which proclaimed that Europe should not interfere in affairs within the United States or in the development of other countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Gibbons v Ogden

1824--Clarified the commerce clause and affirmed Congressional power over interstate commerce. dispute over who had steam boat rights

John Adams

2nd President (after Washington) who was a Federalist. He inherited a violent quarrel with France (who were furious about Jay's Treaty because it was in violation of Franco-American alliance). Known for the alien and sedition acts and creating a department of the Navy.

First Seminole War

A conflict that occurred between U.S. troops and Seminole Indians during the late 1810s -war started when Andrew Jackson crossed the war between U.S. and Indian forces without authorization b/c Indians kept raiding american lands. Showed Spain that the US could take FL at any time.

Proclamation of 1763

A proclamation from the British government which forbade British colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, and which required any settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east.

Second Great awakening

A series of religious revivals starting in 1801, based on Methodism and Baptism. Stressed a religious philosophy of salvation through good deeds and tolerance for all Protestant sects. The revivals attracted women, Blacks, and Native Americans.

Iron Act of 1750

Along with the Hat and Felt Act of 1732, this act attempted to limit the production of colonial goods that competed with British exports

Robert Fulton

American inventor who designed the first commercially successful steamboat (1807) and the first steam warship

Adams Onis Treaty of 1819

An agreement between the US and Spain. Spain ceded East Florida to the U.S and agreed to joint possession of Oregon. US gave up claims to Texas

John Winthrop

As governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony (1588-1649) was instrumental in forming the colony's government and shaping its legislative policy. He envisioned the colony, centered in present-day Boston, as a "city upon a hill" from which Puritans would spread religious righteousness throughout the world.

George Grenville

British Prime Minister Architect of the Sugar Act; his method of taxation and crackdown on colonial smuggling were widely disliked by Americans. He passed the Stamp Act arguing that colonists received virtual representation in Parliament

Alexis de Tocqueville

Came from France to America in 1831, observed democracy in government and society. His book discusses the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and consequences of the majority's unlimited power. First to raise topics of American practicality over theory, the industrial aristocracy, and the conflict between the masses and individuals.

English Civil War

Charles I tried to advocate the divine right of kings and bring more absolutist policies to England. He was also seen as bringing too much Catholic influence to the Church of England. War broke out between Parliament's supporters(Roundheads)and the kings's supporters(Cavaliers). Later Charles I was tried and executed in 1649 as a"tyrant,traitor,murderer,and public enemy". Oliver Cromwell,leader of military,ruled England as "Lord Protector" until 1658.

Panic of 1819

Economic panic caused by extensive speculation and a decline of Europena demand for American goods along with mismanagement within the Second Bank of the United States (suddenly started calling in loans and tightening credit). Often cited as the end of the Era of Good Feelings.

Peace of Paris 1763

Ended the Seven Year's War, France had to abandon all claim to North America; Great Britain received Canada and the eastern half of the Mississippi Valley, Spain got back the Philippine Islands and Cuba, but had to cede East and West Florida to England

Roanoke

Established in 1587. Called the Lost Colony. It was financed by Sir Walter Raleigh, and its leader in the New World was John White. All the settlers disappeared, and historians still don't know what became of them.

Quebec Act

Extended boundaries of Quebec and granted equal rights to Catholics and recognized legality Catholic Church in the territory; colonists feared this meant that a pope would soon oversee the colonies.

Election of 1792

George Washington unanimously elected for a second term. Had problems in the west with Indians because they fought for all their homeland. He did not trust and was against political parties., The nations second election. Federalists in favor of strong national government, led by Alexander Hamilton. Federalists had the support of George Washington. Opposed by the Republicans. Washington ran unopposed and was elected.

Roger Williams

He founded Rhode Island for separation of Church and State + full religious freedom. He believed that the Puritans were too powerful and was ordered to leave the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious beliefs.

Judiciary Act of 1789

In 1789 Congress passed this Act which created the federal-court system. The act managed to quiet popular apprehensions by establishing in each state a federal district court that operated according to local procedures. 6 supreme court justices 13 district courts 3 courts of appeal

Whiskey Rebellion

In 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey, and several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the offenders. In October, 1794, the army, led by Washington, put down the rebellion. The incident showed that the new government under the Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem, in contrast to the inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to deal with Shay's Rebellion.

