New York State US History Regents Review Sheet.

Use this page's links for an online review packet and study guide.

REVIEW HISTORY ALL YEAR LONG WITH MR. KLAFF'S FLASHCARDS!

 

***2024 Update -  A new No Bull Review for the Framework Regents is now available***

Framework Test Links: US Regents Explained, and Civic Literacy Essay

Continuity and Change Examples

Compare and Contrast Examples

Causes and Effects Examples

Turning Points Examples 

All Regents Released ... Old Exam All Regents

 

Mr. Klaff's top 30 multiple choice predictions (old test) and what the answer usually is  ...

1. If you see: House of Burgesses, Mayflower Compact, Zenger Trial...

Answer: "early forms of democracy" or early "republics."

2. If you see: John Marshall ...

Answer: Either he expanded the power of the federal government, or Judicial Review. Marbury v. Madison = Judicial Review.

3. Why did Immigrants and African Americans move to cities? That's where the jobs were!

4. If you see: Nativism = anti-foreign sentiment. The creation of quota systems regarding immigration is important to know. These acts favored western Europeans who spoke English, NOT Eastern Europeans. A question on the Chinese Exclusion Act or the Sacco-Vanzetti case could also have nativism as an answer.

5. Federalism = Division of Powers between the Federal Government and the States!!! See Chart Below.                           

6. Don't confuse federalism with Checks and Balances!!! C and B is checking the three Branches (Legislative, Executive, Judicial) of Government! Ex. Veto, judicial review, impeachment. National Gov, checks itself -- has nothing to do with states in terms of the Regents Exam. See Chart Below.                                     

7. If you see: George Washington ...

Answer: is most likely "neutrality/isolationism/noninvolvement"

8. Why did we have a weak Articles of Confederation?

Answer: fear of a strong government, or power to the states was preferred.

9. If you see: Domino Theory (for Asia), Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Korean War, NATO ...

Answer: CONTAINMENT DURING COLD WAR!

10. WWII = Know the Lend-Lease Act, plus Cash and Carry. Answer should be: a move away from isolationism -- becoming less neutral. Pearl Harbor and D-Day occasionally come up. D-Day will usually have an answer about opening up a new front in Europe during the war.

11. If you see: Why didn't we ratify the Treaty of Versailles? = Neutrality. We did not want to join the international League of Nations!

 

 

 

12. If you see: Unwritten Constitution = These are things that we do which aren't printed in the Constitution such as political parties, cabinet, judicial review, and nominating conventions.

13. We got involved in WWI because of "the Boat, and the Note." (Lusitania, and Zimmermann Telegram).  The Boat for the Spanish-American War was the Maine.

14. Trust or Monopoly ... makes the rich get richer. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act tried to bust them! If you see Unions (or AFL, Sherman Anti-Trust, or Arbitration) ... Answer is something like "to help the small guy and consumer out."

15. To repeal an amendment ... must ratify (approve) another amendment (like the 18th and 21st for prohibition.) Speaking of ratifying ... think Federalist Papers were for ratification of the Constitution.

16. Manifest Destiny = led to the question -- should these states be slave or free??? Manifest Destiny also settles the Frontier ... Know the Homestead Act, and if you see Transcontinental Railroad, the answer is usually about increased trade, and settlement.

16a. Also, know Presidential (lenient) vs. Radical (harsh on South/for Black rights) Reconstruction. Sharecropping occurred during Home Rule, as did literacy tests.

17. If you see:  John Hay -- think "Hay look ... it's China!" The answer is always about trade in Asia for Open Door Policy. Just open the door and say "Haaaay!"

Note: Questions 1-3 usually have something to do with geography. Most notably: Mississippi River led to trade and navigation, New England had trade, the South was agricultural, and the Great Plains were flat. New Orleans was a port for trade.

18. If you see:  How did the US respond to massive immigration? The QUOTA SYSTEM is usually the answer. Specifically, know the National-Origins Act

18a. Anti-communism WWI = Red Scare and Palmer Raids ... Anti-communism post-WWII = McCarthyism

19. Did you know that the Supreme Court did not support FDR? That's usually a cartoon question. He tried to pack the court with allies. But he never did it in the end.

 

 

 

20. If you see: Jacob Riis, Upton Sinclair, Ida Tarbell = They are writers known as Muckrakers...the answer should be about cleaning up and regulating big business to protect the people.

