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AP US History Book Review Assignment

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AP® US History​

The Best AP® US History Review Guide for 2024

This post has the best AP® US History review guide for 2020’s online AP® exams. In this post, you’ll get answers to your questions about the revised format, different test taking strategies for APUSH in an online open-book format, and a list of hand-picked practice FRQs for you to study with to help you earn a 5.

AP® US History FAQ: Everything You Need to Know for 2024

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One Month AP® US History Study Guide

So your AP® US History exam is coming. Even if you’ve studied your coursework carefully, the exam may still be pretty scary. But we’re here to help. Whether you’re just looking for a refresher to boost your confidence or need some intensive review to get up to speed, this AP® study guide can help set up the course work into an intense but manageable study plan.

Is AP® US History Hard?

“Is AP® US History Hard?” We’re just going to be honest and upfront here. The answer is yes. APUSH difficulty ranks up there as one of the hardest AP® courses and exams. But don’t let this information turn you off from taking the course or exam.

How to Study for AP® US History

The AP® US History exam can seem pretty overwhelming! There’s a lot of material to go through and master, and it can be hard to make a plan to study the APUSH exam. Fortunately, there’s help available, and you can make a smart, flexible, and successful study plan to review what you need to know, fill in any gaps in your knowledge, and be ready to succeed and get a good score on test day.

The Ultimate Study Guide to AP® US History

Studying for AP® US History is stressful. From remembering patterns of colonization to understanding the impact of the end of the Cold War, AP® US History is one of the most dynamic AP® subjects the College Board offers, with the latest revision occurring this past Fall (2015). Albert.io provides hundreds of AP® US History practice questions to help you prepare smarter for the APUSH test.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the best ap us history books: full expert reviews.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Need some help studying for AP US History? Look no further. In this post, we cover the best AP US History books, from textbooks to prep books and even study tools such as flashcards and websites. Read on to get the best help you can get for studying for the AP US History exam.

Best AP US History Textbook: The American Pageant, 17th Edition

Amazon Price: About $135 for hardcover , $70 for eTextbook

As we covered in our review of the best AP US History textbooks , The American Pageant is far and away the most popular APUSH textbook. Not only does it include all the material you must know for the AP US History exam, but it also has lots of helpful tools , including timelines at the end of chapters to help you get down dates and primary sources to help you prepare for the Document-Based Question (DBQ) .

What's more, The American Pageant reads more like a novel than it does a textbook , so many students find it more engaging than your usual US history class readings. (That said, if you want a more straightforward textbook, check out our textbook review post and also keep reading for our thoughts on APUSH prep books.)

To take a brief example, this is what The American Pageant section introducing Christopher Columbus reads like:

"Onto this stage stepped Christopher Columbus. This skilled Italian seafarer persuaded the Spanish monarchs to outfit him with three tiny but seaworthy ships, manned by a motley crew. Daringly, he unfurled the sails of his cockleshell craft and headed westward. His superstitious sailors, fearful of venturing in the oceanic unknown, grew increasingly mutinous. After six weeks at sea, failure loomed when, on October 12, 1492, the crew sighted an island in the Bahamas. A new world thus swam within the vision of Europeans."

This definitely sounds like a novel!

In comparison, here's a more straightforward textbook introduction of Columbus (from the APUSH textbook Making America ):

"Eager to capitalize on the new technology and knowledge, Christopher Columbus, an ambitious sailor from the Italian port city of Genoa, approached John II of Portugal in 1484 and asked him to support a voyage westward from Portugal, to the East Indies. The king refused when his geographers warned that Columbus had underestimated the distance. Undeterred, Columbus peddled his idea to various European governments over the next several years but found no one willing to take the risk. Finally, in 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella's defeat of the Moors provided Columbus with an opportunity."

Pageant is also a favorite of many teachers of the AP US History class (the textbook is mentioned on tons of blogs and reviews from AP US History teachers). So if you're without a textbook for AP US History, you're a teacher shopping around for materials with which to teach your class, or you just want some extra study material, this is the best APUSH textbook to get .

You can rent the latest edition of Pageant for around $55 on Amazon. But here's another tip: you can usually buy used older editions for a lot less . Since this book doesn't change dramatically between editions, buying a used older edition of it is a great way to get a super cheap and useful textbook for your AP US History studies.

Best AP US History Review Book: Cracking the AP US History Exam, 2022 Premium Edition

Amazon Price: About $18 for paperback

If you're looking for a book to help you thoroughly review for the APUSH test, Cracking the AP US History Exam is your best bet. (Note that a prep book does NOT replace a textbook you would use during the school year—it's a big-picture overview, not a teacher!)

This book has clean, concise, readable summaries of key AP US history points and events to help jog your memory and review what you need to know for the exam. The summaries are quick and to-the-point, so you don't have to slog through tons of pages. This book also contains end-of-chapter review questions to help you retain information as you move through it.

