#AP US History: Period 3 (1754-1800) - The Ultimate Study Guide 🚀

Hey APUSH student! Let's get you prepped and confident for your exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially for that last-minute review. We're going to break down Period 3 into easy-to-digest sections, highlight key concepts, and give you the strategies you need to succeed. Let's do this! 💪

#🎯 Overview: From Colonies to Nation

This period is all about transformation! We're watching the American colonies evolve from loyal subjects of the British crown to a brand-new independent nation. It's a wild ride filled with enlightenment ideas, revolution, and the growing pains of a republic. 🗽

Key themes include:

• Enlightenment Ideals: Thinkers like Locke and Paine inspire ideas of liberty and self-governance.
• End of Salutary Neglect: Britain tightens its grip, leading to colonial resistance.
• Revolutionary War: The colonies fight for and win their independence.
• Birth of a Republic: The US grapples with creating a new government and identity.
• Political Divisions: The rise of political parties and debates over federal power.

This period is super high-value! Expect to see a lot of questions on these topics, so make sure you know them inside and out.

#⚔️ The Road to Revolution

#💥 Seven Years' War (French and Indian War) (1754-1763)

• The Spark: Competition over the Ohio Valley and resources (like beaver fur) between the British and French. 💣
• Albany Plan: Benjamin Franklin's attempt to unite the colonies for defense (but they weren't ready to give up autonomy). 💡
• British Victory: The British win, but the war is expensive! 💲
• Treaty of Paris (1763): France loses its North American territories. The British think the colonies didn't contribute enough and should pay up.

#Image from Wikipedia

#😠 Taxes and Protests

• End of Salutary Neglect: Britain starts enforcing mercantilist policies and taxes to pay for the war. 🌎
• Proclamation of 1763: Colonists can't settle west of the Appalachian Mountains (angering many). 😠
• Stamp Act (1765): A direct tax on all printed materials. This is a big deal because it affects everyone, not just the wealthy. 📜
• No Taxation Without Representation: Patrick Henry's rallying cry. 🗣️
• Sons and Daughters of Liberty: Protest groups form. 👦👧
• Boycotts: Colonies unite and hurt British trade. 🤝
• Boston Tea Party: Protest against the Tea Act. 🫖
• Intolerable/Coercive Acts: Punishment for the Boston Tea Party. 😠
• Declaration of Independence (1776): Influenced by John Locke and Enlightenment ideas. 📝
• Common Sense (Thomas Paine): Inspires the push for independence. ✍️

#💥 The Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

• Lexington and Concord: The first shots of the war. 💥
• Diverse Participation: Whites, Blacks, and Native Americans all played roles. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑
• Loyalists/Tories: Those who supported the crown faced backlash. 💔
• George Washington: Proves his leadership. 💪
• Valley Forge: A tough winter for the Continental Army. 🥶
• Battle of Saratoga: Turning point! France joins the colonists. 🇫🇷
• Battle of Yorktown: Final major battle; British surrender. 🏳️
• Treaty of Paris (1783): Officially ends the war, recognizes US independence. ✌️

#Image from Wikipedia

#🏛️ Building a New Nation

#📜 New Governments

• Articles of Confederation: The first attempt at a national government. It was weak! 👎
  • Successes: Negotiated peace, created Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (for westward expansion). 🗺️
  • Failures: Couldn't protect the economy, deal with foreign nations, or handle domestic issues (like Shays' Rebellion). 😬
• Shays' Rebellion: Farmers revolt due to economic hardship, highlighting the weakness of the Articles. 🌾
• Constitutional Convention: A call for change leads to the drafting of a new constitution. ✍️

#⚖️ The Constitution

• Checks and Balances: Limits individual power. ⚖️
• Compromises: Debates over slavery, trade, and representation led to compromises like the Three-Fifths Compromise. 🤝
• Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: Debate over ratification. 🗣️
  • Federalists: (Hamilton) Supported a strong central government. 🏛️
  • Anti-Federalists: (Jefferson) Supported strong state governments. 🏘️
• Bill of Rights: Added to the Constitution to protect individual liberties, securing ratification. 📃

#🏦 Hamilton's Financial Program

• Hamilton's Plan: National bank, tariffs, and paying off national debt. 💰
• Strict vs. Loose Interpretation: Jefferson (strict) vs. Hamilton (loose) on the Constitution. 📜
• Necessary and Proper Clause: Hamilton uses this to justify the national bank. 💡
• Compromise: The capital is moved to Washington, D.C., in exchange for the financial plan. 🏛️

