How did the collision of cultures create a "New World"?

Investigate British, French, and Spanish colonial policies in North America.

How did the American colonies gain independence from Britain?

How did the new Constitution shape U.S. politics?

Was this an 'Era of Good Feelings'?

What changes occurred in the U.S. during the Jacksonian era?

Why did sectionalism increase during the Antebellum era?

The Civil War and Reconstruction transform the U.S.

What impact did industrialization have on American society?

How did immigration/global affairs affect the U.S. from 1898-1919?

What challenges did the U.S. face in the post-WWI era?

How did the U.S. handle WWII and the Depression?

How did the Cold War shape U.S. society after WWII?

How did cultural tensions shape the 1960s?

How did a recession and an unpopular war affect the U.S.?

How did the end of the Cold War impact U.S. global influence?

In 1774, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, which were known as the Intolerable Acts in the American colonies. The British government passed the four acts as punishment for the Boston Tea Party and growing colonial resistance to imperial rule.

These resolutions were passed by the legislatures of Kentucky and Virginia in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and were authored by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, respectively. The resolutions argued that the federal government had no authority to exercise power not specifically delegated to it in the Constitution.

Virginia Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom was written by Thomas Jefferson and ushered through the state legislature by James Madison in 1786, banned government interference in religion and individual beliefs.

On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee brought what came to be called the Lee Resolution before the Continental Congress. This resolution stated “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states ...” Congress debated independence for several days.

The Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, in order to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. It created a federal system with a national government composed of 3 separated powers, and included both reserved and concurrent powers of states.

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. James Madison wrote the amendments, which list specific prohibitions on governmental power, in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties.

This was the first governing document of the United States of America. It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in November 1777 and ratified by the states in 1781.

Thomas Paine published Common Sense in January 1776 support of the Patriot cause. Using clear, plain language, Paine rallied the colonists to support the break from Britain.

After the Constitution was completed during the summer of 1787, the work of ratifying it (or approving it) began. As the Constitution itself required, 3/4ths of the states would have to approve the new Constitution before it would go into effect for those ratifying states.

President George Washington’s Farewell Address was not delivered as a speech, but rather printed in newspapers. Washington wrote over a period of months beginning with notes James Madison had prepared at the end of his first term. He also sought the advice of John Jay and Alexander Hamilton in formulating his message.

George Washington, the nation's first president, made his first inaugural address before both houses of Congress. He acknowledged Providence as guiding the nation’s steps: "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States."

Abraham Lincoln's speech discussing his disappointment in the Dred Scott ruling. He remains hopeful that the ruling would not be the end of the discussion about slavery.

Excerpts of Letter from Birmingham Jail Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. April 16, 1963

The Columbian Exchange was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, people, diseases, ideas, and cultures between Europe, Africa, and the Americas following Christopher Columbus’s arrival in 1492. This exchange transformed societies on both sides of the Atlantic by introducing new crops, such as corn and potatoes, to Europe and Africa, while bringing horses, livestock, wheat, and other goods to the Americas. The exchange also expanded the transatlantic slave trade, resulting in the forced migration of millions of Africans. One of its most devastating effects was the spread of European diseases, such as smallpox, which decimated Native American populations. Despite both positive and negative consequences, the Columbian Exchange reshaped global economies, cultures, and populations, marking the beginning of a new era of worldwide interaction.

European colonization of North America was led primarily by Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands, with each nation establishing colonies in different regions and for different purposes. Spain focused on settlement and religious missions in areas such as Florida, Texas, California, and Mexico, while France built a network of fur-trading posts throughout Canada, the Great Lakes region, and the Mississippi Valley. The Dutch established New Amsterdam as a diverse commercial trading center, and the English created colonies along the Atlantic coast for both economic opportunities and religious freedom. These different goals shaped each nation's relationships with Native Americans, with the French and Dutch generally maintaining stronger trade partnerships, while English expansion often led to greater conflict. The government systems and cultural traditions of each colonial power also influenced the development of their colonies, leaving a lasting impact on the regions and cities of North America.

Early colonial culture helped create a distinct American identity based on self-reliance, political participation, and religious independence. Because Britain exercised limited control over the colonies, Americans developed their own economies, representative governments, and local institutions while still considering themselves loyal British subjects. Colonial society was generally more socially equal and politically engaged than England, with widespread literacy and active public debate. Religious movements such as Puritanism, the Great Awakening, and the growth of dissenting Protestant denominations encouraged individualism and challenges to established authority. Over time, these experiences fostered a unique American character that differed from Britain’s and laid the foundation for the colonists’ eventual push for independence.

The development of slavery in North America was shaped by economic interests and the growth of the Atlantic trade system. While early British colonies often relied on immigrants and indentured servants for labor, the success of plantation economies in the Caribbean and Brazil encouraged the expansion of African slavery. Through the triangular trade system, enslaved Africans became the primary labor force for Southern cash-crop plantations. During the late 1600s, colonial laws in places such as Virginia and Maryland increasingly defined slavery as a permanent, hereditary condition limited to Africans, stripping enslaved people of basic rights and reinforcing racial distinctions. At the same time, opposition to slavery grew in parts of the North, particularly among groups like the Quakers. These developments helped establish slavery as a central institution in the Southern colonies and laid the foundation for the racial and economic systems that would shape American history for generations.