Not only does Cracking the AP US History Exam cover all the historical information for the APUSH exam, but it also spends ample time explaining the exam essays, including the tricky Document-Based Question. So basically, the book preps you for the AP US History exam's material and helps you get ready for the exam itself .

The 2022 premium edition of the book also includes six full practice tests , which tend to be more challenging than the actual AP test. But this is good since it means you'll get the best AP practice possible. (Some prep books have the opposite problem in that their practice tests are too easy, causing you to take the real test somewhat unprepared.)

In addition, Cracking the AP US History Exam offers many helpful strategies for tackling multiple-choice questions and clearly explains how many raw points you should aim for to pass the test (get at least a 3) or ace it (get a 5) , depending on your goal. This info is extremely useful in helping you develop a strategy for the AP US History exam.

Finally, the book provides you with access to the online AP Student Tools portal for more practice, study plans, and up-to-the-minute information about the test.

Perhaps the only major downside (if you consider it one) is that The Princeton Review's angle is to paint the AP US History test as a bogeyman , with the tone coming off a bit snarky. (I personally like Princeton Review books for this reason, but I know others might prefer materials that are less biased against the test.)

Other AP US History Book Mini-Reviews

If you're not a big fan of The Princeton Review's angle or if you just want another prep book, here's a brief overview of some other quality APUSH books on the market and their pros and cons. Based on your study needs, you can pick out the best prep book (or books!) for you .

Kaplan's AP US History Prep Plus 2020 & 2021

Amazon Price: About $19 for paperback

Kaplan's latest AP US History book gives you tons of practice, thanks to the three full practice tests it includes. The practice tests reflect the recent AP US History redesign, unlike some past popular favorites, which had been criticized for not accurately updating their practice tests (for example, the books 5 Steps to a 5 and Crash Course ).

However, some students worry that many of Kaplan's APUSH practice tests are too easy , with direct questions about the date of events, or DBQs focused mainly on cartoons/images rather than written sources. In addition, the book lacks answer explanations to the multiple-choice questions in the practice tests, making it difficult to determine where you went wrong.

Verdict: This is a great book for extra exam practice, but it's not the best source for a clean and accurate US history summary. While this shouldn't be your main AP US History review book, you can definitely use it as a supplementary resource in your prep.

AP US History Crash Course, 4th Edition

Amazon Price: About $14 for paperback

AP US History Crash Course is the fastest read in terms of APUSH books, so it's probably the best choice if you're in a pinch ! Crash Course is known for being very clear and concise.

The drawback here is that there's only one full practice test (that's online) , meaning both The Princeton Review and Kaplan give you better bang for your buck in terms of test practice.

Verdict: This is a great book for a quick review of AP US History topics and strategies, but it's not a great book if you want lots of practice. If you have a teacher who gives tons of practice exams and all you need is a brief review of the material on the APUSH test, this will probably work for you. 

AMSCO's United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination, 4th Edition

Amazon Price: About $31 for paperback

AMSCO's AP US History book has decent reviews and well-written chapter tests that are similar to the actual AP test; however, it only comes with one full practice test at the end of the book, so it might not be the best deal out there.

The biggest drawback is that for some reason the student edition of this AP US History book doesn't automatically come with an answer key . It's also apparently hard to order an answer key for the practice questions. Only teachers can order the answer keys, so if you want them you will have to find a way to ship them to your school.

Verdict: Since practice tests are only useful tools when you can review the answers, unless you want to go out of your way to order this book and the answer key, we suggest one of the other prep books on this list to save yourself the trouble.

Barron's AP United States History Premium, 5th Edition

Amazon Price: About $15 for paperback , $14 for Kindle

Think of Barron's as the jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none: it has a decent summary of the AP US History test and five full-length practice tests (two in the book, three online); that said, it's not as snappy and readable as The Princeton Review and it's not as concise as Crash Course .

This might be your best bet if you want a second prep book or if you're looking for access to lots of AP practice tests, but it probably shouldn't be your first choice.

Verdict: You should buy a prep book with a clear goal in mind: either for all-around review and practice (Princeton Review), fast and efficient AP review ( Crash Course ), or tons of practice tests (Barron's).

Best Free Study Tool: Online AP US History Quizzes

Just looking for multiple-choice practice and lots of it? Our AP US History exam guide offers a compilation of the best AP US History quizzes , gathered from textbooks' websites and other free resources. Altogether, we've found hundreds of quizzes you can take to learn more about each major era of US History.

This is a great way to review parts of US History you don't remember that well or to get an overall review for the AP US History Test.

The drawback here is that these questions are not AP multiple choice ; they are multiple-choice questions from various textbooks and websites, so the style is somewhat different.

In addition, many of these quizzes are focused on just one era of US history, so you don't get the wide range of questions you'll see on the actual AP exam . Still, these quizzes will help you master specific eras of US history for the actual AP test. I highly recommend checking them out!