#🌍 Foreign Affairs

• French Revolution: Happening in Europe. 🇫🇷
• Washington's Neutrality: US stays out of European conflicts. 🙅‍♂️
• Jay's Treaty: Weak treaty with England. 📜
• Pinckney's Treaty: Successful treaty with Spain. 📜
• XYZ Affair: Leads to tensions with France. 😠
• Alien and Sedition Acts: Adams' controversial acts that limit free speech. 🤐
• Revolution of 1800: Jefferson defeats Adams, marking a peaceful transfer of power. 🎉

#📝 Key Ideas & Timeline

#APUSH Unit 3 Timeline

• 1754-1763: French and Indian War
• 1763: Treaty of Paris (ends French and Indian War), Proclamation Act
• 1764: Sugar Act
• 1765: Stamp Act
• 1767: Townshend Acts
• 1770: Boston Massacre
• 1773: Boston Tea Party
• 1774: First Continental Congress
• 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord, Second Continental Congress
• 1776: Common Sense published
• 1781: Articles of Confederation ratified
• 1783: Treaty of Paris (ends Revolutionary War)
• 1786: Shays' Rebellion
• 1788: Constitution ratified
• 1789: George Washington inaugurated
• 1791: Bill of Rights approved
• 1794: Whiskey Rebellion
• 1796: John Adams elected
• 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts

#Key Terms

• Albany Plan
• Lexington and Concord
• Proclamation of 1763
• Battle of Long Island
• XYZ Affair
• natural rights
• Valley Forge
• Sedition Act
• William Pitt
• Battle of Yorktown
• John Adams
• Sugar Act
• Treaty of Paris
• Stamp Act
• Articles of Confederation
• virtual representation
• Shays’ Rebellion
• Quartering Act
• Federalists
• Sons of Liberty
• Antifederalists
• Townshend Act
• George Washington
• nonimportation agreements
• William Howe
• committees of correspondence
• Baron Von Steuben
• Tea Act
• James Madison
• Continental Congress
• Judiciary Act
• Thomas Paine
• Bill of Rights
• Common Sense
• B.U.S.
• Samuel Adams
• French Revolution
• Thomas Jefferson
• Whiskey Rebellion

#Major Themes

• Imperial Competition: European powers clash over resources in the New World.
• Colonial Resistance: British attempts to raise revenue lead to a push for independence.
• Enlightenment Influence: Ideas of liberty and self-government fuel the revolution. 💡
• Westward Expansion: The US expands westward after the war.
• Federalism: Debates over the balance of power between federal and state governments.
• Political Parties: The rise of Federalists and Anti-Federalists (and later, Democratic-Republicans).
• Slavery and Equality: The issue of slavery begins to be discussed.

#🎯 Final Exam Focus

Okay, you've made it this far! Here's what you absolutely need to nail for the exam:

• Causes of the Revolution: Understand the sequence of events (taxes, protests, etc.).
• Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation: Why did it fail?
• Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Debate: Know their key arguments.
• Hamilton's Financial Plan: What was it, and why was it controversial?
• Washington's Farewell Address: What did he warn against?
• Key Treaties: Jay's and Pinckney's.
• The impact of the Enlightenment

Exam Tips:

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. Move on and come back if you have time.
• Read Carefully: Pay attention to the wording of the questions. What are they really asking?
• Connect the Dots: Look for connections between different events and themes. 🔗
• Practice: Do as many practice questions as you can! (See below)

#❓ Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following was NOT a cause of the American Revolution? (A) The Stamp Act (B) The Boston Massacre (C) The French and Indian War (D) The XYZ Affair

2. The Articles of Confederation were weak because they: (A) Created a strong national army (B) Allowed states to coin their own money (C) Gave too much power to the president (D) Did not allow for taxation

3. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to: (A) Strengthen the power of the federal government (B) Protect individual liberties (C) Establish a national bank (D) Limit the power of the states

#Short Answer Question

Explain how the French and Indian War contributed to the American Revolution.

#Free Response Question

Analyze the extent to which the Articles of Confederation were effective in governing the newly formed United States. In your response, be sure to address the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear thesis statement that addresses the prompt.
• Arguments and Evidence (3-4 points): Evidence of the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
• Analysis (1-2 points): Analysis of how effective the Articles were in governing the US.
• Synthesis (1 point): Connect the Articles of Confederation to other events or time periods.

#🎉 You've Got This!

You've covered a lot of ground, and you're ready to crush this exam! Stay calm, stay focused, and remember everything you've learned. Good luck! 🙌🏾