🇺🇸AP US History AMSCO Notes

Key Events and Timeline

• 1492: Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas, initiating the Columbian Exchange and beginning of European colonization
• 1519-1521: Hernán Cortés conquers the Aztec Empire in Mexico, establishing Spanish control over Mesoamerica
  • Aided by indigenous allies and superior weaponry (guns, steel swords, horses)
  • Marks the beginning of the Spanish colonial era in the Americas
• 1607: Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, is founded in Virginia
  • Struggles with disease, starvation, and conflicts with Native Americans in early years
• 1620: The Mayflower arrives in Plymouth, Massachusetts, carrying Puritan settlers known as the Pilgrims
  • Establishes the Plymouth Colony and the Mayflower Compact, an early form of self-government
• 1619: The first African slaves are brought to the English colonies, arriving in Jamestown, Virginia
• 1754-1763: The French and Indian War, part of the larger Seven Years' War, is fought between Britain and France for control of North America
  • British victory expels the French from North America and sets the stage for the American Revolution
• 1770: The Boston Massacre occurs, heightening tensions between American colonists and British soldiers
• 1773: The Boston Tea Party takes place, with colonists dumping British tea into the harbor to protest taxes

Major Figures and Their Contributions

• Christopher Columbus: Italian explorer who led the first European expeditions to the Americas, initiating the Columbian Exchange and paving the way for European colonization
• Hernán Cortés: Spanish conquistador who led the conquest of the Aztec Empire in Mexico, establishing Spanish control over Mesoamerica
• John Smith: English explorer and leader who helped establish and govern the Jamestown settlement, promoting the colony's survival and growth
• Pocahontas: Native American woman who played a significant role in mediating relations between the Powhatan people and the English settlers at Jamestown
  • Reportedly saved John Smith's life and later married English colonist John Rolfe
• William Bradford: Puritan leader who served as governor of the Plymouth Colony for over 30 years, helping to establish and maintain the settlement
• John Winthrop: Puritan leader and first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, known for his "City upon a Hill" sermon emphasizing the colony's religious mission
• Anne Hutchinson: Puritan woman who challenged the religious authorities in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, advocating for a more direct relationship with God
  • Banished from the colony for her beliefs, contributing to the idea of religious dissent in colonial America
• Benjamin Franklin: Prominent Enlightenment thinker, inventor, and Founding Father who played a significant role in shaping colonial politics and culture
  • Contributed to the Albany Plan of Union and the Declaration of Independence

Important Concepts and Themes

• Columbian Exchange: The widespread transfer of plants, animals, diseases, technologies, and ideas between the Americas, Europe, and Africa following Columbus's voyages
  • Transformed ecosystems, economies, and societies on a global scale
• Mercantilism: Economic theory and practice that emphasized the accumulation of wealth through trade, colonies, and protectionist policies
  • Shaped the economic relationship between European powers and their colonies
• Triangular Trade: The transatlantic trade system that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of manufactured goods, raw materials, and enslaved people
• Slavery: The forced labor system that brought millions of Africans to the Americas, forming the basis of many colonial economies and societies
  • Had profound and lasting impacts on American social, economic, and political structures
• Puritanism: Religious movement that sought to purify the Church of England, emphasizing predestination, work ethic, and moral discipline
  • Played a significant role in shaping the culture and institutions of colonial New England
• Enlightenment: Intellectual movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and progress, influencing the political and philosophical foundations of the American colonies
  • Ideas of natural rights, social contract theory, and representative government shaped the American Revolution and Constitution
• Salutary Neglect: The British policy of minimal interference in the American colonies during much of the 17th and early 18th centuries
  • Allowed the colonies to develop their own political and economic institutions, fostering a sense of autonomy and self-governance

