Foundations of Early American History

U.S. History Revision Sheet

1. 📌 Essentials

• The Columbian Exchange involved transfer of crops, animals, and diseases between Old New Worlds.
• Jamestown (1607) was the first permanent English settlement in North America.
• The French Indian War (1754–1763) increased British debt, prompting taxation policies.
• The Boston Tea Party (1773) was a protest against the Tea Act, fueling revolutionary sentiments.
• The Declaration of Independence (1776) marked the formal break from Britain.
• The Articles of Confederation (1781) created a weak central government, later replaced by the Constitution.
• Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of judicial review.
• The Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled U.S. territory, facilitating westward expansion.
• The War of 1812 confirmed U.S. sovereignty and national identity.
• The Monroe Doctrine (1823) opposed European colonization in the Western Hemisphere.
• The Mexican-American War (1846–1848) resulted in territorial gains via the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
• The Market Revolution (early 19th century) transformed the economy through transportation, industry, and specialization.
• The Indian Removal Act (1830) forcibly relocated Native tribes, notably the Trail of Tears.
• Key social reform movements included abolitionism and women's rights (e.g., Seneca Falls 1848).
• Major battles: Lexington, Saratoga, Yorktown, and New Orleans.
• Founding figures: Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Madison.
• Political debates:…