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APUSH Period 3 Review (1754-1800)

6 min read • july 11, 2024

The American Revolution & Establishment of Democracy (1754-1800)

In AP U.S. History, time period 3 spans from 1754 to 1800 CE. The following guide will be updated periodically with hyperlinks to excellent resources. As you are reviewing for the Revolutionary war, focus on the key concepts and use the essential questions to guide you.

👉  Check the Fiveable calendar for this week’s free APUSH live stream!

Period 3 Dates to Know

1754–1763  – Seven Years’ War

1763  – Proclamation of 1763

1765  – Stamp Act

1770  – Boston Massacre

1773  – Boston Tea Party

1775  – Lexington & Concord

1776  – Dec. of Independence

1777  – Battle of Saratoga

1781  – Battle of Yorktown

1783  – Treaty of Paris

1787  – Constitutional Convention

1788  – Washington’s Election

1798  – XYZ Affair

1798  – Alien & Sedition Acts

STUDY TIP 💡

You will never be asked specifically to identify a date. However, knowing the order of events will help immensely with cause and effect. For this reason, we have identified the most important dates to know.

### Period 3 Essential Questions

• What were the causes and consequences of the American Revolution?
• How did leading Americans address regional differences to develop a federal government?
• In what ways did migrations across North America intensify conflicts? STUDY TIP 💡

Use these essential questions to guide your review of this entire unit. Keep in mind, these are not meant to be practice essay questions. Each question was written to help you summarize the key concept.

🎥  Live Stream Replay – Historical Thinking Skills in Period 3

🎥  Live Stream Replay – Period 3 SAQ Practice

Past Essay Questions From Period 3

The APUSH exam was significantly revised in 2015, so any questions from before then are not representative of the current exam format. You can still use prior questions to practice, however DBQs will have more than 7 documents, the LEQ prompts are worded differently, and the rubrics are completely different. Use questions from 2002-2014 with caution. Essays from 1973-1999 available  here .

Content from the Revolutionary era has appeared on the essays seventeen times since 2000. Take a look at these questions before you review the key concepts & vocabulary below to get a sense of how you will be assessed. Then, come back to these later and practice writing as many as you can!

2018 – SAQ 1: Interpretations of American Revolution

2017 – SAQ 1: Articles of Confederation

2017 – DBQ: Ideas about American independence

2016 – SAQ 4: Causes of Revolution

2015 – SAQ 3: American Revolution

2015 – LEQ 2: Seven Years’ War

2012 – LEQ 2: Impact of Seven Years’ War

2010 – LEQ 2: American Revolutionary victory

2009 – LEQ 2: British imperial policies

2007 – LEQ 2: Violent protests in the backcountry

2006 – DBQ: Republican Motherhood

2005 – DBQ: Effects of the Revolution

2004 – DBQ: Seven Years’ War

2004 – LEQ 2: Impact of Revolution

2003 – LEQ 2: Articles of Confederation

2002 – LEQ 3: Constitutional leaders

2000 – LEQ 3:  Opposition to slavery

🎥  Live Stream Replay – Putting Period 3 in Context

Take the APUSH Period 3: American Revolution Quiz

Period 3 key concepts - course outline.

The following outline was adapted from the AP® United States History Course Description as published by College Board in 2019 found   here . This outline reflects the most recent revisions to the course.*

Key Concept 3.1. The American Revolution

The seven years’ war, also known as the french and indian war, led to the british defeat of france and allied native americans..

🔥  Study Guide:   Context to the Revolution

• Colonial rivalry between Britain and France intensified.
• Britain’s North American territory expanded, but it was costly and required raising taxes, like the Stamp act
• British officials attempted to prevent colonists from moving westward.
• The Proclamation of 1763 intensified colonial discontent 🔥  Live Stream Replay – Understanding the French & Indian War

Colonial independence movement formed as salutary neglect ended.

