The Birth of a Nation and Early Republic

The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw the birth of the United States as an independent nation and the development of its unique democratic institutions. This period is crucial for understanding the foundations of American government and society.

The year 1776 stands out in the APUSH periods timeline as the year the Declaration of Independence was signed, marking the formal beginning of the American Revolution. Following the war, the United States operated under the Articles of Confederation from 1777 to 1789, before the adoption of the Constitution.

Quote: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - The Declaration of Independence, 1776

The election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800 is highlighted as the birth of modern democracy in America. This event marked a significant shift from the "emerging" democracy of the Washington and Adams administrations to a more inclusive political system.

Definition: Modern democracy in this context refers to a system where the common man has the right to vote, courts have judicial review, the president has a cabinet, and political parties transfer power peacefully.

The early 19th century also saw several other significant developments:

• The end of slavery in the North (approximately)
• The ban on international slave trade in 1808
• The start of the Industrial Revolution, with Irish immigrants working in Northeast factories and German immigrants settling on farms west of the Appalachians
• The beginning of the Market Revolution, increasing the ability to buy and sell in distant markets
• The birth of a new national culture following the War of 1812
• The establishment of judicial review with Marbury v. Madison
• The start of the Second Great Awakening
• The doubling of the size of the USA with the Louisiana Purchase

Highlight: The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 nearly doubled the size of the United States, significantly expanding its territory westward.

These events laid the groundwork for the rapid expansion and development of the United States in the 19th century, setting the stage for the conflicts and changes that would define the nation's future.

Expansion, Reform, and Civil War

The mid-19th century was a period of significant territorial expansion, social reform movements, and growing sectional tensions that ultimately led to the Civil War. This era is crucial for understanding the complex factors that shaped modern America.

1844 marks a pivotal year in the APUSH eras timeline:

• The election of James K. Polk as president
• The coining of the phrase "Manifest Destiny" by John O'Sullivan
• The year before the annexation of Texas

Definition: Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

1848 was another year of momentous events:

• The end of the Mexican-American War with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
• The Seneca Falls Convention, marking the birth of the women's suffrage movement
• The discovery of gold in California

Highlight: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in the Mexican Cession, adding vast territories to the United States, including Arizona, California, Utah, Nevada, and parts of three other states.

Quote: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal." - The Declaration of Sentiments, Seneca Falls Convention, 1848

The year 1865 marked the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the Reconstruction era. This period saw the ratification of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, collectively known as the Reconstruction Amendments, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship to former slaves, and prohibited racial discrimination in voting.

Vocabulary: The Reconstruction Amendments refer to the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, passed in the aftermath of the Civil War to address issues of slavery and civil rights.

The end of Reconstruction in 1877 coincided with the beginning of the Gilded Age, a period of rapid economic growth coupled with social problems and political corruption.

Example: The term "Gilded Age" was coined by Mark Twain to describe an era that appeared golden on the surface but was plagued by social and economic issues underneath.

The Progressive Era to World War II

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw significant social, political, and economic changes in the United States. This period, known as the Progressive Era, was characterized by reform movements and increased American involvement in world affairs.

1890 marked the end of the Gilded Age and the approximate start of the Progressive Era. Key events of this year include:

• Publication of Jacob Riis's "How the Other Half Lives"
• Publication of Alfred Thayer Mahan's "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History"
• The Wounded Knee Massacre
• Passage of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act
• The closing of the American frontier

Highlight: Jacob Riis's "How the Other Half Lives" exposed the harsh living conditions in New York City slums, spurring social reform efforts.

1898 was a pivotal year in American foreign policy:

• The Spanish-American War
• The Treaty of Paris, granting the U.S. control over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines
• Annexation of Hawaii

Vocabulary: The Spanish-American War marked the United States' emergence as a world power and the beginning of American imperialism.

The APUSH Supreme Court Cases pdf would highlight the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

World War II ended in 1945, marking the beginning of the Cold War era. This period saw significant changes in American society, politics, and foreign policy:

• The Truman Doctrine was announced two years later in 1947
• The Second Red Scare (McCarthyism) occurred from approximately 1947 to 1957
• The African American Civil Rights Movement gained momentum from 1954 to 1968

Example: The Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Post-War America to the Modern Era

The post-World War II era saw significant social, political, and cultural changes in the United States. This period, extending from the 1950s to the 1980s, shaped modern American society and its role on the global stage.

The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 marked a significant shift in American politics:

• End of the counter-culture movement
• Birth of a resurgent conservative movement

Highlight: Reagan's election signaled a conservative shift in American politics, emphasizing reduced government regulation, lower taxes, and a more assertive foreign policy.

Other significant dates and events in this period include:

• The Cold War $approximately 1947-1989$
• The Second Great Migration $approximately 1940-1970$
• The African American Civil Rights Movement $approximately 1954-1968$
• The Great Depression $approximately 1929-1939$
• Prohibition (1920-1933)

Example: The Civil Rights Movement led to landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The AP Gov required Court cases quizlet would include several landmark Supreme Court decisions that shaped American law and society:

• Marbury v. Madison (1803): Established judicial review
• Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): Affirmed federal control over interstate commerce
• Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857): Denied citizenship to African Americans and invalidated the Missouri Compromise
• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine
• Korematsu v. US (1944): Upheld the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II
• Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and outlawed racial segregation in public schools

Quote: "Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." - Chief Justice Earl Warren, Brown v. Board of Education, 1954

These court cases, along with the key events and dates outlined in this guide, form the backbone of the AP U.S. History curriculum. Understanding their significance and context is crucial for success on the AP U.S. History exam.

Pre-Columbian Era to Colonial America

The journey of American history begins with the pre-Columbian era and extends through the establishment of the first English colonies. This period sets the stage for the complex interactions between Native Americans, European settlers, and the beginnings of colonial society.

Highlight: The year 1491 marks the final year of Native American life free from European contact, conquest, and the Columbian Exchange.

In 1607, the settlement of Jamestown in Virginia marked a crucial turning point in American history. This event represents the founding of the first permanent English-speaking colony in North America, occurring about 20 years after the ill-fated Roanoke colony.

Definition: The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds following Columbus's voyages.

The APUSH timeline period 1 extends from this early colonial era through the mid-18th century, setting the stage for the conflicts and changes that would lead to the American Revolution.

Vocabulary: Salutary neglect was the British Crown's policy of loose enforcement of trade laws on its American colonies, which ended around 1763.

1754 marks the beginning of the French and Indian War, a conflict that would have far-reaching consequences for the relationship between Britain and its American colonies. This year also saw the implementation of the Proclamation Act and the end of salutary neglect, events that would contribute to growing tensions between the colonies and the mother country.

Example: The Proclamation Act of 1763 prohibited American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, causing resentment among those who saw westward expansion as their right.