Causes and Consequences

• European Exploration: The desire for new trade routes, resources, and religious converts drove European exploration and colonization of the Americas
  • Led to the Columbian Exchange, the establishment of colonies, and the displacement and decimation of Native American populations
• Slavery: The demand for labor in the colonies, particularly in the southern colonies' plantation economies, led to the growth of the transatlantic slave trade
  • Resulted in the forced migration of millions of Africans, the development of a racial caste system, and the economic and social foundations of American slavery
• Puritanism: The desire for religious freedom and the opportunity to create a godly society motivated Puritan migration to New England
  • Contributed to the development of a distinct regional culture, the establishment of self-governing colonies, and the idea of America as a "City upon a Hill"
• Enlightenment: The spread of Enlightenment ideas in the colonies fostered a growing sense of political and intellectual autonomy
  • Influenced the development of American political thought, including ideas of natural rights, representative government, and resistance to tyranny
• French and Indian War: British victory in the war eliminated the French presence in North America and expanded British territorial control
  • Increased tensions between Britain and the colonies due to war debts, territorial disputes, and the growing sense of American identity
• British Colonial Policies: Attempts by the British government to assert greater control over the colonies (Proclamation of 1763, Sugar Act, Stamp Act) following the French and Indian War
  • Sparked colonial resistance, protests, and boycotts, setting the stage for the American Revolution

Social and Cultural Impacts

• Native American Societies: European colonization had devastating impacts on Native American populations, including disease, displacement, and cultural disruption
  • Led to the decline of many indigenous societies and the transformation of Native American life and culture
• Slavery and African American Culture: The growth of slavery in the colonies led to the development of distinct African American cultures and communities
  • Included the emergence of African American religious traditions, music, and art forms, as well as resistance to slavery through escape, rebellion, and cultural preservation
• Colonial Regional Differences: The diverse origins and experiences of the colonies led to the development of distinct regional cultures and identities
  • New England's Puritan influence, the Middle Colonies' religious and ethnic diversity, and the Southern Colonies' plantation economy shaped regional social and cultural patterns
• Great Awakening: Religious revival movement that swept through the colonies in the mid-18th century, emphasizing emotional and personal religious experiences
  • Contributed to the democratization of religion, the growth of new religious denominations, and the idea of individual spiritual autonomy
• Enlightenment and Education: The spread of Enlightenment ideas in the colonies fostered a growing emphasis on education, reason, and scientific inquiry
  • Led to the establishment of colleges (Harvard, Yale, Princeton), the growth of print culture, and the popularization of Enlightenment ideals

Political Developments

• Colonial Self-Government: The distance from Britain and the policy of salutary neglect allowed the colonies to develop their own political institutions and traditions of self-government
  • Included the establishment of colonial legislatures, town meetings, and the idea of representative government
• Mayflower Compact: Agreement signed by the Pilgrims before disembarking the Mayflower, establishing a framework for self-government in the Plymouth Colony
  • Reflected the idea of a social contract and the importance of consent in political authority
• Colonial Resistance: Growing tensions between the colonies and Britain, particularly after the French and Indian War, led to acts of colonial resistance and protest
  • Included the Boston Tea Party, the formation of the Sons of Liberty, and the convening of the First Continental Congress
• Declaration of Independence: Document adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1776, formally declaring the colonies' independence from Britain
  • Articulated the principles of natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the right to revolution, serving as a foundational document of American political thought
• Articles of Confederation: The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, establishing a loose confederation of states with a weak central government
  • Reflected the colonies' fear of centralized power and the challenges of governing a diverse and expanding nation
• Constitutional Convention: Gathering of delegates in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, resulting in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution
  • Established a federal system of government with a stronger central government, a system of checks and balances, and a framework for national governance

Economic Factors

• Mercantilism and Colonial Economies: The economic relationship between Britain and the colonies was shaped by the theory and practice of mercantilism
  • Colonies served as sources of raw materials and markets for British manufactured goods, with trade regulated to benefit the mother country
• Triangular Trade: The transatlantic trade system that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of manufactured goods, raw materials, and enslaved people
  • Fueled the growth of colonial economies, particularly in the New England and Middle Colonies, and the expansion of slavery in the Southern Colonies
• Plantation Economy: The economic system in the Southern Colonies based on large-scale agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo
  • Relied heavily on slave labor, shaping the social and political structure of the region
• Navigation Acts: A series of laws passed by the British Parliament to regulate colonial trade and protect British economic interests
  • Required colonies to trade primarily with Britain, limited colonial manufacturing, and enforced through the use of the British navy
• Colonial Currency: The lack of a standardized currency in the colonies led to the use of a variety of foreign coins, commodity money (tobacco, wampum), and paper money
  • Reflected the economic diversity of the colonies and the challenges of regulating trade and commerce
• Taxation and Colonial Resistance: British attempts to raise revenue through colonial taxes (Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts) following the French and Indian War
  • Sparked colonial resistance and boycotts, contributing to the growing tensions that led to the American Revolution