📚  Study Guide -   The Enlightenment and the American Revolution

• Colonists united because the British were taxing them without representation.
• Colonial leaders called for representation to reflect Enlightenment ideas.
• Popular movements for independence were energized by activists.
• People across the American colonies mobilized finances and materials for the Patriot movement.
• The Patriots beat the British because of strong leadership, ideological commitment, and assistance by European allies. 🎥   Live Stream Replay – Growing Calls for Independence

🎥  Live Stream Replay – The American Revolution

Key Concept 3.2. New American Government

New ideas about politics, religion, and society continued through the revolution..

• Enlightenment ideas inspired American thinkers and promoted social mobility.
• Republican ideals were reflected through Common Sense by Thomas Paine & the Dec. of Independence.
• Some groups called for abolition of slavery in the new state & national governments.
• Women’s role highlighted in “Republican motherhood” – to teach American values.
• American Revolution inspired similar revolts in Haiti and Latin America. 🔥  Live Stream Replay – Key Documents of the American Revolution

State and federal constitutions sought to protect liberties while limiting central power.

• Power was given to legislative branches and voting rights were limited.
• Articles of Confederation unified the states, but limited central power, which made things difficult for the federal government to handle trade, finances, and unrest.
• The Constitutional Convention was held with state representatives to negotiate a new federal government that would embody federalism and separation of powers. The leaders pitched new experiments in self-government.
• The issue of slavery was at the forefront of constitutional compromises.
• Anti-federalists opposed the constitution while Federalists promoted ratification by promising a Bill of Rights that would focus on individual freedoms.- 📜 Study Guide:   The Constitution and   Debates Over Ratification 🎥  Live Stream Replay – Articles of Confederation

🎥   Live Stream Replay – Constitutional Debates

#### American national culture & political institutions developed despite of regional differences.

• George Washington and John Adams created political precedents.
• Political parties formed as leaders differed in their positions of issues. (Jefferson vs. Hamilton)
• Slavery continued to divide Americans as it expanded in the south & west.
• National identity was reflected in works of art, literature, and architecture. 🔥  Live Stream Replay – Washington’s Presidency

Key Concept 3.3. Migrations within North America intensified conflicts

After independence, increased interactions between groups resulted in competition, alliances, and cultural blending..

🌎  Study Guide:   Developing an American Identity

• Native tribes fluctuated in alliances with Europeans and other tribes.
• More people moved westward, which fueled social, political, and ethnic tensions.
• The Northwest Ordinance was developed to admit new states.
• Treaties with Native Americans were often violated.
• Spanish mission settlements expanded in California.

The US had to protect its borders amidst European powers throughout North America.

🗺️ Study Guide:   Movement in the Early Republic

• Diplomatic initiatives sought to protect settlers from the British and Spanish.
• The French Revolution and war between France and Britain posed new foreign policy challenges to the US.
• Washington’s Farewell Address discouraged political parties and warned of alliances.

Period 3 Vocabulary & Concepts

These are the concepts and vocabulary from period 3 that most commonly appear on the exam. Create a quizlet deck to make sure you are familiar with these terms!

• Abigail Adams
• absolute monarch
• Albany Plan of Union
• Alien & Sedition Acts
• Articles of Confederation
• Battle of Bunker Hill
• Battle of Saratoga
• Battle of Yorktown
• Bill of Rights
• Coercive Acts
• Committees of Correspondence
• Common Sense
• Declaration of Independence
• Declaratory Act
• Democratic-Republicans
• Enlightenment
• First Continental Congress
• French Revolution
• George Washington
• Great Compromise
• Hamilton’s Financial Plan
• Intolerable Acts
• Jay’s Treaty
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• Lexington & Concord
• Loyalists (Tories)
• Mercantilism
• Northwest Ordinance
• Patrick Henry
• Paul Revere
• Peace of Paris
• Pinckney’s Treaty
• Political parties
• Pontiac’s Rebellion
• Proclamation of 1763
• Quartering Act
• Rationalism
• Republican Motherhood
• Revolution of 1800
• Salutary Neglect
• Samuel Adams
• Second Continental Congress
• Seven Years’ War
• Shay’s Rebellion
• Sons & Daughters of Liberty
• Thomas Jefferson
• Townshend Acts
• Treaty of Paris
• unicameral legislature
• US Constitution
• Valley Forge
• Washington’s Farewell
• Writs of Assistance

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AP United States History

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About the Course

How did the United States become THE United States? What happened to the American economy when factories went from being powered by water to powered by coal? Or how have definitions of who is, and who is not, a U.S. citizen changed over time? In AP United States History, you’ll explore and try to answer questions like these, while discussing the ways in which Americans have debated their values, practices, and traditions since even before the country’s founding.

