APUSH Course and Exam Description - Period 3: 1754-1800

Contextualizing Period 3

• Objective: Understand contexts within this unit, focusing on changes and continuity with past and contemporaneous developments.
• Key Themes:
  • Change and continuity with preceding historical developments.
  • Similarities and differences with contemporaneous developments in different regions.
• Learning Objective A: Explain the context in which America gained independence and developed a national identity.
  • KC-3.1: British control efforts led to independence movement and Revolutionary War.
  • KC-3.1.I: Seven Years War's economic/political competition between British, French, American Indians.
  • KC-3.1.II: Desire for self-government spurred independence movement.

Key Concepts

KC-3.2

• Democratic and Republican Ideals: Inspired new governmental experiments.
  • KC-3.2.I: Revolutionary ideals rooted in evolving political, religious, and societal beliefs.
  • KC-3.2.II: Post-independence, leaders created constitutions and rights declarations.
  • KC-3.2.III: New national culture and political institutions developed with regional variations.

KC-3.3

• Migration & Competition: Intensified conflicts over resources, boundaries, and trade.
  • KC-3.3.I: Post-independence, resource competition led to shifting alliances and cultural blending.
  • KC-3.3.II: European powers' presence in North America challenged US economic interests.

Thematic Focus Areas

America in the World (WOR)

• Seven Years War: Causes and effects.
  • KC-3.1.I.A: British-French colonial rivalry.
  • KC-3.1.I.B: British territorial expansion post-war set stage for taxation and control.
  • KC-3.1.I.C: British prevention of westward colonial expansion caused opposition.

Taxation Without Representation

• British Colonial Policies: Led to Revolutionary War.
  • KC-3.1.II.A-D: Tax policies, local traditions, Enlightenment ideas influenced resistance.

Philosophical Foundations

• Changing Attitudes Pre-Revolution:
  • KC-3.2.I.A-B: Enlightenment's impact on individual talent, republican government preference.

American Revolution & Ideals

• Factors in American Victory:
  • KC-3.1.II.E: Militias, leadership, ideological commitment, European allies.
• Societal Impact of Revolutionary Ideals:
  • KC-3.2.I.C-D: Awareness of inequalities led to abolitionist calls, republican motherhood ideals.

New Government and Politics

Articles of Confederation

• Post-Revolution Government Changes:
  • KC-3.2.II.A-B: State constitutions, weak central government led to stronger government calls.

Constitutional Convention

• Federal Government Structure Debates:
  • KC-3.2.II.C-E: State delegates negotiated Constitution; Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist debates.

Constitution and New Republic

• Government Structure Changes:
  • KC-3.2.II.C.ii: Introduction of federalism and separation of powers.
• Developing Political Ideas:
  • KC-3.2.III.A-B: Federalist and Democratic-Republican party formation.
• Washington's Farewell Address: Unity, caution against factions and foreign alliances.

Cultural and Social Developments

Developing American Identity

• Cultural Continuities & Changes:
  • KC-3.2.III. ii-D: National identity in arts, literature, architecture.

Migration and Settlement

• Migration Effects:
  • KC-3.3.I.A-B: American Indian alliances, frontier culture growth.
• Slavery Expansion:
  • KC-3.2.III.C: Regional attitudes developed; antislavery sentiment rose.

Conclusion

• Unit Review & Argumentation:
  • Learning Objective P: Explain American independence movement's societal impact.
  • KC-3.1 & KC-3.2: Independence movement and revolutionary ideals influenced government and culture.

Resource Suggestions: Classroom resources, lesson plans, historical essays.