Best Study Tool to Buy: Barron's AP United States History Flash Cards, 3rd Edition

Amazon Price: About $24

Barron's AP US History flash card set is a great way to review key facts, dates, and figures for the AP exam. Flash cards are an excellent learning tool, and these will save you the hours it would take you to make your own .

This set gives you 500 cards that quiz you on everything, from the exploration period to present day. These cards are divided into seven general categories:

• Arts and Sciences
• Domestic Policies
• Presidential Matters
• Wars and Foreign Relations
• Economy and Business
• Legal Issues
• Society and Culture

All cards are numbered and labeled, so you can quiz yourself by time period or category , which will help you focus your studying. They even come with a metal ring so you can choose which cards to take with you and study. These are a great choice if you want to be able to study on the go!

The only downside is that there's quite a bit of information on each card , so some people might find that they're more like informational cards than they are true flash cards.

Best Study Website: AP Study Notes

AP Study Notes has detailed notes on every era of US history, taken from The American Pageant— and it's completely free! This is a great resource if you want to brush up on a particular era of US history before the AP test in May.

Our blog can also help you prepare for any in-class AP US History tests. You can get a detailed breakdown of each era in our AP US History study notes article.

Bottom Line: How to Study for the AP US History Test

There are lots of potential resources you can use to study for the AP US History exam, including textbooks, prep books, flash cards, websites, and more.

Don't feel as though you have to use them all to get a high score, though. On the contrary, you should find a resource or two you find particularly helpful and use it consistently. As long as you pace yourself and give yourself plenty of time to study and practice, you'll be more than prepared when you sit for the AP US History exam in May!

What's Next?

Get more information about the AP program— what the hardest and easiest classes are, when the exams are this year, and whether taking AP classes is worth it .

Learn about checks and balances in the US government , the executive branch's checks on the judicial branch , the Platt Amendment , and lighthouse keeper Ida Lewis with our expert breakdowns.

Also studying for the SAT/ACT? Learn the best time in your high school career to take the SAT / ACT for the first time , and get tips on how long you should study for the SAT / ACT .

Want to relax with some off-the-beaten-APUSH-path history explorations? We'll teach you about the invention of the 3-hole punch , the history of hip hop , and the twists and turns of the Loomis Fargo heist .

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Halle Edwards graduated from Stanford University with honors. In high school, she earned 99th percentile ACT scores as well as 99th percentile scores on SAT subject tests. She also took nine AP classes, earning a perfect score of 5 on seven AP tests. As a graduate of a large public high school who tackled the college admission process largely on her own, she is passionate about helping high school students from different backgrounds get the knowledge they need to be successful in the college admissions process.

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Advanced Placement U.S. History Lessons

The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton December 26, 1776 by John Trumbull.

Wikimedia Commons

EDSITEment brings online humanities resources directly to the classroom through exemplary lesson plans and student activities. EDSITEment develops AP level lessons based on primary source documents that cover the most frequently taught topics and themes in American history. Many of these lessons were developed by teachers and scholars associated with the City University of New York and Ashland University.

Guiding Questions

What does it mean to form "a more perfect union"?

What makes American democracy unique?

What is the proper role of government in relation to the economy and civil liberties?

To what extent is the U.S. Constitution a living document?

To what extent have civil rights been established for all in the United States?

How have technology and innovation influenced culture, politics, and economics in U.S. history?

What role should the United States government and its citizens play in the world?

Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution —Magna Carta served to lay the foundation for the evolution of parliamentary government and subsequent declarations of rights in Great Britain and the United States. In attempting to establish checks on the king's powers, this document asserted the right of "due process" of law.  

Images of the New World —How did the English picture the native peoples of America during the early phases of colonization of North America? This lesson plan enables students to interact with written and visual accounts of this critical formative period at the end of the 16th century, when the English view of the New World was being formulated, with consequences that we are still seeing today.

Mission Nuestra Señora de la Concepción and the Spanish Mission in the New World —In this Picturing America lesson, students explore the historical origins and organization of Spanish missions in the New World and discover the varied purposes these communities of faith served. Focusing on the daily life of Mission Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, the lesson asks students to relate the people of this community and their daily activities to the art and architecture of the mission.

Colonizing the Bay —This lesson focuses on John Winthrop’s historic "Model of Christian Charity" sermon which is often referred to by its "City on a Hill" metaphor. Through a close reading of this admittedly difficult text, students will learn how it illuminates the beliefs, goals, and programs of the Puritans. The sermon sought to inspire and to motivate the Puritans by pointing out the distance they had to travel between an ideal community and their real-world situation.

Mapping Colonial New England: Looking at the Landscape of New England —The lesson focuses on two 17th century maps of the Massachusetts Bay Colony to trace how the Puritans took possession of the region, built towns, and established families on the land. Students learn how these New England settlers interacted with the Native Americans, and how to gain information about those relationships from primary sources such as maps.

