APUSH Units 1-5 Exam Review Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Welcome to the review session for APUSH Units 1-5.
• The content should last about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• Celebratory note: Himler's History has crossed 1 million subscribers.
• The review session will be posted online for later access.
• Super chats for shoutouts will be read, but must be submitted by a specific time.

Unit 1: 1491-1607

• Time Period: Focus on pre-European contact and the founding of Jamestown.

• Big Idea 1: Diverse Native American societies shaped by their environment.

  • Examples: Chumash in California, Ute in the Great Basin, Cahokia in Mississippi Valley, Iroquois in Northeast.

• Big Idea 2: European exploration motives - political changes, need for new trade routes.

  • Spain and Portugal's roles, Christopher Columbus' discovery.

• Big Idea 3: Columbian Exchange - transfer of crops, animals, and diseases.

  • Impact: Population increase in Europe, devastation of Native American populations.

• Big Idea 4: Spanish colonial impact and rise of African slavery.

  • Encomienda system, caste system.

• Big Idea 5: Evolving European and Native American relations.

  • Different views on land, religion.
  • Debate: Sepulveda vs. Las Casas.

Unit 2: 1607-1754

• Big Idea 1: Varied colonization goals of European powers.

  • Spanish, French, Dutch, and English goals - economic, religious expansion.

• Big Idea 2: Differences among British colonies.

  • Chesapeake vs. New England vs. Middle Colonies.
  • Governance: Self-governing New England, House of Burgesses.

• Big Idea 3: Growth of transatlantic trade.

  • Triangular trade, mercantilism, and Navigation Acts.

• Big Idea 4: Conflicts with Native Americans.

  • Examples: Metacom's War, Pueblo Revolt.

• Big Idea 5: Dependence on enslaved labor and resistance to slavery.

  • Varied dependence across colonies, Stono Rebellion.

• Big Idea 6: Development of colonial society.

  • Influence of Enlightenment and First Great Awakening.

• Big Idea 7: Frustrations with British policies.

  • Impressment and growing mistrust leading to independence sentiments.

Unit 3: 1754-1800

• Big Idea 1: French and Indian War consequences.

  • Increased land, but also increased taxation.

• Big Idea 2: Taxation without representation leads to Revolutionary War.

  • Salutary neglect to strict enforcement of taxes.

• Big Idea 3: Enlightenment influence on independence movement.

  • Common Sense by Thomas Paine, Declaration of Independence.

• Big Idea 4: Causes and outcomes of the Revolutionary War.

  • Patriot vs. Loyalist, impact of French alliance.

• Big Idea 5: Articles of Confederation's weaknesses.

  • No executive, no power to tax, Shay's Rebellion.

• Big Idea 6: Constitutional Convention and new Constitution.

  • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists, compromises in representation and slavery (3/5 Compromise).

• Big Idea 7: Constitution's federalism and separation of powers.

• Big Idea 8: Revolution's societal impacts.

  • Slavery debates, Republican motherhood, global influence.

• Big Idea 9: Precedents set by Washington and Adams.

  • Political parties, foreign policies, Alien and Sedition Acts.

• Big Idea 10: National identity in art and literature.

Unit 4: 1800-1848

• Big Idea 1: Jefferson's era and expansion.

  • Louisiana Purchase, strict vs. loose constructionism.

• Big Idea 2: Federal power vs. regional interests.

  • War of 1812, Clay’s American System, Missouri Compromise.

• Big Idea 3: US territorial claims and Monroe Doctrine.

• Big Idea 4: Market Revolution and technological advances.

  • Interdependence and immigration, rise of middle class.

• Big Idea 5: Expanding democracy and political parties.

• Big Idea 6: Andrew Jackson’s influence.

  • Tariff of Abominations, Indian Removal Act.

• Big Idea 7: Distinct American identity through culture.

  • Transcendentalism, Hudson River School, Second Great Awakening.

• Big Idea 8: Reform movements.

  • Temperance, abolitionism, women’s movement.

• Big Idea 9: Southern culture and slavery.

Unit 5: 1844-1877

• Big Idea 1: Manifest Destiny and expansion.

  • Gold Rush, Southern migration.

• Big Idea 2: Mexican-American War and territorial gains.

• Big Idea 3: Slavery debates with new land.

  • Compromise of 1850.

• Big Idea 4: Immigration and nativism.

  • Know Nothing Party.

• Big Idea 5: Increasing tensions over slavery.

• Big Idea 6: Failed compromises and new political factions.

• Big Idea 7: Lincoln’s election and secession.

• Big Idea 8: Civil War strategies and outcomes.

• Big Idea 9: Reconstruction efforts and Constitutional amendments.

• Big Idea 10: Reconstruction’s failure and Southern resistance.