The Glorious Revolution

In order to prevent a Catholic Dynasty the English Parliament drove out James II following the birth of his son and replaced him with the protestant Stahoulder of the Nederlands William, and his wife and daughter of James II, Mary II. This was a relativly bloodless revolution. (excepting the Irish Rebellion in which an Catholic coalition of English-Irish-French troops led by James were butchered).

Navigation Acts

Issued by Charles II 1. only trading w/ english ships in the colonies 2. all good to the colonies had to go through england first 3. taxes on colony trade (b/c no one was following 1&2) (Mass General court refuses to enforce -> made into a royal colony)

Leisler's Rebellion

Jacob Leisler seized control of lower New York from 1689 to 1691 (falls apart b/c factions - gov. appointed by British government) The uprising, which occurred in the midst of Britain's "Glorious Revolution," reflected colonial resentment against the policies of King James II. Royal authority was restored in 1691 by British troops

Virginia Company

Joint stock company received charter from King James I; Promises of Gold-passage through Americas to Indies/ Guaranteed English would have same rights in New world as in England.

John Peter Zenger

Journalist who questioned the policies of the governor of New York in the 1700's. He was jailed; he sued, and this court case was the basis for our freedom of speech and press. He was found not guilty. -> set precedent (printed attack on officials always illegal in England - legal in america if it's truthful)

The Great Compromise

July 1787 This plan or compromise was proposed by Roger Sherman, He proposed that the Congress would have two houses. A Senate and a House of Reps. Each state would have equal representation in the senate. And they would be based on population in the house of reps.

Stamp Act of 1765

Law placing a tax on all printed material in the colonies, including, but not limited to, stamps, legal documents, newspapers, playing cards, etc (with date)

Saratoga

October 17, 1777 This battle is considered to be a turning point in the American Revolution. It proved to the French that we could organize our militia enough to win, therefore securing them as our allies. The new alliance changed how the war was fought . The united states now had an ally that gave them a naval presence, supplies, and man-power.

Mutiny Act of 1765

Passed as an attempt by the Grenville ministry to gain more authority in the colonies. The act required colonist to aid provision and maintain the British army.

Non-Intercourse Act of 1809

Passed during the presidency of James Madison. Passed shortly after inauguration to end Jefferson's unpopular Embargo act. It stated that America could trade with all nations except Britain and France.

William Penn

Penn, an English Quaker, founded Pennsylvania in 1682, after receiving a charter from King Charles II the year before. He launched the colony as a "holy experiment" based on religious tolerance.

Barbary Pirates

Plundering pirates off the Mediterranean coast of Africa; President Thomas Jefferson's refusal to pay them tribute to protect American ships sparked an undeclared naval war with North African nations -> resolved with US paying tripoli 60,000 in ransom for prisoners and tripoli will stop demanding annual tributes

Battle of Fallen Timbers

Post-revolution war, British instogate Native American attacks, but "Mad" Anthony Wayne defeats Little Turtle in Ohio Valley and gets the Greenville treaty, which cedes Native American land in Ohio Valley to U.S.

First Continental Congress

September 1774, delegates from twelve colonies sent representatives to Philadelphia to discuss a response to the Intolerable Acts Resolves 1. reject proposal for colonial union under British 2. endorsed sending a statement of complaints 3. approve prep. for more attacks 4. agree to boycott British as much as possible 5. agree to meet again next spring

Cohens v Virginia

Supreme Court case which asserted the right of the Supreme Court to review the decision of state supreme courts

Tariff of Abominations

Tariff passed by Congress under John Quincy Adams in 1828 that favored manufacturing in the North and was hated by the South

Marbury v Madison

The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, (the Judiciary Act of 1789).

Election of 1828

The election of 1824 convinced Van Buren of the need for a renewed two-party competition. In the election of 1828, a new party formed & gradually became known as the Democratic Party which made Jackson president & Calhoun VP. Opponents called themselves the National Republicans.

Jamestown

The first successful settlement in the Virginia colony founded in May, 1607. Harsh conditions nearly destroyed the colony but in 1610 supplies arrived with a new wave of settlers. The settlement became part of the Virginia Company of London in 1620. The population remained low due to lack of supplies until agriculture was solidly established. Jamestown grew to be a prosperous shipping port when John Rolfe introduced tobacco as a major export and cash crop.