William Penn’s Peaceable Kingdom —By juxtaposing the different promotional tracts of William Penn and David Pastorius, students understand the ethnic diversity of Pennsylvania along with the "pull” factors of migration in the 17th century English colonies.

Understanding the Salem Witch Trials —In 1691, a group of girls from Salem, Massachusetts accused an Indian slave named Tituba of witchcraft, igniting a hunt for witches that left 19 men and women hanged, one man pressed to death, and over 150 more people in prison awaiting a trial. In this lesson, students explore the characteristics of the Puritan community in Salem, learn about the Salem Witchcraft Trials, and try to understand how and why this event occurred.

Religion in 18th-Century America —This curriculum unit, through the use of primary documents, introduces students to the First Great Awakening, as well as to the ways in which religious-based arguments were used both in support of and against the American Revolution.

• Lesson 1: The First Great Awakening
• Lesson 2: Religion and the Argument for American Independence
• Lesson 3: Religion and the Fight for American Independence

C ommon Sense : The Rhetoric of Popular Democracy —This lesson looks at Tom Paine and at some of the ideas presented in Common Sense , such as national unity, natural rights, the illegitimacy of the monarchy and of hereditary aristocracy, and the necessity for independence and the revolutionary struggle.

"An Expression of the American Mind”: Understanding the Declaration of Independence —This lesson plan looks at the major ideas in the Declaration of Independence, their origins, the Americans’ key grievances against the King and Parliament, their assertion of sovereignty, and the Declaration’s process of revision. Upon completion of the lesson, students will be familiar with the document’s origins, and the influences that produced Jefferson’s "expression of the American mind.”

The American War for Independence —The decision of Britain's North American colonies to rebel against the Mother Country was an extremely risky one. In this unit, consisting of three lesson plans, students learn about the diplomatic and military aspects of the American War for Independence.

• Lesson 1: The War in the North, 1775–1778
• Lesson 2: The War in the South, 1778–1781
• Lesson 3: Ending the War, 1783

Choosing Sides: The Native Americans' Role in the American Revolution —Native American groups had to choose the loyalist or patriot cause—or somehow maintain a neutral stance during the Revolutionary War. Students analyze maps, treaties, congressional records, first-hand accounts, and correspondence to determine the different roles assumed by Native Americans in the American Revolution and understand why the various groups formed the alliances they did.

What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader? —What combination of experience, strategy, and personal characteristics enabled Washington to succeed as a military leader? In this unit, students read the Continental Congress's resolutions granting powers to General Washington, and analyze some of Washington's wartime orders, dispatches, and correspondence in terms of his mission and the characteristics of a good general.

• Lesson 1: What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader? What Are the Qualities of a Good Military Leader?
• Lesson 2: What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader? Powers and Problems
• Lesson 3: What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader? Leadership in Victory and Defeat
• Lesson 4: What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader? Leadership in Victory: One Last Measure of the Man

Slavery and the American Founding: The "Inconsistency not to be excused ” —This lesson focuses on the views of the founders as expressed in primary documents from their own time and in their own words. Students see that many of the major founders opposed slavery as contrary to the principles of the American Revolution. Students gain a better understanding of the views of many founders, even those who owned slaves – including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson – who looked forward to a time when slavery would no longer mar the American Republic.

Taking Up Arms and the Challenge of Slavery in the Revolutionary Era —Was the American Revolution inevitable? This lesson is designed to help students understand the transition to armed resistance and the contradiction in the Americans’ rhetoric about slavery through the examination of a series of documents.

Slavery in the Colonial North —This Closer Reading composed by Historic Hudson Valley in New York provides resources and an overview of how their historic site tells the story of the 23 enslaved Africans who were the only full-time, year round residents of the Manor, and whose forced labor was the backbone of the Philips’s international trading empire. Their "People Not Property" interactive documentary website offers multimedia resources and access to primary sources about Northern slavery. 

Democracy in America : Alexis de Tocqueville's Introduction —Tocqueville’s sojourn in America led to the writing of the reflection on equality and freedom known as Democracy in America . This great book remains arguably one of the two most important books on America political life, the Federalist Papers being the other one.

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 —The delegates at the 1787 Convention faced a challenge as arduous as those who worked throughout the 1780s to initiate reforms to the American political system. In this unit, students examine the roles that key American founders played in creating the Constitution, and the challenges they faced in the process.

• Lesson 1: The Road to the Constitutional Convention
• Lesson 2: The Question of Representation at the 1787 Convention
• Lesson 3: Creating the Office of the Presidency

The Federalist and Anti-federalist Debates on Diversity and the Extended Republic —In this unit, students will examine some of the most important arguments of those opposing or supporting the Constitution. They will learn why Anti-federalists believed that a large nation could not long preserve liberty and self-government and why Federalists such as James Madison believed that a large nation was vital to promote justice and the security of rights for all citizens, majority and minority alike.

