AP U.S. HISTORY APUSH SEMESTER 1
REVIEW 2025 to 2026 COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE KEY CONCEPTS PRACTICE
QUESTIONS and EXAM PREPARATION
s in 1774 to protest the Intolerable Acts; sent a petition to King George III,
conceding to Parliament the power to regulate commerce but objecting to
arbitrary taxation and the unfair judicial system.
Lexington and Concord - CORRECT ANSWER-The first battle of the
American Revolution (April 19, 1775)
Second Continental Congress - CORRECT ANSWER-Convened in
the wake of the bloodshed at Lexington and Concord; issued both the Olive
Branch Petition and the Declaration of Independence
John Adams - CORRECT ANSWER-Revolutionary leader in Boston
who became America's first Vice-President and second President
Olive Branch Petition - CORRECT ANSWER-An offer of peace sent
by the Second Continental Congress to King George lll
Thomas Jefferson - CORRECT ANSWER-Revolutionary leader from
Virginia who authored the Declaration of Independence; and won the
presidency in 1800
,Declaration of Independence - CORRECT ANSWER-The document
recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July
1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Abigail Adams - CORRECT ANSWER-Revolutionary activist who
appealed to her husband to "remember the ladies" when seeking
independence
Patriots - CORRECT ANSWER-American colonists who fought for
independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War
Battle of Yorktown - CORRECT ANSWER-1781 American victory in
Virginia that forced the British to surrender
Critical Period - CORRECT ANSWER-Era following the end of the
American Revolution and the ratification of the Constitution when the
United States struggled under the Articles of Confederation.
Shays' Rebellion - CORRECT ANSWER-A 1787 rebellion in which
ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms
in Massachusetts as a result of high interest rates and taxes; highlighted the
weakness of the Articles of Confederation
Philadelphia Convention - CORRECT ANSWER-The1787 meeting
called by Congress to amend the Articles of the Confederation; led to the
writing of the Constitution
,Great Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER-Compromise between the
large and small states creating a bicameral Congress with proportional
representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in
the Senate
3/5 Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER-The decision at the
Constitutional convention to count slaves as fraction of a person for the
purposes of representation in Congress and taxation
Republic - CORRECT ANSWER-A form of indirect democracy in
which citizens choose their leaders through frequent elections
James Madison - CORRECT ANSWER-"Father of the Constitution,"
Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States.
Ratification - CORRECT ANSWER-official approval
Federalists (not political party) - CORRECT ANSWER-A term used
to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in
state legislatures.
Anti-Federalists - CORRECT ANSWER-Opponents of the American
Constitution during the ratification debate
The Federalist Papers - CORRECT ANSWER-A collection of 85
articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison to
defend the Constitution during the ratification debates
, Democratic-Republicans - CORRECT ANSWER-Political Party led
by Jefferson - pro-French; supported by middle-class and farmers; pro-
agriculture; against the national bank; strict interpretation
Alexander Hamilton - CORRECT ANSWER-1789-1795; First
Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank,
assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to
pay off the national debt.
French Revolution - CORRECT ANSWER-A rebellion of French
people against King Louis XVI that was inspired by the American
Revolution
Neutrality Proclamation - CORRECT ANSWER-A 1793 statement by
President Washington that the United States would not support or aid
either France or Britain in their European conflict following the French
Revolution
XYZ Affair - CORRECT ANSWER-A 1797 incident in which French
officials demanded a bribe from U.S. diplomats
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions - CORRECT ANSWER-
Republican documents that argued that the Alien and Sedition Acts were
unconstitutional
Nullification - CORRECT ANSWER-A state's refusal to recognize an
act of Congress that it considers unconstitutional
REVIEW 2025 to 2026 COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE KEY CONCEPTS PRACTICE
QUESTIONS and EXAM PREPARATION
s in 1774 to protest the Intolerable Acts; sent a petition to King George III,
conceding to Parliament the power to regulate commerce but objecting to
arbitrary taxation and the unfair judicial system.
Lexington and Concord - CORRECT ANSWER-The first battle of the
American Revolution (April 19, 1775)
Second Continental Congress - CORRECT ANSWER-Convened in
the wake of the bloodshed at Lexington and Concord; issued both the Olive
Branch Petition and the Declaration of Independence
John Adams - CORRECT ANSWER-Revolutionary leader in Boston
who became America's first Vice-President and second President
Olive Branch Petition - CORRECT ANSWER-An offer of peace sent
by the Second Continental Congress to King George lll
Thomas Jefferson - CORRECT ANSWER-Revolutionary leader from
Virginia who authored the Declaration of Independence; and won the
presidency in 1800
,Declaration of Independence - CORRECT ANSWER-The document
recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July
1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Abigail Adams - CORRECT ANSWER-Revolutionary activist who
appealed to her husband to "remember the ladies" when seeking
independence
Patriots - CORRECT ANSWER-American colonists who fought for
independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War
Battle of Yorktown - CORRECT ANSWER-1781 American victory in
Virginia that forced the British to surrender
Critical Period - CORRECT ANSWER-Era following the end of the
American Revolution and the ratification of the Constitution when the
United States struggled under the Articles of Confederation.
Shays' Rebellion - CORRECT ANSWER-A 1787 rebellion in which
ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms
in Massachusetts as a result of high interest rates and taxes; highlighted the
weakness of the Articles of Confederation
Philadelphia Convention - CORRECT ANSWER-The1787 meeting
called by Congress to amend the Articles of the Confederation; led to the
writing of the Constitution
,Great Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER-Compromise between the
large and small states creating a bicameral Congress with proportional
representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in
the Senate
3/5 Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER-The decision at the
Constitutional convention to count slaves as fraction of a person for the
purposes of representation in Congress and taxation
Republic - CORRECT ANSWER-A form of indirect democracy in
which citizens choose their leaders through frequent elections
James Madison - CORRECT ANSWER-"Father of the Constitution,"
Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States.
Ratification - CORRECT ANSWER-official approval
Federalists (not political party) - CORRECT ANSWER-A term used
to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in
state legislatures.
Anti-Federalists - CORRECT ANSWER-Opponents of the American
Constitution during the ratification debate
The Federalist Papers - CORRECT ANSWER-A collection of 85
articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison to
defend the Constitution during the ratification debates
, Democratic-Republicans - CORRECT ANSWER-Political Party led
by Jefferson - pro-French; supported by middle-class and farmers; pro-
agriculture; against the national bank; strict interpretation
Alexander Hamilton - CORRECT ANSWER-1789-1795; First
Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank,
assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to
pay off the national debt.
French Revolution - CORRECT ANSWER-A rebellion of French
people against King Louis XVI that was inspired by the American
Revolution
Neutrality Proclamation - CORRECT ANSWER-A 1793 statement by
President Washington that the United States would not support or aid
either France or Britain in their European conflict following the French
Revolution
XYZ Affair - CORRECT ANSWER-A 1797 incident in which French
officials demanded a bribe from U.S. diplomats
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions - CORRECT ANSWER-
Republican documents that argued that the Alien and Sedition Acts were
unconstitutional
Nullification - CORRECT ANSWER-A state's refusal to recognize an
act of Congress that it considers unconstitutional