21. If you see: The Great Society...The answer should be about the government helping the poor. Similarly, The New Deal of FDR looked to create jobs (public works) and help people socially and economically.

22. Ronald Reagan cut taxes for the rich with "Reaganomics."

23. Lobbying is when special interest groups try to get Congress to vote a certain way. They hang out in the lobby and try to convince them.

24. If you see: Initiative, Referendum, or Recall...The answer will be about expanding democracy during the Progressive Era.

25. If you see: The Great Compromise or 3/5 Compromise ...the answer should be about representation, or the population determining representation in the House.

26. If you see: Cesar Chavez...Think "Caesar Salad" -- he fought for the rights of farmers. Another name to know is Rachel Carson. Her book Silent Spring helped start the environmental movement. Spring=Nature.

27. If you see: Seneca Falls = It's a women's conference. Women love to go to the Falls, it's romantic.

28. Langston Hughes starts with an H. So does Harlem Renaissance. If there's an African American culture movement question, Hughes can be the answer.

29. If you see: Miranda v. Arizona, Gideon v. Wainwright - These cases expanded the rights to the accused!

30. Not in your textbook if it's old. After 9/11, the US created the Department of Homeland Security to protect American citizens. Also, know the Patriot Act.

I know this may sound weird, but I have never seen the same choice 4 times in a row. So if you see 4 C's in a row, double check it. Three in a row comes up often, but 4 -- not yet. But, they can change that, be on your toes.

 

COURT CASES - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

 

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NEW!!! US Review in 18 Minutes! Brace yourself.

 

NEW: MR. KLAFF LECTURE PLAYLIST

 

 

 

  US Regents Review Song!!!!!

 

NEW:US History Multiple Choice

 

 

 

Ways to Memorize Amendments and Bill of Rights

   

Most Important Amendments to Know:

1. SPEECH, PRESS, ASSEMBLY, ETC. Court Cases related include: Schenck, Feiner, Tinker, and Engel.

4. Search and Seizure = Court Cases related include: Mapp, T.L.O.

5. DUE PROCESS - Court Cases related include: Miranda

6. ATTORNEY - Court Cases related include: Gideon

10. RESERVED POWERS FOR FEDERALISM

13, 14, 15 = RECONSTRUCTION AMENDMENTS. 14 -- Court Cases related include: Equality in Plessy, Brown, and Korematsu.

16, 17, 18, 19 = PROGRESSIVE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE INSPIRED BY POPULISM. Remember ... Populism's Omaha Platform ... STAR 16 (Senators, Tax, Australian Ballot, RR control, 16:1 Ratio of Silver to Gold)

16 = (Six has an X, so does Income Tax)

17 = Seeeeventeen, Seeeenators

18. = Prohibition -- 18 used to be the drinking age. Now it's 21. The 21st Amendment repealed the 18th!

19 = WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE

22 = TWO TERM LIMIT (two 2's in 22)

 

Framework Test Links: US Regents Explained, and Civic Literacy Essay

 

Charts for Federalism and Checks and Balances

 

Checks and Balances Song

 

            

 

Government in 14! WOW!

 

 

REGENTS MOST USED PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS, AND WHAT THE ANSWER USUALLY IS...

TR = Square Deal ... help the consumer and average citizen.

FDR = New Deal ... Gov. helped the people directly with jobs and reformed banking and stock trading.

Truman = Fair Deal (came up like once) - carried out the New Deal programs after FDR. Remember: "Tru" was "Fair"

Johnson = The Great Society = Help the Poor and Educate through government spending.

 

Framework Test Links: Short-Essay, and Civic Literacy Essay

BIGGEST TIP I COULD POSSIBLY GIVE YOU: ON ALL ESSAYS -- IT'S QUALITY AND QUANTITY ... IF YOU ARE SKIMPY ON HISTORY, THEY WILL BE SKIMPY ON YOUR ESSAY GRADE. WRITING IS THE BULK OF THIS TEST!!!!!!!!