Skills You'll Learn

Evaluating primary and secondary sources

Analyzing the claims, evidence, and reasoning you find in sources

Putting historical developments in context and making connections between them

Coming up with a claim or thesis and explaining and supporting it in writing

Equivalency and Prerequisites

College course equivalent.

A two-semester introductory college course in U.S. history

Recommended Prerequisites

Fri, May 9, 2025

AP U.S. History Exam

This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP United States History Exam.

About the Units

The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.

Course Content

Unit 1: period 1: 1491–1607.

You’ll learn about Native American societies as well as how and why Europeans first explored, and then began to colonize, the Americas.

Topics may include:

• Native American societies before European contact
• European exploration in the New World
• The Columbian Exchange
• Labor, slavery, and caste in the Spanish colonial system
• Cultural interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans

On The Exam

4%–6% of score

Unit 2: Period 2: 1607–1754

You'll study the colonies established in the New World by the Spanish, French, Dutch, and British.

• How different European colonies developed and expanded
• Transatlantic trade
• Interactions between American Indians and Europeans
• Slavery in the British colonies
• Colonial society and culture

6%–8% of score

Unit 3: Period 3: 1754–1800

You'll explore the events that led to the American Revolution and the formation of the United States and examine the early years of the republic.

• The Seven Years’ War
• The American Revolution
• The Articles of Confederation
• The creation and ratification of the Constitution
• Developing an American identity
• Immigration to and migration within America

10%–17% of score

Unit 4: Period 4: 1800–1848

You’ll examine how the young nation developed politically, culturally, and economically in this period.

• The rise of political parties
• American foreign policy
• Innovations in technology, agriculture, and business
• Debates about federal power
• The Second Great Awakening
• Reform movements
• The experience of African Americans

Unit 5: Period 5: 1844–1877

You’ll learn how the nation expanded and you’ll explore the events that led to the secession of Southern states and the Civil War.

• Manifest Destiny
• The Mexican–American War
• Attempts to resolve conflicts over the spread of slavery
• The election of 1860 and Southern secession
• The Civil War
• Reconstruction

Unit 6: Period 6: 1865–1898

You’ll examine the nation’s economic and demographic shifts in this period and their links to cultural and political changes.

• The settlement of the West
• The "New South"
• The rise of industrial capitalism
• Immigration and migration
• Debates about the role of government

Unit 7: Period 7: 1890–1945

You’ll examine America’s changing society and culture and the causes and effects of the global wars and economic meltdown of this period.

• Debates over imperialism
• The Progressive movement
• World War I
• Innovations in communications and technology in the 1920s
• The Great Depression and the New Deal
• World War II
• Postwar diplomacy

Unit 8: Period 8: 1945–1980

You’ll learn about the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States, the growth of various civil rights movements, and the economic, cultural, and political transformations of this period.

• The Cold War and the Red Scare
• America as a world power
• The Vietnam War
• The Great Society
• The African American civil rights movement
• Youth culture of the 1960s

Unit 9: Period 9: 1980–Present

You’ll learn about the advance of political conservatism, developments in science and technology, and demographic shifts that had major cultural and political consequences in this period.

• Reagan and conservatism
• The end of the Cold War
• Shifts in the economy
• Migration and immigration
• Challenges of the 21st century

Credit and Placement

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Course Resources

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United States History Reading Study Skills

Review these tips to help you better understand and analyze the material you’ll read in this course.

United States History Writing Study Skills

Read these suggestions for writing a good essay, such as one you’d write as a response to a document-based question or other free-response question on the exam.

AP U.S. History Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and the AP Program in general.

See Where AP Can Take You

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Period 3: 1754–1800 (AP US History)

Period 3: 1754-1800.

