Ap Us History Unit 1 Review

AP U.S. History Unit 1 Review: Exploring the Foundations of America (1491-1754)

The period from 1491 to 1754 in AP U.S. History, often referred to as Unit 1, lays the crucial groundwork for understanding the development of the United States. It encompasses the diverse pre-Columbian societies, the transformative impact of European exploration and colonization, and the evolving interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans. Mastering this unit is essential for success on the AP exam and for grasping the complexities of American history. This comprehensive review will delve into the key themes, concepts, and events you need to know.

I. Native American Societies Before European Contact (1491)

Before the arrival of Europeans, North America was far from an empty wilderness. Diverse and sophisticated Native American societies thrived across the continent, each adapted to its specific environment and possessing unique cultural, economic, and political structures.

• Geographic Diversity: Native American societies varied greatly based on their geographic location.

  • The Southwest (Pueblo): In present-day Arizona and New Mexico, groups like the Pueblo developed sophisticated irrigation systems for agriculture, cultivating maize and other crops. They lived in settled villages characterized by their distinctive adobe architecture.
  • The Great Plains: Nomadic tribes like the Sioux and Comanche relied heavily on bison hunting. They followed the migratory patterns of the bison herds, developing expert horsemanship after the introduction of horses by the Spanish.
  • The Eastern Woodlands (Iroquois): This region, encompassing the East Coast and the Great Lakes, supported a mix of agricultural and hunter-gatherer societies. The Iroquois Confederacy, a powerful political alliance of five (later six) tribes, stands as a testament to the advanced political organization of these groups.
  • The Mississippi River Valley (Cahokia): This area was home to mound-building cultures, most notably the city of Cahokia, near present-day St. Louis. Cahokia was a major urban center with a complex social hierarchy and extensive trade networks.

• Economic Development: Native American societies developed diverse economic systems adapted to their environments.

  • Agriculture: Maize cultivation spread from present-day Mexico into North America, transforming many societies. It allowed for denser populations, permanent settlements, and the development of more complex social structures.
  • Hunting and Gathering: Many tribes, particularly in the Great Plains and the Pacific Northwest, relied on hunting and gathering for sustenance. They developed sophisticated hunting techniques and utilized natural resources sustainably.
  • Fishing: Coastal tribes depended heavily on fishing, developing advanced fishing techniques and building canoes for navigating waterways.

• Social Structures: Native American societies exhibited a wide range of social structures, from egalitarian communities to hierarchical chiefdoms. Kinship played a central role in social organization, and women often held significant economic and political power, particularly in agricultural societies.

• Cultural Beliefs: Native American cultures were deeply connected to the natural world. They held animistic beliefs, attributing spiritual significance to animals, plants, and natural phenomena. Oral traditions played a crucial role in preserving history, transmitting knowledge, and shaping cultural values.

II. European Exploration and Colonization (1492-1700)

European exploration and colonization dramatically altered the course of North American history. Driven by a combination of economic, political, and religious motives, European powers established colonies that transformed the landscape and reshaped the lives of Native Americans and Africans.

• Motives for Exploration:

  • The Three G's: Gold, Glory, and God: Europeans sought wealth, power, and the opportunity to spread Christianity. The desire for new trade routes to Asia, bypassing the Ottoman Empire, fueled exploration efforts.
  • Technological Advancements: Innovations like the caravel, the compass, and the astrolabe enabled Europeans to navigate more effectively and explore distant lands.
  • The Renaissance: The intellectual and cultural ferment of the Renaissance fostered a spirit of curiosity and exploration.

• The Columbian Exchange: This transatlantic exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and ideas between the Old World (Europe, Africa, and Asia) and the New World (the Americas) had profound consequences.

  • Positive Impacts: The introduction of new crops like potatoes and maize to Europe led to population growth and economic prosperity. Horses, introduced by the Spanish, transformed the lives of Native Americans on the Great Plains.
  • Negative Impacts: European diseases like smallpox, measles, and influenza decimated Native American populations, weakening their ability to resist European encroachment. The introduction of slavery had a devastating impact on African societies.

• Spanish Colonization: Spain established a vast empire in the Americas, focused on extracting wealth (gold and silver) and converting Native Americans to Christianity.

  • Encomienda System: This system granted Spanish conquistadors the right to demand labor and tribute from Native Americans. It led to widespread abuse and exploitation.
  • Caste System: A rigid social hierarchy based on race and ancestry developed in Spanish America, with peninsulares (Spanish-born elites) at the top and Native Americans and Africans at the bottom.
  • Mission System: Catholic missionaries established missions to convert and acculturate Native Americans. These missions often served as centers of economic and political control.

