Unit #1 Study Guide

Brinkley Chapters 1-3

Skim to p. 14 & Read p. 14 (Spanish America) – p. 97

Topic Outline #1-3

Key Ideas:

  • Characteristics of European settlements (Spanish, French, and Dutch) and their relationship with the indigenous populations
  • Specific locations of major non English settlements and motivations for settlement
  • English settlements: Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth/Massachusetts Bay (Who founded, when, and why?)
  • How do the settlers and settlement differ by region (Northern, Middle, Southern)?
  • Reasons for settlement and leaders in various other colonies
  • Puritans: social and religious characteristics
  • Labor in the colonies: Slavery and indentured servitude
  • Colonial relationship with England: types of colonies, colonial governments, colonial reorganization, “benign neglect”, and mercantilism
  • Colonial economy: regional characteristics, triangular trade, Navigation Acts
  • Enlightenment and Great Awakening: relationship between two ideas and results/impacts
  • Colonial unrest: Hutchinson/Williams, witch trials, Bacon
  • Conflicts with Native Americans: Pequot War, King Philip’s War

Dates Worth Remebering:

  • 1589 settlement of Roanoke (failed)
  • 1607 Jamestown—first permanent British colony in United States
  • 1620 Plymouth founded
  • 1630 Massachusetts Bay founded (Winthrop’s group)
  • 1730’s First Great Awakening begins in the colonies
  • 1763 Proclamation of 1763 marks end of colonial era (Benign Neglect)

Unit #2 Study Guide

Brinkley Ch 4-6 (p. 168)

(I recommend you skim the sections on military history)

Topic Outline #4 & 5

Key Ideas

  • How does the French and Indian (Seven Years) War divide the colonists from the British? Why is the war a step towards a revolution?
  • Why does the Proclamation of 1763 hold significance as a turning point? How were things different after its passage?
  • The Stamp Act holds great significance. Why?
  • Why did the colonists resist the idea of direct internal taxation by the British?
  • Major acts by British and the responses of the colonists. Learn the chronology here.
  • First and Second Continental Congress: actions and significance
  • Revolutionary War: Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown (only the basics)
  • Impact on various groups (especially concept of Republican Motherhood)
  • Assumptions of the republic (Read p. 149)
  • Articles of Confederation: why were they created to be so weak?, specific weaknesses?, and successes?
  • Shays Rebellion: why did it happen and what did it change in America?
  • Constitutional compromises and ratification debate
  • Why George Washington?

Dates Worth Remembering:

  • 1763 End of Benign Neglect
  • 1765 Stamp Act
  • 1774 First Continental Congress
  • 1775 Second Continental Congress
  • 1781 Articles of Confederation ratified
  • 1788 Constitution ratified
  • 1789 American government begins under Constitution

Unit #3

Brinkley Ch. 6 (p.168 on)-Ch 8 (p. 228)

Topic Outline #5

Key Ideas:

  • Ch 6
  • Hamilton’s financial plan
  • Origin of the Federalist and Republican parties and the differences in philosophy
  • French revolution and the inability to maintain neutrality
  • Foreign policy under Washington
  • Washington’s Farewell Address: key ideas
  • Federalist measures under Adams: Quasi War, Alien and Sedition Acts, & Midnight Appointments
  • Revolution of 1800: Is this a revolution? What specific changes are implemented under Jefferson?
  • Ch. 7
  • Growth of American nationalism (figures)
  • Second Great Awakening
  • What does Jeffersonian Republicanism mean? What was Jefferson’s vision for America? (Read p. 181), How consistent are the Jeffersonians in carrying out this vision?
  • Marbury v Madison: facts of the case & significance
  • Louisana Purchase: why did we want it/need it?, the deal, problems for Jefferson, exploration
  • The Embargo Act
  • Indian conflicts
  • War of 1812: reasons, results, death of the Federalists, battle of New Orleans
  • Ch. 8
  • Clay’s American system
  • Era of Good Feelings: causes, end
  • Missouri Compromise
  • Monroe Doctrine

Dates Worth Remebering:

  • 1789 French Revolution begins
  • 1800 Jefferson elected
  • 1801 Second Great Awakening begins
  • 1803 Louisana Purchase
  • 1807 Embargo Act
  • 1812 War of 1812 begins (duh)
  • 1814 Treaty of Ghent
  • 1814 Hartford Convention
  • 1815 Battle of New Orleans
  • 1816 Second Bank chartered (expires 1836)
  • 1823 Monroe Doctrine proclaimed

Unit #4

Brinkley Ch. 8 (p. 228 on)-Ch. 11

Topic Outline #6-8

Key Ideas:

  • Ch. 8
  • Election of 1824: specifics & changes in electoral system
  • Ch. 9
  • What is Jacksonian Democracy? Why is Jackson forever linked to the idea of the “common man” in the U.S.?
  • Relationship between Jackson and Calhoun: doctrine of nullification, Peggy Eaton affair, Webster Hayne
  • Nullification Crisis: origin, compromise, how is this reflective of growing sectionalism?
  • Indian removal: include Marshall court cases (p. 226 “The Court and the Tribes”)
  • Bank War
  • Rise of opposition: Whig Ascendancy, Election of 1840
  • Ch. 10
  • Iron Triangle: Rising immigration, industrialization, and urbanization
  • Rise of nativism
  • Transportation revolution
  • Market Revolution
  • Lowell System
  • Cult of Domesticity
  • Ch. 11
  • “King Cotton”
  • Class conflict in the South
  • Paradoxes of southern slavery
  • Major slaves rebellions: Prosser and Turner

Dates Worth Remembering:

  • 1824 Election of Quincy Adams
  • 1825 Erie Canal finished
  • 1828 Election of Jackson
  • 1830 Indian Reomval Act
  • 1832 Jackson vetoes recharter of bank
  • 1833 Bank War
  • 1836 Specie circular issued
  • 1840 Harrison elected
  • 1845 Potato famine begins in Ireland