Primary Sources and Documents

• Columbus's Letter to Luis de Santángel (1493): Christopher Columbus's account of his first voyage to the Americas, describing the lands and peoples he encountered
  • Provides insight into European perceptions of the New World and the motivations behind exploration and colonization
• The Mayflower Compact (1620): Agreement signed by the Pilgrims before disembarking the Mayflower, establishing a framework for self-government in the Plymouth Colony
  • Reflects the idea of a social contract and the importance of consent in political authority
• John Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity" (1630): Sermon delivered by Puritan leader John Winthrop, outlining the religious and moral vision for the Massachusetts Bay Colony
  • Articulates the idea of America as a "City upon a Hill" and the importance of community and social responsibility
• The Declaration of Independence (1776): Document adopted by the Second Continental Congress, formally declaring the colonies' independence from Britain
  • Articulates the principles of natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the right to revolution, serving as a foundational document of American political thought
• The Federalist Papers (1787-1788): A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, advocating for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution
  • Provides insight into the political thought of the Founding Fathers and the debates surrounding the Constitution
• The Bill of Rights (1791): The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights and limiting the power of the federal government
  • Reflects the influence of Enlightenment ideas and the importance of individual liberty in American political culture

Historiographical Debates

• The "Black Legend" and the Legacy of Spanish Colonization: Debates over the nature and impact of Spanish colonization in the Americas, particularly the treatment of indigenous populations
  • Some historians emphasize the brutality and exploitation of Spanish rule, while others highlight the complex interactions and cultural exchanges between Spanish and native societies
• The Origins of American Slavery: Debates over the reasons for the growth of slavery in the colonies and the role of racism in shaping the institution
  • Some historians emphasize economic factors and labor demands, while others highlight the importance of racial ideology and the development of a racial caste system
• The Nature of Puritanism: Debates over the character and influence of Puritanism in shaping colonial society and culture
  • Some historians portray Puritans as intolerant and repressive, while others emphasize their commitment to education, community, and moral discipline
• The Causes of the American Revolution: Debates over the relative importance of various factors in leading to the American Revolution
  • Some historians emphasize the role of Enlightenment ideas and the growth of American identity, while others highlight economic grievances and the impact of British colonial policies
• The Meaning of the American Revolution: Debates over the significance and legacy of the American Revolution in shaping American society and politics
  • Some historians portray the Revolution as a conservative movement aimed at preserving colonial liberties, while others emphasize its radical potential and the ways in which it transformed American life

Connections to Other Units

• The American Revolution and the Founding of the United States: The colonial period laid the foundations for the American Revolution and the creation of an independent United States
  • Colonial experiences with self-government, Enlightenment ideas, and resistance to British rule shaped the political and intellectual origins of the Revolution
• Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny: The colonial period established patterns of settlement, displacement of Native Americans, and territorial expansion that continued throughout the 19th century
  • The Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican-American War, and the idea of Manifest Destiny built upon earlier colonial experiences and ideologies
• The Civil War and Reconstruction: The colonial period established the economic, social, and political foundations of American slavery, which became a central issue in the Civil War and Reconstruction
  • Regional differences between the North and South, debates over the expansion of slavery, and the legacy of racism and inequality can be traced back to the colonial era
• The Progressive Era and the New Deal: The colonial period established the idea of America as a "City upon a Hill" and the importance of community and social responsibility
  • Progressive Era reforms and New Deal programs aimed at addressing social and economic inequalities reflect a continuation of these colonial ideals and values
• The Civil Rights Movement and the Struggle for Racial Equality: The colonial period established the foundations of American racism and the subordination of African Americans
  • The Civil Rights Movement and ongoing struggles for racial justice are rooted in the legacy of slavery and the racial hierarchies established during the colonial era