Stono Rebellion

The most serious slave rebellion in the the colonial period which occurred in 1739 in South Carolina. 100 African Americans rose up, got weapons and killed several whites then tried to escape to S. Florida. The uprising was crushed and the participants executed. The main form of rebellion was running away, though there was no where to go.

Election of 1796

The person with the most electoral votes, John Adams, became President and the person with the second most electoral votes, Thomas Jefferson, became Vice President. A problem from this situation was that Adams and Jefferson belonged to different political parties, so political tensions were strong in the Executive Branch. In modern elections, presidential candidates choose their vice presidential candidates to run with them, so the situation in 1796 could not occur.

Constitution of 1787

The written document providing for a new central government of the United States, drawn up at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and ratified by the states in 1788

Treaty of Paris 1783

This treaty ended the Revolutionary War, recognized the independence of the American colonies, and granted the colonies the territory from the southern border of Canada to the northern border of Florida, and from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River

Virginia Plan

Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population. the upper house would be elected by the lower house with no system of reps. per state

King Phillip's War

War between the Native American tribes of New England and British colonists that took place from 1675-1676. The war was the result of tension caused by encroaching white settlers. The chief of the Wampanoags, King Philip lead the natives. The war ended Indian resistance in New England and left a hatred of whites.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Written anonymously by Jefferson and Madison in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, they declared that states could nullify federal laws that the states considered unconstitutional.

Treaty of Ghent

Xmas 1814 - Ended the War of 1812 and restored the status quo. For the most part, territory captured in the war was returned to the original owner. It also set up a commission to determine the disputed Canada/U.S. border.

William Bradford

a governor of the Plymouth Colony that helped write the Mayflower Compact and set up various programs such as fishing, trade, agricultural industries, etc. and maintained peaceful relationships with the Native Americans, so that the colony could develop

Judiciary Act of 1801

a law that increased the number of federal judges, allowing President John Adams to fill most of the new posts with Federalists and maintain some federalist power before leaving office

Shay's Rebellion

a rebellion by debtor farmers in western Massachusetts, led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays, against Boston creditors. it began in 1786 and lasted half a year, threatening the economic interests of the business elite and contributing to the demise of the Articles of Confederation.

Treaty of Ildefonso

a secret treaty signed in 1800 which stated the formal transfer of Louisiana from Spanish to France again; it was kept a secret from Britain because France was afraid that they would try to take control of it

Coode's Rebellion

a.k.a. "Glorious Revolution of Maryland" John Coode drove out Lord Baltimore and his officials and made a Protestant government, making the Anglican Church of England the only church of Maryland.(Ended the 'Province of Maryland')

James Madison

ally of Alexander Hamilton. A co-author of the Federalist Papers, he was an influential delegate of the Constitutional Convention later to be called the Father of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. By writing the Bill of Rights, he secured the faith of those who were not sure about the Constitution.

Missouri Compromise

an agreement in 1820 (monroe) between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States concerning the extension of slavery into new territories. Baned slavery above the 36th parallel in the Louisiana territory.

Pequot War

an armed conflict in 1634-1638 between an alliance of Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies with Native American allies (the Narragansett and Mohegan tribes) against the Pequot tribe. The result was the elimination of the Pequot as a viable polity in what is present-day Southern New England.

Bacon's Rebellion

an uprising in 1676 in the Virginia Colony, led by Nathaniel Bacon. It was the first rebellion in the American colonies in which discontented frontiersmen took part; a similar uprising in Maryland occurred later that year. The uprising was a protest against the governor of Virginia, William Berkeley.

Worcester v Virginia

between the Cherokees who owned land in Georgia and Georgia; Georgia tried to govern the Cherokee who were their own nation; ruled by John Marshall against Georgia allowing the Cherokee to live and govern themselves; 1832

Royal African Company of England

maintained a monopoly on African trade in the mainland colonies; kept prices high and supplies low; monopoly broken in the 1690s; prices fell and supplies increased

The Great Awakening

religious revival in the 1730-40s, helped by Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield; inspired controversy over emotionalism/revivalism versus traditionalist Protestantism, nevertheless united the Americans as a people

Currency Act of 1764

supported by Grenville prevented colonies from printing money, making colonially printed money (about the only money available in America) worthless

Articles of Confederation

this document, the nations first constitution, was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781 during the revolution. the document was limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage

Regulator Movement

was a North Carolina uprising, lasting from approximately 1764 to 1771, where citizens took up arms against corrupt colonial officials + tax collectors -poor western farmers angered by taxes