British imperial attempts to reassert control over its colonies and the colonial reaction to these attempts produced a new American republic, along with struggles over the new nation’s social, political, and economic identity. Topics may include:

The Seven Years’ War

The american revolution, the articles of confederation, the creation and ratification of the constitution, developing an american identity, immigration to and migration within america.

Image Source : A detail from A View of Part of the Town of Boston in New-England and Brittish Ships of War Landing Their Troops, 1768 , a broadside by Paul Revere and Christian Remick, printed in Boston, 1770. (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02873)

10–17% Exam Weighting

Resources by Period:

• Period 1: 1491–1607
• Period 2: 1607–1754
• Period 3: 1754–1800
• Period 4: 1800–1848
• Period 5: 1844–1877
• Period 6: 1865–1898
• Period 7: 1890–1945
• Period 8: 1945–1980
• Period 9: 1980–Present

Key Concepts

3.1 : British attempts to assert tighter control over its North American colonies and the colonial resolve to pursue self-government led to a colonial independence movement and the Revolutionary War.

3.2 : The American Revolution’s democratic and republican ideals inspired new experiments with different forms of government.

3.3 : Migration within North America and competition over resources, boundaries, and trade intensified conflicts among peoples and nations.

The state of the English colonies

Newspaper article drumming up support for the British in the French and Indian War

• Primary Source

Proclamation of 1763

Proclamation limiting White settlement and interaction with Indigenous peoples

The French and Indian War

By andrew robertson.

Watch a discussion of how Americans' view of themselves as British changed.

The Bloody Massacre

Paul Revere's propaganda representing the Boston "Massacre"

Poem on tyranny and slavery

Poem by Phillis Wheatley published in her 1773 book of poetry

Unruly Americans in the Revolution

By woody holton.

Learn about the role of ordinary citizens in the fight for independence.

The American Revolution, 1763–1783

By pauline maier.

Learn more about the American Revolution from a timeline and a comprehensive essay.

The Stamp Act

Tax requiring colonists to pay for a stamp on printed materials to help subsidize British troops in the colonies

A report on reaction to the Stamp Act

Merchant and rising politician from Nova Scotia covers colonial impressions of the new tax

Taxation and Representation

By gordon s. wood.

Watch a discussion of the connection between taxation and representation in the leadup to the Revolutionary War.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord

Broadside detailing the “Bloody Butchery by the British Troops"

Lord Dunmore's Proclamation

The British threat to free enslaved Virginians

The Declaration of Independence

A unique copy printed in South Carolina by patriotic printer Peter Timothy

The Indians’ War of Independence

By colin g. calloway.

Learn about the role of American Indians during the Revolutionary War.

by James Kirby Martin

Learn the reasons for Cornwallis's loss at Yorktown and America’s victory in the War for Independence.

Watch a discussion of why the British were blamed for the Revolutionary War.

The Siege of Pensacola

By kathleen duval.

Read about Bernardo de Gálvez's efforts to recruit free Black men and Native Americans for Spain's fight against the British.

Lockean Liberalism and the American Revolution

By isaac kramnick.

Learn about the influence of Enlightenment philosopher John Locke.

Understanding the Articles of Confederation

By denver brunsman.

Watch a discussion of the context and key components of the Articles of Confederation.

Establishment of the first US government balancing state and national interests

George Washington on the Constitutional Convention

Letter to Henry Knox discussing Shays’ Rebellion and the upcoming Constitutional Convention

Two versions of the Preamble to the Constitution

Drafts showing the shift from a confederation of states to a united country

Ratification of the US Constitution in New York

Broadside of the Constitution with Washington’s letter of support

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

By carol berkin.

Watch a discussion of the arguments between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

Calling the Constitutional Convention

Watch a discussion of why the Constitutional Convention was called.

Slavery and the American Revolution

By james oliver horton.

Watch a discussion on the American Revolution in relation to African enslavement.

The Legal Status of Women, 1776–1830

By marylynn salmon.

Learn about the rights of women in the founding era.