• Lesson 1: Anti-federalist Arguments Against "A Complete Consolidation ”
• Lesson 2: The Federalist Defense of Diversity and "Extending the Sphere ”

Ratifying the Constitution —This lesson introduces students to the vigorous debates surrounding the ratification of the Constitution that took place in the state conventions.

The Creation of the Bill of Rights: "Retouching the Canvas " —This lesson will focus on the arguments either for or against the addition of a Bill of Rights between 1787 and 1789.

Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion —Students weigh the choices Washington faced in the nation’s first Constitutional crisis by following events through his private diary.

John Marshall, Marbury v. Madison and Judicial Review—How the Court Became Supreme —If James Madison was the "father" of the Constitution" John Marshall was the "father of the Supreme Court"—almost single-handedly clarifying its powers. This new lesson is designed to help students understand Marshall's brilliant strategy in issuing his decision on Marbury v. Madison , the significance of the concept of judicial review, and the language of this watershed case.

The First American Party System: Events, Issues, and Positions —Fear of factionalism and political parties was deeply rooted in Anglo-American political culture before the American Revolution. Leaders such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson hoped their new government, founded on the Constitution, would be motivated instead by a common intent, a unity. But political parties did form in the United States, with their beginnings in Washington's cabinet.

• Lesson 1: The First American Party System: U.S. Political Parties: The Principle of Legitimate Opposition
• Lesson 2: The First American Party System: A Documentary Timeline of Important Events (1787–1800)
• Lesson 3: The First American Party System: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans: The Platforms They Never Had

Certain Crimes Against the United States: The Sedition Act —As the end of the 18th century drew near, relations between the United States and France were deteriorating. In 1797 President Adams expressed his concern about the possibility of war with France and dissension at home caused by France and its supporters. At the same time, two opposing political parties were developing in the U.S., with Thomas Jefferson-led Democratic-Republicans tending to sympathize with France in foreign policy. Their loyalty was called into question by the Federalists. It was a dangerous time both for the security of the young Republic and the freedoms its citizens enjoyed.

• Lesson 1: From the President's Lips: The Concerns that Led to the Sedition (and Alien) Act
• Lesson 2: The Debate in Congress on the Sedition Act
• Lesson 3: George Washington on the Sedition Act
• Lesson 4: Thomas Jefferson on the Sedition Act
• Lesson 5: Consequences of the Sedition Act

James Madison: From Father of the Constitution to President —Even in its first 30 years of existence, the U.S. Constitution had to prove its durability and flexibility in a variety of disputes. More often than not, James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution," took part in the discussion.

• Lesson 1: James Madison: Madison Was There
• Lesson 2: James Madison: The Second National Bank—Powers Not Specified in the Constitution
• Lesson 3: James Madison: Raising an Army: Balancing the Power of the States and the Federal Government
• Lesson 4: James Madison: Internal Improvements Balancing Act: Federal/State, Executive/Legislative

The Monroe Doctrine: Origin and Early American Foreign Policy —Monroe brought a vision of an expanded America to his presidency—a vision that helped facilitate the formulation of what has become known as the Monroe Doctrine. In this unit, students review the Monroe Doctrine against a background of United States foreign relations in the early years of the republic.

• Lesson 1: The Monroe Doctrine: U.S. Foreign Affairs (circa 1782–1823) and James Monroe
• Lesson 2: The Monroe Doctrine: President Monroe and the Independence Movement in South America
• Lesson 3: The Monroe Doctrine: A Close Reading
• Lesson 4: The Monroe Doctrine: Whose Doctrine Was It?

The Election Is in the House: The Presidential Election of 1824 —The presidential election of 1824 represents a watershed in American politics. The collapse of the Federalist Party and the illness of the "official candidate" of the Democratic-Republicans led to a slate of candidates who were all Democratic-Republicans. This led to the end of the Congressional Caucus system for nominating candidates, and eventually, the development of a new two-party system in the United States. In this unit, students read an account of the election from the Journal of the House of Representatives, analyze archival campaign materials, and use an interactive online activity to develop a better understanding of the election of 1824 and its significance.

• Lesson 1: The Election Is in the House: The Denouement
• Lesson 2: The Election Is in the House: 1824: The Candidates and the Issues
• Lesson 3: The Election Is in the House: Was There a Corrupt Bargain?

The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson and the Growth of Party Politics —Changes in voting qualifications and participation, the election of Andrew Jackson, and the formation of the Democratic Party—due largely to the organizational skills of Martin Van Buren—all contributed to making the election of 1828 and Jackson’s presidency a watershed in the evolution of the American political system. In this unit, students analyze changes in voter participation and regional power, and review archival campaign documents reflecting the dawn of politics as we know it during the critical years from 1824 to 1832.