• French Colonization: France focused on establishing trade networks, particularly in fur, in North America. They maintained generally better relations with Native Americans than the Spanish or English.

  • Quebec: Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec became the center of French colonization in North America.
  • Fur Trade: The French relied heavily on the fur trade, forging alliances with Native American tribes who supplied them with furs.
  • Limited Settlement: The French population in North America remained relatively small compared to the Spanish or English colonies.

• English Colonization: England established a diverse range of colonies along the Atlantic coast, driven by a variety of motives, including religious freedom, economic opportunity, and land ownership.

  • Jamestown (1607): The first permanent English settlement in North America, Jamestown faced initial hardships due to disease, starvation, and conflict with Native Americans. The introduction of tobacco cultivation saved the colony.
  • Plymouth (1620): Founded by Puritan Separatists seeking religious freedom, Plymouth established a self-governing community based on the Mayflower Compact.
  • Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630): Founded by Puritans seeking to create a "city upon a hill," a model Christian society, Massachusetts Bay Colony developed a strong sense of community and religious conformity.
  • Middle Colonies: Colonies like New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey attracted a diverse population of immigrants and developed economies based on agriculture and commerce.
  • Southern Colonies: Colonies like Virginia, Maryland, and the Carolinas developed economies based on plantation agriculture, particularly tobacco, rice, and indigo. The reliance on slave labor became a defining characteristic of these colonies.

III. Interactions Between Europeans and Native Americans

The arrival of Europeans had a profound and often devastating impact on Native American societies. The interactions between these groups were marked by conflict, disease, and cultural exchange.

• Conflict: European colonization led to widespread conflict with Native Americans as colonists encroached on their lands and resources.

  • Pequot War (1636-1638): This conflict in New England resulted in the near extermination of the Pequot tribe.
  • King Philip's War (1675-1676): This war, led by Metacom (King Philip), resulted in significant loss of life on both sides and weakened Native American resistance in New England.
  • Pueblo Revolt (1680): Led by Popé, the Pueblo Revolt successfully drove the Spanish out of New Mexico for a decade, demonstrating the potential for Native American resistance.

• Disease: European diseases decimated Native American populations, weakening their ability to resist European encroachment.

• Cultural Exchange: Despite the conflicts and disease, there was also some cultural exchange between Europeans and Native Americans.

  • Trade: Native Americans traded furs and other goods with Europeans in exchange for manufactured goods.
  • Religious Conversion: European missionaries attempted to convert Native Americans to Christianity.
  • Adoption of European Technology: Native Americans adopted some European technologies, such as horses and firearms.

IV. The Development of Slavery in the Colonies

The institution of slavery played a central role in the development of the English colonies, particularly in the South. The demand for labor on plantations fueled the growth of the transatlantic slave trade and the exploitation of enslaved Africans.

• Reasons for the Development of Slavery:

  • Labor Shortage: The demand for labor on plantations, particularly for the cultivation of tobacco, rice, and indigo, created a need for a large and readily available workforce.
  • Headright System: This system, which granted land to those who paid for the passage of indentured servants, initially fueled the use of indentured servitude. However, as indentured servants became more expensive and difficult to control, planters turned to slavery.
  • Bacon's Rebellion (1676): This rebellion, led by Nathaniel Bacon, exposed the tensions between wealthy planters and poor whites, leading planters to favor the more easily controlled slave labor.

• The Transatlantic Slave Trade: This brutal system transported millions of Africans to the Americas against their will.

  • The Middle Passage: The voyage across the Atlantic was characterized by horrific conditions, with many enslaved Africans dying from disease, starvation, and abuse.
  • Triangular Trade: This complex trade network involved the exchange of goods between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

• Resistance to Slavery: Enslaved Africans resisted their bondage in a variety of ways, including:

  • Passive Resistance: Working slowly, sabotaging equipment, and feigning illness.
  • Running Away: Escaping to freedom, often with the help of the Underground Railroad.
  • Rebellions: Organizing armed revolts against slave owners.

V. Colonial Society and Culture

The English colonies developed distinct social, economic, and political characteristics.

• Social Hierarchy: Colonial society was characterized by a hierarchical social structure, with wealthy landowners and merchants at the top and enslaved Africans at the bottom.

• Economic Development: The colonial economy was based on agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing.

  • Mercantilism: This economic policy aimed to benefit the mother country by controlling colonial trade and resources.
  • Navigation Acts: These laws restricted colonial trade to English ships and markets.

• Political Development: The English colonies developed a tradition of self-government.

  • House of Burgesses: The first elected legislative assembly in the English colonies, established in Virginia in 1619.
  • Town Meetings: In New England, town meetings allowed citizens to participate directly in local government.
  • Salutary Neglect: The British policy of allowing the colonies a degree of self-government, which fostered a sense of independence.