NEW: US History Multiple Choice

 

 

 

Detailed Review Sheet

KEY TERMS  

Indentured Servitude, Chesakpeake Bay Bacon's Rebellion,  , New England Town Meetings, Anne Hutchinson, . Zenger Trial, Mayflower Compact Separatists and City Upon a Hill Salutary Neglect, Metacom, Middle Passage, Stono Rebellion House of Burgesses Great Awakening I,, Halfway Covenant, , . Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Albany Plan of Union, Battle of Quebec, French and Indian War Mercantilism, Proclamation of 1763, Stamp Act ,  Townshend Acts, Boston Massacre, Committees of Correspondence, Tea Party, Intolerable Acts, Common Sense, Continental Congress, Olive Branch Declaration of Independence,   Saratoga, Valley Forge, Yorktown, Republican Motherhood, Articles of Confederation land Ordinances,   Shays’ Rebellion,  Philadelphia Convention, Federalists and Anti Federalists, Federalist Papers, Federalist #10 Great Compromise3/5 Compromise,   Commercial Compromise Delegated Powers,  Federalism, Elastic Clause/Implied Powers, Bill of Rights, Whiskey RebellionJay and Pinckney Treaties, Neutrality,   XYZ Affair,  Alien and Sedition Acts,

 

 

 

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, John Marshall and Judicial Review, Louisiana PurchaseLewis and Clark, Embargo Act, The Chesapeake, Hartford Convention American System Monroe DoctrineCorrupt Bargain,  Sectionalism, Spoils System,  Caucus and Nominating Conventions Jacksonian Democracy and Alexis de Tocqueville , Tariff of Abominations, John C. Calhoun,  South Carolina Exposition and Protest Ordinance of Nullification Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears Great Awakening II Transcendentalism Unitarians,  Mormons, Seneca Falls Convention,  Temperance, Hudson River School Brook Farm,  Abolition Missouri Compromise Manifest Destiny, The Alamo, Wilmot Proviso Compromise of 1850 Kansas-Nebraska Act Bleeding Kansas, Lecompton Constitution Republican Party Dred Scott Case,   Lincoln-Douglas Debates, John Brown,   Election of 1860 Secession, Fort Sumter, Anaconda Plan, Emancipation Proclamation Civil War Draft Homestead Act Impeachment of Johnson Freedmen’s Bureau,   Black Codes,   Reconstruction Act of 1867 Carpetbagger Literacy tests KKK, Jim Crow Sharecropping, Home Rule New South Nativism Transcontinental Railroad,  Robber Barons and Trusts, Social Darwinism and Edward Bellamy Gospel of Wealth Knights of Labor, AFL, IWW Pendleton Act Railroad Strike of 1877, Pullman Strike  Haymarket Affair Sherman Anti-Trust Act Granger Movement, Little Bighorn, Dawes Act Wounded Knee Roosevelt Corollary Big Stick Diplomacy, and Panama Canal,  Teller and Platt Amendments, . Open Door Policy / John Hay, Populism, Cross of Gold Speech Conservation, Ballinger-Pinchot, John Muir, Triangle Fire, Settlement Houses, Muckrakers, Election of 1912, Clayton Antitrust Act, Underwood Tariff FTC Lusitania, Zimmermann Note,  Red Scare Lost Generation Flapper, Sacco and Vanzetti, . Mother's pensions, Great Migration,   Harlem Renaissance Teapot Dome Scopes Trial Dust Bowl,

 Bonus Army Reconstruction Finance Corporation and Smoot-Hawley Tariff, Fireside Chats,  Relief Recovery Reform, John Maynard Keynes, Bank Holiday, AAA, FDIC, SEC, CCC, WPA, PWA, TVA, , NIRA and NRA, Social Security, Court Pack, Huey Long,  Lend Lease Act, Pearl Harbor, D-Day Yalta Conference, Japanese Internment, Island Hopping and Atomic Bomb, War Bonds and Taxes to beat the Axis!, Taft-Hartley, Beatniks, Rosiethe Riveter, G.I. Bill, Atlantic Charter and United Nations, Nuremberg Trials, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Truman Doctrine, Containment, Marshall Plan, U2, Sputnik, Rosenbergs, McCarthyism, Berlin Airlift, NATO and Warsaw Pact, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Cuban Missile Crisis Star Wars, Gulf of Tonkin, Tet Offensive,  Domino Theory, Military-Industrial Complex Hippies, Détente  Nixon Doctrine, Nixon and ping pong diplomacy, Little Rock 9 , Civil Rights Act of 1964, George Wallace, Great Society, Watergate, War Powers Act, Camp David Accords, staglfation, Reaganomics   Iran Hostage Crisis, Equal Rights Amendment, César Chávez, Silent Spring , NAFTA  HamiltonHamiltonHamiltonHamiltonHamiltonHamiltonHamiltonHamilton

 

This video is great if you need it for APUSH or US Regents review.