• Lesson 1: The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson: Expansion of the Voting Base
• Lesson 2: The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson: Changes in Voting Participation
• Lesson 3: The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson: Territorial Expansion and the Shift of Power
• Lesson 4: The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson: Issues in the Election of 1828 (and Beyond)

The Campaign of 1840: William Henry Harrison and Tyler, Too —After the debacle of the one-party presidential campaign of 1824, a new two-party system began to emerge. Strong public reaction to perceived corruption in the vote in the House of Representatives, as well as the popularity of Andrew Jackson, allowed Martin Van Buren to organize a Democratic Party that resurrected a Jeffersonian philosophy of minimalism in the federal government. What issues were important to the presidential campaign of 1840? Why is the campaign of 1840 often cited as the first modern campaign?

• Lesson 1: The Campaign of 1840: The Whigs, the Democrats, and the Issues
• Lesson 2: The Campaign of 1840: The Candidates
• Lesson 3: The Campaign of 1840: The Campaign

Was There an Industrial Revolution? Americans at Work Before the Civil War —In this lesson, students explore the First Industrial Revolution in early nineteenth-century America. By reading and comparing first-hand accounts of the lives of workers before the Civil War, students prepare for a series of guided role-playing activities designed to help them make an informed judgment as to whether the changes that took place in manufacturing and distribution during this period are best described as a 'revolution' or as a steady evolution over time.

Was There an Industrial Revolution? New Workplace, New Technology, New Consumers —In this lesson, students explore the First Industrial Revolution in early nineteenth-century America. Through simulation activities and the examination of primary historical materials, students learn how changes in the workplace and less expensive goods led to the transformation of American life.

Life in the North and South 1847–1861: Before Brother Fought Brother —Curriculum Unit overview. More Americans lost their lives in the Civil War than in any other conflict. How did the United States arrive at a point at which the South seceded and some families were so fractured that brother fought brother?

• Lesson 1: Factory vs. Plantation in the North and South
• Lesson 2: People and Places in the North and South
• Lesson 3: A Debate Against Slavery
• Lesson 4: Life Before the Civil War
• Lesson 5: Women's Lives Before the Civil War

A House Dividing: The Growing Crisis of Sectionalism in Antebellum America —In this unit, students will trace the development of sectionalism in the United States as it was driven by the growing dependence upon, and defense of, black slavery in the southern states.

• Lesson 1: An Early Threat of Secession: The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Nullification Crisis
• Lesson 2: Slavery's Opponents and Defenders
• Lesson 3: The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854: Popular Sovereignty and the Political Polarization over Slavery
• Lesson 4: Abraham Lincoln, the 1860 Election, and the Future of the American Union and Slavery

From Courage to Freedom —In 1845 Frederick Douglass published what was to be the first of his three autobiographies: the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself .

• Lesson 1: From Courage to Freedom: The Reality behind the Song
• Lesson 2: From Courage to Freedom: Slavery's Dehumanizing Effects
• Lesson 3: From Courage to Freedom

What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? —A student activity. Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) was a former slave who became the greatest abolitionist orator of the antebellum period. During the Civil War he worked tirelessly for the emancipation of the four million enslaved African Americans.

The American Civil War: A "Terrible Swift Sword ” —This curriculum unit introduces students to important questions pertaining to the war: strengths and weaknesses of each side at the start of the conflict; the two turning points of the war-the concurrent battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg—as well as the morality of the Union's use of "total war" tactics against the population of the South; Abraham Lincoln's wartime leadership.

• Lesson 1: On the Eve of War: North vs. South
• Lesson 2: The Battles of the Civil War
• Lesson 3: Abraham Lincoln and Wartime Politics

Abraham Lincoln on the American Union: "A Word Fitly Spoken ” —By examining Lincoln's three most famous speeches—the Gettysburg Address and the First and Second Inaugural Addresses—in addition to a little known fragment on the Constitution, union, and liberty, students trace what these documents say regarding the significance of union to the prospects for American self-government.

• Lesson 1: Fragment on the Constitution and Union (1861)—The Purpose of the American Union
• Lesson 2: The First Inaugural Address (1861)—Defending the American Union
• Lesson 3: The Gettysburg Address (1863)—Defining the American Union
• Lesson 4: The Second Inaugural Address (1865)—Restoring the American Union

The Emancipation Proclamation: Freedom's First Steps —Why was the Emancipation Proclamation important? While the Civil War began as a war to restore the Union, not to end slavery, by 1862 President Abraham Lincoln came to believe that he could save the Union only by broadening the goals of the war. students can explore the obstacles and alternatives we faced in making the journey toward "a more perfect Union."

The Red Badge of Courage : A New Kind of Courage —In The Red Badge of Courage , Stephen Crane presents war through the eyes —and thoughts —of one soldier. The narrative’s altered point of view and stylistic innovations enable a heightened sense of realism while setting the work apart from war stories written essentially as tributes or propaganda.