• Religious and Intellectual Developments:

  • The Great Awakening: This religious revival movement in the 1730s and 1740s emphasized emotional preaching and personal religious experience. It challenged traditional religious authority and contributed to a sense of American identity.
  • The Enlightenment: This intellectual movement emphasized reason, individualism, and natural rights. Enlightenment ideas influenced colonial thinkers like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

VI. Key People and Events to Remember

• Christopher Columbus: Italian explorer who sailed for Spain and initiated European contact with the Americas.

• Hernán Cortés: Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire.

• Francisco Pizarro: Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire.

• Samuel de Champlain: French explorer who founded Quebec.

• John Smith: Leader of the Jamestown colony.

• John Rolfe: Introduced tobacco cultivation to Jamestown.

• William Bradford: Leader of the Plymouth colony.

• John Winthrop: Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

• Roger Williams: Advocated for religious freedom and founded Rhode Island.

• Anne Hutchinson: Challenged Puritan religious authority and was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony.

• William Penn: Founded Pennsylvania as a haven for Quakers.

• Jonathan Edwards: A key figure in the Great Awakening.

• George Whitefield: A powerful preacher during the Great Awakening.

• Mayflower Compact (1620): An agreement signed by the Pilgrims establishing a self-governing community.

• Bacon's Rebellion (1676): A rebellion in Virginia that exposed tensions between wealthy planters and poor whites.

• The Stono Rebellion (1739): A slave rebellion in South Carolina.

VII. Key Themes and Concepts

• European Exploration and Colonization: Understand the motives, methods, and consequences of European exploration and colonization in North America.

• Native American Societies: Recognize the diversity and complexity of Native American societies before European contact.

• The Columbian Exchange: Analyze the impact of the Columbian Exchange on both the Old World and the New World.

• The Development of Slavery: Understand the reasons for the development of slavery in the English colonies and its impact on African societies.

• Colonial Society and Culture: Identify the distinct social, economic, and political characteristics of the English colonies.

• Interactions Between Europeans and Native Americans: Analyze the interactions between Europeans and Native Americans, including conflict, disease, and cultural exchange.

• Mercantilism and Colonial Trade: Understand the principles of mercantilism and the impact of British trade policies on the colonies.

• Religious and Intellectual Movements: Recognize the impact of the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment on colonial society.

VIII. Practice Questions

To solidify your understanding of Unit 1, consider the following practice questions:

1. Compare and contrast the Spanish, French, and English colonization efforts in North America.
2. Analyze the impact of the Columbian Exchange on both Europe and the Americas.
3. Explain the reasons for the development of slavery in the English colonies.
4. Discuss the various forms of resistance used by enslaved Africans.
5. Assess the impact of the Great Awakening on colonial society.
6. How did the environment shape the development of Native American societies before European contact?
7. In what ways did the interactions between Europeans and Native Americans lead to both conflict and cultural exchange?
8. What were the key differences between the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies?
9. To what extent did the English colonies develop a sense of self-government?
10. How did mercantilism shape the relationship between England and its colonies?

IX. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the significance of 1491? 1491 represents the year before European contact with the Americas, marking a crucial turning point in the history of the continent. It emphasizes the importance of understanding Native American societies before European influence.

• What is the Columbian Exchange, and why is it important? The Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and ideas between the Old World and the New World. It is important because it had profound and lasting consequences for both regions, shaping their demographics, economies, and cultures.

• What is mercantilism, and how did it affect the colonies? Mercantilism is an economic policy that aims to benefit the mother country by controlling colonial trade and resources. It affected the colonies by restricting their trade to English ships and markets, which generated resentment and contributed to the growing sense of independence.

• What was the Great Awakening, and what was its impact? The Great Awakening was a religious revival movement in the 1730s and 1740s that emphasized emotional preaching and personal religious experience. It challenged traditional religious authority and contributed to a sense of American identity.

• What were the key differences between the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies? The New England colonies were characterized by their Puritan religious values, small farming, and emphasis on education. The Middle colonies were more diverse, with economies based on agriculture and commerce. The Southern colonies were characterized by their plantation economies and reliance on slave labor.

X. Conclusion

Unit 1 of AP U.S. History provides a foundational understanding of the development of America. From the diverse pre-Columbian societies to the transformative impact of European colonization and the evolving interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans, this period lays the groundwork for understanding the complexities of American history. By mastering the key themes, concepts, and events covered in this review, you will be well-prepared for success on the AP exam and for a deeper appreciation of the origins of the United States. Remember to focus on the big picture themes and connections between events to truly grasp the significance of this pivotal era. Good luck with your studies!