 

Continuity and Change Examples

Compare and Contrast Examples

Causes and Effects Examples

Turning Points Examples 

 

 

 

LINKS TO LATEST EDITIONS OF NO BULL REVIEW ...

AP US History                                 AP World History                      

 

Global 2 Regents                                        US History Regents

 

AP Gov                                                            500 Global Questions

 

 

Mr. Klaff's  Time Travel Book for Middle School Readers!

 

 

 

 

Toiletrivia: Bathroom Trivia Books in Print and Kindle

 

 

 

MAJOR CONCEPTS

What were the major events of the American Revolution? Also know the French and Indian War.

What role did religion play in the colonies?

The Pilgrims were separatists, Puritans are non-separatists. The way you remember this is: on Thanksgiving (Pilgrims) you separate your turkey from your stuffing and cranberry sauce. Separatists disassociated themselves from the King of England who was the head of the Church of England.

 

What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

What were the major Compromises of the Constitution?

Why did America want Independence? What did the Declaration of Independence actually say?

How do the branches of government check one another?

What was Washington’s stance on foreign policy?

How are the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions related to secession plots during Jackson's Presidency?

What were the major causes of the War of 1812? Results?

What were the major issues under "Jacksonian Democracy." Hint: Tariff, Bank, Nominating Conventions, Spoils System, Trail of Tears, Specie Circular, Ordinance of Nullification, Force Bill. (Perhaps that was more than a hint.)

How did America expand during manifest destiny?

What were the causes of the Civil War? What part did slavery play in it? Know your compromises! (see below)

You may want to know about certain ... important ... Civil War ... Battles, and facts.

How did the United States deal with Native Americans from colonial days to the Gilded Age?

How did women affect social movements?

Westward Expansion -- Know the, Homestead Act, and the plight of Native Americans during westward expansion.

What were the strength and weaknesses of Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction? What happened in its aftermath?

What happened during the Gilded Age concerning "Robber Barons" and industrialization?

What were some of the cultural innovations of the Roaring 20s? Sports, Music, etc.

Why did immigrants move towards cities? How did the cities emerge?

How did Populists influence the Progressives?

What were the Progressive Reforms?

How did American foreign policy change c1898? One answer is this, which resulted in this.

All of the Progressive Reformers you need to know.

What was the controversy over the Treaty of Versailles Ratification?

Rachel Carlson's Silent Spring comes up all the time. It's a book about environmentalism.

Why was it called the Roaring 20s?

What were the causes of the Great Depression, and the solutions implicated by the New Deal (RRR)?

How did we stay neutral before WWII? How was WWII a Glorious War?

What were the major clashes of the Cold War?

How did different generations of Americans clash during the 60s and 70s?

How did segregation come to an end? What impact did the Warren Court have? Know all about the Civil Rights Leaders of all Eras, and the importance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

What's the deal with Federalist #10?

How has the US been involved in the global economy?

Don't get confused: W.E.B. Du Bois wanted absolute equality...Booker T. Washington wanted gradual gains. Remember: W.E.B. = Wants Equality for Blacks...Booker T., for Tuskegee Institute.

 

     

Know your Court Cases!!!!!

          

Marbury v. Madison = Judicial Review

McCulloch v. Maryland = Federal Supremacy, and the right to charter a bank. "The Power to Tax is the Power to Destroy!" Here's a list of other important John Marshall decisions.

Worcester v. Georgia = The Supreme Court ruled that Georgia could not pass legislation regarding Cherokee lands.

Dred Scott v Sandford = Roger B. Taney says that slaves are property and can not sue in court. The Missouri Compromise is reversed.

Muller v. Oregon = Limits hours women can work.

Adkins v. Children's Hospital = refutes Muller decision.

Schenck v. US = "Clear and Present Danger" Can't shout "FIRE!!!!" in a crowded theater (limits free speech).

Schecter v. US - Declares the NIRA Unconstitutional

US v. Butler - Declares AAA Unconstitutional

Insular Cases

Slaughterhouse Cases

Korematsu v. US = Japanese Internment is Constitutional as Executive Order 9066 states that in times of War, rights can be limited.