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? In our eighth episode, we tackle the Articles of Confederation and the need for a Constitution at the Constitutional Convention. Learn how the US Constitution made provisions for a stronger federal government, state rights and powers, and personal rights formally known as the Bill of Rights. Have you ever looked at your teacher with a puzzled face when they explain history? I know we have. In our new Homework Help Series we break down history into easy to understand 5 minute videos to support a better understanding of American History.

The Articles of Confederation, America’s first government, was designed to prevent a strong central government by giving most power to the states. However, this system created major problems because the national government could not tax, regulate trade, raise an army, or effectively enforce laws. Economic difficulties, disputes between states, and events like Shays’ Rebellion exposed these weaknesses. In response, leaders such as George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton called for reform, leading to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The resulting U.S. Constitution established a stronger federal government with the power to tax, regulate commerce, and operate through three branches with checks and balances, creating a more effective and unified nation.

The American Revolution was fought to secure freedom and independence from British rule, but it was also an international conflict involving several European powers. While American Patriots sought liberty and self-government, France and Spain supported the rebellion mainly to weaken Britain, providing money, supplies, and naval assistance after the American victory at Saratoga convinced them the colonies could succeed. Britain relied heavily on Hessian mercenaries and Loyalist support to fight the war. The American victory secured independence and inspired future movements for freedom around the world, though it brought mixed results for European powers, contributing to future unrest in both France and Spain’s colonies.

The American Revolution developed after decades of growing tension between Britain and its American colonies. For much of the 1600s and early 1700s, the colonies enjoyed significant self-government while Britain loosely enforced trade regulations. However, after the costly French and Indian War ended in 1763, Britain sought to raise revenue and tighten control through new taxes and trade restrictions, including the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts. Colonists also became frustrated by limits on westward expansion and by having no representation in Parliament. Protests such as the Boston Tea Party led Britain to impose the Intolerable Acts, further increasing colonial resentment. By 1776, many Americans believed their rights were no longer being protected by the British Crown and concluded that independence was necessary to govern themselves and preserve their freedoms.

In the early years of the United States, American foreign policy focused on maintaining neutrality and protecting national sovereignty while dealing with conflicts between Britain and France. Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison struggled with issues such as British impressment of American sailors, attacks on U.S. shipping, and pressure to take sides in European wars. Key events included Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality, Jay’s Treaty, the XYZ Affair, the Louisiana Purchase, and Jefferson’s Embargo Act. Rising tensions with Britain eventually led to the War of 1812, which ended with the Treaty of Ghent in 1815. By the war’s conclusion, the United States had grown stronger and gained greater respect as an independent nation capable of defending its interests.

Welcome to Homework Help. Whether you’re studying for the AP US history exam or any other exam that your teacher is inflicting upon you, we’ve got you covered. Today we will be discussing America’s national identity. Throughout the first half of the 1800s. The United States developed a growing unified identity following the creation of the Constitution.

How did the United States attempt to reunite after the Civil War while also securing the rights of recently freed enslaved people with the passage of the 13th Amendment, 14th Amendment and 15th Amendment? How successful was our country in accomplishing these goals? Did the Reconstruction Amendments hurt or help the cause? What were the effects of the Reconstruction Amendments on the states due to incorporation? Our latest Homework Help video explores these questions while encouraging students to analyze the Reconstruction period and its relationship with the principles of liberty and equality.

Our latest Homework Help Evidence of History video tells the story of the rise and fall of Senator Joseph McCarthy, a fierce partisan and demagogue whose battles against Communism in early 1950s America utilized the new medium of television to garner public attention. Preying upon the public's fear of communism within the U.S. government, he hurled accusations against numerous political enemies often with little or no evidence, and with scant regard to the principles of due process, free speech, and liberty. The new medium of television, which helped his meteoric political rise, would ultimately play a key role in his undoing.

Our AP Preparedness webinars make sure you know the general strategies needed to excel on the AP U.S. History test. Join seasoned BRI AP U.S. History teacher Tom Richey as he breaks down the different formats of the test, including document-based questions, multiple-choice questions, and long essay questions. He also lets you in on some important study tips.

Use these videos to review essential questions, concepts, and themes fit into the AP U.S. History test.

In this Homework Help video, learn the story of the landmark Supreme Court case of Baker v. Carr. The case explores the question of a state’s right to control electoral lines otherwise known as gerrymandering. The case ruling concluded that the Supreme Court could hear cases pertaining to redistricting because of the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment through the process of incorporation which argues that states must adhere to the protections of guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. How did the ruling in this case contribute to the democratic principle of “one person-one vote”?

Does the Second Amendment prevent a city from effectively outlawing handgun ownership? In 2008, Otis McDonald attempted to purchase a handgun for self-defense purposes in a Chicago suburb. However, the city of Chicago had banned handgun ownership in 1982 when it passed a law that prevented issuing handgun registrations. McDonald argued this law violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Privileges and Immunities Clause as well as the Due Process Clause. In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that McDonald’s Second Amendment right to bear arms was protected at the state and local level by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.