George Washington on the abolition of slavery

Letter to John Francis Mercer describing Washington's private views on slavery

Hamilton’s Report on the Subject of Manufactures

A report advocating tariffs to protect American industry from foreign competition

Washington's Most Significant Act

Watch a discussion of the importance of George Washington stepping down as general.

George Washington’s reluctance to become president

Letter to Henry Knox as Washington prepares to travel to his inauguration

George Washington’s First Inaugural Address

Washington explaining the fundamental principle of the American democratic revolution

The Righteous Revolution of Mercy Otis Warren

By ray raphael.

Explore the role of writer Mercy Otis Warren in the fight for independence and equality.

The Supreme Court Then and Now

By a. e. dick howard.

Read about the development of judicial review through US history.

Women and the Revolution

Watch a discussion of the significance of women in the leadup to the American Revolution.

The Significance of the American Revolution

Watch a discussion of the transformative nature of the American Revolution

The League of the Iroquois

By matthew dennis.

Learn about the Six Nations and Tripartite Agreement.

A Nation of Immigrants from the Outset

By james basker and sofia melnychuck.

Learn about the economic and religious diversity of the Continental Congress and signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Receipt for land purchased from the Six Nations

Document outlining the acquisition of land with Native leaders' names

Hispanics in the United States: Origins and Destinies

By rubén g. rumbaut.

Read about Spanish migration to the Americas from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries.

The impact of Horse Culture

By elliott west.

Read the return of the horse to the Americas, indigenous migration, and the hunting of buffalo.

Early America’s Jewish Settlers

By eli faber.

Read about the causes and consequences of early Jewish migration to North America.

American History Timeline: 1754-1800

Image citations.