Plessy v. Ferguson = Justifies Jim Crow laws, and "separate but equal."

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka KS........ Ends segregation in schools.

Roe v. Wade = legalizes abortion, but not in all cases.

Dennis v. US - Due process limited because of a fear of Communism. Similar to "clear and present danger" mentioned above.

Miranda v. Arizona, Gideon v. Wainwright, Mapp v. Ohio = rights of the accused.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke – Race can be considered in the university admissions process, but distinct racial quotas are illegal.   

NY Times v. US, 1971 – Publication of the Pentagon Papers was protected by freedom of the press.

United States v. Nixon, 1974 - President Richard Nixon was not protected by executive privilege, and had to hand over tape-recordings. Nixon remains the only President to resign the office.

Cases involving a school: Tinker v. Des Moines, New Jersey v. T.L.O., Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, Engel v. Vitale

 

 

TIMELINE OF MAJOR DATES!!!

 

 

COMPROMISES

Constitutional = The Great Compromise (Virginia (bicameral on population) vs. NJ Plan (equal representation), 3/5 Compromise, and Commercial Compromise.

Civil War: Missouri Comp, Comp of 1850, K-N Act (KNOW THESE PROVISIONS WELL)

1820 - Missouri is a slave state, no slavery north of 36'30, Maine is a free state. -- Henry Clay.

1850 - Fugitive Slave Law, No Slave Trade in DC, former Mexican Territory now Utah and New Mexico has Popular Sovereignty, California is Free, Texas gave up western land and received $10 Million to pay off its national debt. -- Authored by Henry Clay

1854 - Kansas Nebraska Act = Popular Sovereignty. This of course led to Bleeding Kansas, then the Lecompton Constitution. -- Authored by Stephen Douglas

Political Parties

Recent Presidents:

 

Johnson

Nixon

Ford

Carter

Reagan

H.W. Bush

Clinton

W. Bush

Obama

Trump

 

 

Presidential Slogans ...

TR (Rep) = A Square Deal for Americans! Support consumers over trusts.

Woodrow Wilson (Dem) = New Freedom (defeats TR's New Nationalism) and trustbusts with even more tenacity!

Warren G. Harding (Rep) = Return to Normalcy post WWII

FDR (Dem) = The New Deal - Public Works, and Government Economic influence

Truman (Dem) = A Fair Deal - social improvement, and healthcare.

Eisenhower (Rep) = Dynamic Conservatism. The 1950s = A conservative time, economically (Gov supports Big Business), politically (McCarthyism), and socially (Women at home, Leave it to Beaver). Eisenhower also signed the Interstate Highway Act to connect the country together with roads.

JFK (Dem) = The New Frontier, liberal problem solving for poverty, racial prejudice, and international aid.

LBJ (Dem) = The Great Society - Money to the poor, education, and an end to discrimination.

Bill Clinton = Know all about NATO troops, and obstruction of justice.

If Betty Friedan comes up on the test -- it's 1960s-1970s Feminism. I know this is a random thing, but she often comes up on the test.

Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring started the environmental movement.

 

HAMILTON VS JEFFERSON MNEMONIC DEVICE ...  SAFE PLANES

Jefferson favors State rights and a Strict Interpretation of the Constitution, Agriculture, favors France, the Educated Commoner  SAFE

Hamilton = Favors the Propertied or Wealthy, Loose Interpretation of the Constitution, an Army, National Bank, favors England, and Strong Government PLANES

 

ODDS ARE MOST OF THE FOLLOWING WILL NOT BE ON THE REGENTS ... BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET 100% ... YOU BETTER BE SAFE! (See video next to chart)

 

 

 

 

The Presidents Song, by The Social Studs

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The Causes of the Civil War Music Video, by the Social Studs

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Checks and Balances Song

 

Just for fun ... CAPITALS OF THE STATES! By the Social Studs

 

Listen on Apple Music

 

US Regents Review Song!!!!!!

NEW: US History Multiple Choice

 

 

 

LINKS TO LATEST EDITIONS OF NO BULL REVIEW ...

AP US History                                 AP World History                      

 

Global 2 Regents                                        US History Regents

 

AP Gov                                                            500 Global Questions

 

 

Toiletrivia: Bathroom Trivia Books in Print and Kindle

 

 

 

 

Mr. Klaff's  Time Travel Book for Middle School Readers!