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

1. What were the causes and consequences of the American Revolution?
2. How did leading Americans address regional differences to develop a federal government?
3. 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.

STUDY TIP 💡

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

STUDY TIP 💡

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
• Adam Smith
• 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
• Deism
• Democratic-Republicans
• Enlightenment
• First Continental Congress
• French Revolution
• George Washington
• Great Compromise
• Hamilton’s Financial Plan
• Intolerable Acts
• James Otis
• Jay’s Treaty
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• John Adams
• John Jay
• John Locke
• Lexington & Concord
• Loyalists (Tories)
• Mercantilism
• Minutemen
• Northwest Ordinance
• Patrick Henry
• Patriots
• Paul Revere
• Peace of Paris
• Pinckney’s Treaty
• Political parties
• Pontiac’s Rebellion
• Proclamation of 1763
• Quartering Act
• Quebec Act
• Rationalism
• Republican Motherhood
• Revolution of 1800
• Salutary Neglect
• Samuel Adams
• Second Continental Congress
• Seven Years’ War
• Shay’s Rebellion
• Sons & Daughters of Liberty
• Stamp Act
• Sugar Act
• Tea Act
• Thomas Jefferson
• Townshend Acts
• Treaty of Paris
• unicameral legislature
• US Constitution
• Valley Forge
• Washington’s Farewell
• Writs of Assistance
• XYZ Affair