Listed in order of appearance in the sections above

• Maryland Gazette, May 22, 1755. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC08719.
• George III. Proclamation, October 7, 1763. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC05214.
• Leonard, Ephraim. "To Joseph Hall, 'Captain of a military foot Company in the Town of Taunton,'" August 11, 1757. Manuscript. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01450.199.01.
• Revere, Paul. The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King-Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Reg. Boston, 1770. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01868.
• Unidentified Artist. A Portrait of Phyllis Wheatley. 1773, Engraving on Paper. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC06154.
• Dawe, Philip. The Bostonian's Paying the Excise-man, or Tarring & Feathering. London, 1774. Engraving. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC04961.01.
• Trumball, John. Declaration of Independence. Washington D.C., 1826. Oil on Canvas, U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
• Stamp Act, 1765, 5 Geo. 3, c. 1. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00769.  Hinshelwood, Archibald. Letter to Joshua Mauger, August 19, 1765. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC03902.061.
• US Congress. Instructions to the Commanders of private Ships or Vessels of War, which shall have Commissions or Letters of Marque and Reprisal, authorising them to make Captures of British Vessels and Cargoes, April 3, 1776. s.l., ca. 1777-1778. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00038.02.
• Russell, Ezekiel. Bloody Butchery by the British Troops. Salem, MA, 1775. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC04810.
• Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, No. 1674 (January 4, 1774) - No. 1725 (December 27, 1775) [with gaps]. Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01706_00124.
• Continental Congress. Declaration of Independence, 1776. Washington DC, 1823. Facsimile engraving by William J. Stone. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00154.02.
• Baillie, James S. Surrender of Cornwallis. New York, 1845. Lithograph. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02918.02.
• Pendleton, Edmund. Letter to James Madison, April 17, 1765. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00099.026.
• Godefroy, François. Recueil d'estampes représentant les différents evenémens de la Guerre qui a procuré l'indépendance aux Etats Unis de l'Amérique. Paris, ca. 1784. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC06551.
• Locke, John. Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. London: Eliz. Holt, 1690. The Gilder Institute of American History. GLC00320.
• Continental Congress. Articles of Confederation. Lancaster, PA, 1777. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC04759.
• Continental Congress. Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Boston, MA, 1777. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00268.
• Washington, George. Letter to Henry Knox, February 3, 1787. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02437.09410.
• Constitutional Convention. Committee of Detail. US Constitution [printing of first draft], August 6, 1787. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00819.01.
• Constitutional Convention. US Constitution. Albany, NY, 1788. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC07866.
• Carrington, Edward. Letter to Henry Knox, March 13, 1788. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02437.03821.
• Pendleton, Edmund. Letter to James Madison, August 12, 1787. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00099.123.
• Régnier, Claude, engraver. Life of George Washington--The Farmer. Lemercier. Paris, ca. 1853. Lithograph based on a painting by Junius Brutus Stearns. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Unidentified artist, engraver. Mercy Warren. s.l., n.d. Engraving based on a painting by John Singleton Copley. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC08878.0726.
• Hamilton, Alexander. Report of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, on the Subject of Manufactures. New York, 1791. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00891.
• Washington, George. Farewell Address. In Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser, September 19, 1796. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00185.
• Washington, George. Letter to Henry Knox, April 1, 1789. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02437.09410.
• Washington, George. First Inaugural Address. Gazette of the United States, May 2, 1789. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC03518.
• Warren, Mercy Otis. Letter to Catharine Macaulay, December 29, 1774. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01800.01.
• Harris & Ewing. Supreme Court Justices. Washington DC, ca. 1940. Photograph. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02929.01.
• Rogers, J., engraver. Moll Pitcher at the Battle of Monmouth. New York, 1856. Engraving based on a painting by D. M. Carter. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC08878.0067.
• Trumbull, John, painter, Washington Lays Down His Sword. Washington D.C., 1826. Oil on Canvas. Capital Rotunda, Architect of the Capital.
• Cusick, David (Tuscarora). Three Iroquois: Atotárho Protected by Black Snakes, Flanked by Deganawida(?) Offering Wampum and Hiawatha(?). ca. 1827. Watercolor and ink over graphite on paper. Collections of the New-York Historical Society.
• Sadd, Henry S., engraver. The First Prayer in Congress. New York, John Neale, 1848. Engraving based on a painting by T. H. Matteson. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Iroquois Nation. Six Nations. Receipt for land sale signed with the totems of fourteen Indigenous leaders. [Lancaster, PA], 1769. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02548.
• Sahagún, Bernardino de. Historia general de las coasas de nueva España [General History of the Things of New Spain]: The Florentine Codex. s.l., 1577. Library of Congress.
• Martinez, Julian. Buffalo Hunter, ca. 1920-1925, watercolor, ink, and pencil on paperboard, sheet: 11 1/8 x 14 1/4 in. (28.4 x 36.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Corbin-Henderson Collection, Gift of Alice H. Rossin, 1979.144.84
• Lazarus, Emma. "The New Colossus." 1883. Manuscript bound in journal. Courtesy of the American Jewish Historical Society, New York and Newton Centre, Massachusetts.

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• American Identity and Unity

Throughout the 17 th and 18 th centuries Americans developed a unique system of government with revolutionary ideals – never seen anywhere else before. Americans adopted representative governments with democratic principles that allowed each person to have a voice in the decisions about their country. This atmosphere of new ideas and new political rights fostered a growing sense of a unique American identity – not found anywhere else. By the eve of the American Revolution, colonists had embraced a new identity – completely different from their English roots – that helped fuel their resistance against Britain; however, plagued by petty disagreements and discouraged by the large Loyalist population, the Americans were never able to effectively unite against the British.

During the early 18 th century, the British government adopted a policy of “salutary neglect” toward the colonies, which gave Americans freedom to develop their own political systems – as long as they followed the ideas of Mercantilism. When the first colonies were chartered in the 17 th century, the majority adopted some sort of political institution that gave voting rights to each and every man. In the North, most citizens were able to participate in the local Town Meetings and voice their opinions. In addition, nearly every colony had a representative assembly with elected officials. These new political institutions – that the Americans had built from the ground up, and learned to cherish – caused Americans to forge a distinctive identity. However, there were other factors that contributed to the growth of a new American identity.

