Unit 2 of AP U.S. History (APUSH) covers the period from 1607 to 1754 and focuses on the colonization, development, and diversity of European colonies in North America, their interactions with Native Americans, and the beginnings of resistance to British control. Key concepts and themes include:
- Different European powers (British, Spanish, French, Dutch) had distinct goals and methods of colonization shaped by their cultures, imperial objectives, and the environments they encountered.
- The Spanish primarily sought precious metals and controlled large territories using systems like encomienda, relying on Native American labor.
- The French and Dutch focused on trade alliances with Native Americans and had less direct control.
- The British established diverse colonies with varying economic bases—New England colonies focused on farming communities with religious motives while Southern colonies developed cash-crop economies reliant on slavery.
- Over time, British colonies developed stronger cultural and economic ties to Great Britain but also began to resist British imperial policies, especially as enforcement of trade regulations increased.
- Movements like the First Great Awakening contributed to shared colonial identity and resistance.
- The period culminates in increasing tensions that lead to the French and Indian War.
This unit represents about 10% of the APUSH course content. It is important to understand colonization motives, regional differences among colonies, the role of trans-Atlantic trade and slavery, Native American-European relationships, and early forms of colonial resistance to British control.
If a concise review is needed, there are also video reviews and detailed guides available covering these topics thoroughly with comparisons of empires, colonial societies, and key events up to 1754.