The Battle Over Reconstruction —This curriculum unit of three lessons examines the social, political and economic conditions of the southern states in the aftermath of the Civil War and shows how these factors helped to shape the Reconstruction debate as well as the subsequent history of American race relations.

• Lesson 1: The Battle Over Reconstruction: The Aftermath of War
• Lesson 2: The Battle Over Reconstruction: The Politics of Reconstruction
• Lesson 3: The Battle Over Reconstruction: The Aftermath of Reconstruction

The Industrial Age in America: Robber Barons or Captains of Industry?

The Industrial Age in America: Sweatshops, Steel Mills and Factories

The Birth of an American Empire —America emerges as a world power after the Spanish American War and asserting itself on the world scene.

• Lesson 1: The Question of an American Empire
• Lesson 2: The Spanish-American War
• Lesson 3: The Matter of the Philippines
• Lesson 4: Imperialism and the Open Door

United States Entry into World War I: A Documentary Chronology —In this curriculum unit, students reconsider the events leading to U.S. entry into World War I through the lens of archival documents.

• Lesson 1: United States Entry into World War I: Two Diametrically Opposed Views
• Lesson 2: United States Entry into World War I: Some Hypotheses About U.S. Entry
• Lesson 3: United States Entry into World War I: A Documentary Chronology of World War I

The United States and Europe: From Neutrality to War, 1921–1941 —Over the two decades between World War I and World War II, Americans pursued strategies aimed at preventing another war. In this four lesson unit, students use primary sources and an interactive map to examine the rise of antiwar sentiment and legislation in the United States and the main arguments used by both sides as to whether the United States should enter the war or remain neutral.

• Lesson 1: Postwar Disillusionment and the Quest for Peace, 1921–1929
• Lesson 2: Legislating Neutrality, 1934–1939
• Lesson 3: U.S. Neutrality and the War in Europe, 1939–1940
• Lesson 4: The Great Debate: Internationalists vs. Isolationists

African-American Soldiers in World War I: The 92nd and 93rd Divisions —Late in 1917, the War Department created two all-black infantry divisions. The 93rd Infantry Division received unanimous praise for its performance in combat, fighting as part of France’s 4th Army. In this lesson, students combine their research in a variety of sources, including firsthand accounts, to develop a hypothesis evaluating.

African-American Soldiers After World War I: Had Race Relations Changed? —In this lesson, students view archival photographs, combine their efforts to comb through a database of more than 2,000 archival newspaper accounts about race relations in the United States, and read newspaper articles written from different points of view about post-war riots in Chicago.

The Great War: Evaluating the Treaty of Versailles —Was the Treaty of Versailles, which formally concluded World War I, a legitimate attempt by the victorious powers to prevent further conflict, or did it place an unfair burden on Germany? This lesson helps students respond to the question in an informed manner. Activities involve primary sources, maps, and other supporting documents related to the peace process and its reception by the German public and German politicians.

The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations —American foreign policy continues to resonate with the issues surrounding the debate over U.S. entry into the League of Nations—collective security versus national sovereignty, idealism versus pragmatism, the responsibilities of powerful nations, and the use of force to accomplish idealistic goals, the idea of America. Understanding the debate over the League and the consequences of its ultimate failure provides insight into international affairs in the years since the end of the Great War and beyond. In this lesson, students read the words and listen to the voices of some central participants in the debate over the League of Nations.

• Lesson 1: The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations: League of Nations Basics
• Lesson 2: The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations: Disagreement Over the League
• Lesson 3: The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations: Five Camps: From Voices of Consent to Voices of Dissent

Woodrow Wilson and Foreign Policy —Curriculum Unit. The influence of President Woodrow Wilson on American foreign policy has been profound and lasting. Using a variety of primary sources, students analyze the origins of the ambitious foreign policy that came to be known as Wilsonianism and compare it with important alternative traditions in American foreign policy.

The Origins of "Wilsonianism ”

"To Elect Good Men”: Woodrow Wilson and Latin America

Wilson and American Entry into World War I

Fighting for Peace: The Fate of Wilson's Fourteen Points

Birth of a Nation, the NAACP, and the Balancing of Rights —In this lesson students learn how Birth of a Nation reflected and influenced racial attitudes, and they analyze and evaluate the efforts of the NAACP to prohibit showing of the film.  

NAACP's Anti-Lynching Campaigns: The Quest for Social Justice in the Interwar Years —Curriculum Unit Overview: During the years 1909 to 1939, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People sought passage of anti-lynching legislation. Although this proposed legislation failed to become law, much can be learned by examining the NAACP's anti-lynching campaign about how Americans in the interwar period understood the federal system, interpreted the Constitution, and responded to calls for social justice.