The American/British victory in the French and Indian War taught the Americans that they could unite in difficult times and triumph over adversity. The victory increased American morale and promoted patriotism throughout the colonies. However, when Parliament attempted to tighten control of the colonial governments and make the colonists pay for their fair share of the war, colonists were furious at the attack on their freedoms. Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765, the proud colonists felt insulted that the British government would bypass their own colonial system of taxation. Americans were upset because they felt that they shouldn’t be taxed by an assembly in which they had no representation. Combined with Parliament’s other unreasonable acts like the Proclamation of 1763 and the Quebec Act, colonists became concerned about the increasingly hostile acts of Parliament which, in their eyes, were designed to limit their rights and liberties. Parliament’s aggression towards the colonies reinforced the fact that colonist’s political, economic, and social ideas varied significantly with those of the British. In addition, a large percentage of the colonists were not British in the least, but rather Dutch, or Scots-Irish, or some other race and had no loyalty to the Crown whatsoever. Why would the proud colonists listen to an assembly 3000 miles away, when they had their own representative assemblies that spoke for their interests? It is precisely this question that colonists were asking on the eve of the Revolution.

Colonists had developed a strong sense of American identity by the 18 th century, however, when the time came for the colonists to unite against the British, disorganization and uncertainty ran rampant. Organizations that were meant to be unifying factors for the colonists, like the Continental Congress, were little more than debating clubs that had to work for weeks before agreeing on anything. In addition, American resistance was further hampered by a conflict of colonial interests. Many colonists, dubbed Loyalists, were still faithful to the Crown and did not want to break away from Great Britain. Furthermore, some colonists refused to support the revolution, because they felt that a break with Britain would mean economic turmoil – a fact probably not far from the truth. Loyalists fought with the American rebels, while the rebels also fought with the British troops. Some colonists aided the Patriots, while others aided the British. In one instance, Loyalists made clothes and shoes and sold them to the British soldiers (with profits of 50 to 200 percent), while George Washington’s army was freezing in nearby Valley Forge. Such was the colonial conflict of interests.

By the eve of the American Revolution, Parliament’s aggression towards the colonists had drawn a distinction between the colonist’s political, economic, and social ideas and those of the British. Colonists had embraced a new identity that helped fuel their resistance against Britain. However, disunity plagued the Americans, and it was only with the support of the French that the Americans were finally able to gain independence.

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APUSH American Revolution Quiz – Are You Ready For Test Day?

Getting ready for your AP United States History Exam this spring? More than likely, there are some topics you feel stronger about than others. The American Revolution is a central topic on the exam, so we’ve devised an APUSH American Revolution quiz so you can get a sense of how well you know this material. After you’ve taken the APUSH American Revolution quiz, scroll down for additional answer explanations, as well as other APUSH resources.

And remember, no peeking at the answers below before taking it!

APUSH American Revolution Quiz Answer Key With Explanations

Q#1 – he famously said in a speech before the virginia commonwealth, “give me liberty or give me death.”.

A- Patrick Henry Explanation: On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry gave a speech at the Second Virginia Convention . This speech, including the empowering line, “Give me liberty or give me death,” is often credited for passing the resolution to assemble Virginia’s troops for the Revolutionary War .

Q #2 – Thomas Paine is associated with which political pamphlet, in which he pushed for the overthrow of what he believed was tyranny?

A- Common Sense Explanation: Thomas Paine was an activist born in Great Britain who is one of the United States’ founding fathers. Common Sense , one of the pamphlets he authored, was incredibly influential in inspiring the patriots to declare independence from Great Britain in 1776. The text offered a new argument for independence rooted in Enlightenment theories of human rights.

Q#3 – What was the name of the conflict that raged between 1754-1763, pitting two European nations against each other?

A- The French and Indian War Explanation: The French and Indian War started in American and moved Europe, becoming part of the Seven Year’s War. It was fought between the French and British over American expansion. The French received help from the Mohawk and Algonquin Indians while the British received help from the Iroquois. The British eventually captured Quebec and Montreal, ending the war.

Q #4 – The tax on tea, at the time, was part of a broader leveling of duties against the colonialists, which included paper, lead, and paint. What was the name given to these acts?

A- The Townshend Acts Explanation: The Townshend Acts were a series of taxes on goods imported to the American colonies. These acts were enforced by British troops in America, and were considered unfair by colonists, who had no representation in parliament.

Q #5 – What was the name of the first military engagement of the Revolutionary War?

A- Lexington and Concord Explanation: The Battles of Lexington and Concord commenced on April 19, 1775, and marked the start of the Revolutionary War. Facing rebellion, the British attempted to seize arms being stored in Concord, Massachusetts. Paul Revere and other riders warned of British invasion and assembled troops accordingly. The defensive gunfire that ensued has been come to know as “ the shot heard ‘round the world .”

Q #6 – What was the name of the British group in parliament who were against the war and helped hasten the end of the war?

A- Whigs Explanation: The Whig Party was an American political party from 1834-54. They opposed what they saw as President Jackson’s tyranny, and consisted of former members of the National Republican and Anti-Masonic parties. Among many other platforms, they also advocated for ending the war.

Q#7 – Which of the following was NOT one of the acts passed by head of the Parliament at the time, George Grenville?

A- Imprison Act. Explanation: The Quartering Act was passed in 1765 and required colonies to provide food, housing, and other provisions to British forces occupying their territory. The Stamp Act , also passed in 1765, taxed all papers in colonies, including newspapers, pamphlets, legal papers, etc.

Q#8 – The Declaration of Independence was signed in which year?

A- 1776 Explanation: The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and detailed all of the reasons the American colonies sought independence from Great Britain.

Additional American Revolution Resources

• The American Revolution: APUSH Topics to Know for Test Day
• APUSH Practice Questions on the Revolutionary War

Other Themes on the APUSH Exam

In addition to information on the American Revolution specifically, you’ll also want to brush up on the following themes, which will be tested across the exam:

• Political parties
• Social movements
• Voting Rights
• 5 key American history themes

Other Ways to Prepare for the APUSH Exam

Know your apush basics.

You’ve probably been discussing this exam all year in your AP US History course, but it can be helpful to review the actual structure of and assessments on the test on your own. This APUSH overview goes over exactly what will be on the test, including question formats and types. It also covers key concepts, events, and strategies.

This is also a great resource covering 9 thematic topics on the APUSH exam , to help you brush up on everything from the British Colonies to the Cold War. Along those lines, it’s also worth studying the specific historical periods that show up on the APUSH exam.

Take an APUSH practice exam

You know the saying: practice makes perfect! You probably take practice tests in your AP US History class as part of your curriculum, but you can always take them at home as well. Here are some tests for more practice:

• Official APUSH practice exam from the College Board
• Other (unofficial) APUSH practice tests

Take these other APUSH quizzes

If you liked the APUSH American Revolution Quiz, check out these others!

• General APUSH Quiz
• APUSH Civil Rights Quiz

Form APUSH study groups and share resources

Let’s face it, working together is always more fun. Try getting together with a few peers from your AP US History course weekly to refresh yourselves on key concepts, review practice test questions, divide and conquer searching for answers, etc. Here are some of our favorite APUSH resources:

• The Best APUSH Study Notes
• This APUSH Study Plan (with various timelines included)
• These APUSH Outlines
• These APUSH Study Guides
• This APUSH Crash Course

A Final Word on APUSH Testing Day

AP Exams can be stressful, and there’s a lot of information on the AP US History exam, but we believe in you! The earlier you can start studying, the better, and here are some tips for studying smarter .

Are you looking for more AP US History Exam Prep ? We’ve got you covered!

Happy studying and best of luck on test day!

Nadyja von Ebers is one of Magoosh’s Content Creators. Nadyja holds an MA in English from DePaul University and has taught English and at the high school and college levels for twelve years. She has a decade of experience teaching preparation for the AP exams, the SAT, and the ACT, among other tests. Additionally, Nadyja has worked as an academic advisor at college level and considers herself an expert in all things related to college-prep. She’s applied her college expertise to posts such as UCLA Admissions: The SAT Scores, ACT Scores, and GPA You Need to Get in and A Family Guide to College Admissions . Nadyja loves helping students reach their maximum potential and thrives in both literal and virtual classrooms. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys reading and writing for pleasure and loves spending time in or near the ocean. You can connect with her on LinkedIn !

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