• Lesson 1: NAACP’s Anti-Lynching Campaign in the 1920s

FDR's Fireside Chats: The Power of Words —In this lesson which focuses on two of FDR's Fireside Chats, students gain a sense of the dramatic effect of FDR's voice on his audience, see the scope of what he was proposing in these initial speeches, and make an overall analysis of why the Fireside Chats were so successful.

The Social Security Act —This lesson engages students in the debate over the Social Security Act that engrossed the nation during the 1930s.

African-Americans and the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps —The Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal recovery and relief program provided more than a quarter of a million young black men with jobs during the Depression. By examining primary source documents students analyze the impact of this program on race relations in America and assess the role played by the New Deal in changing them.

FDR and the Lend-Lease Act —This lesson shows students how broadly the Lend-Lease Act of March 1941 empowered the federal government—particularly the President—and asks students to investigate how FDR promoted the program in speeches and then in photographs.

Eleanor Roosevelt and the Rise of Social Reform in the 1930s —This lesson asks students to explore the various roles that Eleanor Roosevelt a key figure in several of the most important social reform movements of the twentieth century took on, among them: First Lady, political activist for civil rights, newspaper columnist and author, and representative to the United Nations.

Worth a Thousand Words: Depression-Era Photographs —Spend a day with a model American family and the photographer who molded our view of their lives.

Freedom by the Fireside: The Legacy of FDR's "Four Freedoms" Speech —One of the most famous political speeches on freedom in the twentieth century was delivered by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his 1941 State of the Union message to Congress.This lesson examines some of the nuances and ambiguities inherent in the rhetorical use of "freedom." The objective is to encourage students to glimpse the broad range of hopes and aspirations that are expressed in the call of—and for—freedom.

Dust Bowl Days —Students will be introduced to this dramatic era in our nation's history through photographs, songs and interviews with people who lived through the Dust Bowl.

NAACP Lesson 2: NAACP's Anti-Lynching Campaign in the 1930s

From Neutrality to War: The United States and Europe, 1921–1941 —Curiculum unit overview. Over the two decades between World War I and World War II, Americans pursued strategies aimed at preventing another war. In this four lesson unit, students use primary sources and an interactive map to examine the rise of antiwar sentiment and legislation in the United States and the main arguments used by both sides as to whether the United States should enter the war or remain neutral.

The Road to Pearl Harbor: The United States and East Asia, 1915-1941 —Curiculum unit overview. Although most Americans were shocked by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the outbreak of war between the two countries came as no surprise to most observers of international affairs. Using contemporary documents, students explore the rise of animosity between the United States and Japan from its origins in World War I and culminating two decades later in the Pearl Harbor attack.

• Lesson 1: The Growth of U.S.-Japanese Hostility, 1915–1932
• Lesson 2: America and the Sino-Japanese Conflict, 1933–1939
• Lesson 3: Japan's "Southern Advance” and the March toward War, 1940–1941
• Lesson 4: The Failure of Diplomacy, September-December 1941

"The Proper Application of Overwhelming Force”: The United States in World War II —After learning that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor, thus ensuring that the United States would enter World War II, Prime Minister Winston Churchill breathed a sigh of relief. "Hitler's fate was sealed," he would later recall. "Mussolini's fate was sealed. As for the Japanese, they would be ground to powder. All the rest was merely the proper application of overwhelming force." In this unit, students examine the role that the United States played in bringing about this victory.

• Lesson 1: Turning the Tide in the Pacific, 1941–1943
• Lesson 2: Turning the Tide in Europe, 1942–1944
• Lesson 3: Victory in Europe, 1944–1945
• Lesson 4: Victory in the Pacific, 1943–1945

American Diplomacy in World War II —This four-lesson curriculum unit examine the nature of what Winston Churchill called the "Grand Alliance" between the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union in opposition to the aggression of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

• Lesson 1: How "Grand” and "Allied” was the Grand Alliance?
• Lesson 2: How to Win a World War
• Lesson 3: Victory and the New Order in Europe
• Lesson 4: The New Order for "Greater East Asia”

On the Home Front —Learning about World War II American efforts helps students gain some perspective regarding the U.S. response to the conflict generated by the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Norman Rockwell, Freedom of Speech —Know It When You See It —This lesson plan highlights the importance of First Amendment rights by examining Norman Rockwell’s painting of The Four Freedoms. Students discover the First Amendment in action as they explore their own community and country through newspapers, art, and role playing.

The Origins of the Cold War, 1945–1949 —Since the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, Soviet leaders had been claiming that communism and capitalism could never peacefully coexist. Agreements regarding the postwar world were reached at Yalta and Potsdam, but the Soviets wasted no time in violating them. Harry Truman believed that the proper means of responding to an international bully was a credible threat of force.

• Lesson 1: Sources of Discord, 1945–1946
• Lesson 2: The Strategy of Containment, 1947–1948
• Lesson 3: The Formation of the Western Alliance, 1948–1949

Witch Hunt or Red Menace? Anticommunism in Postwar America, 1945–1954 —Americans emerged from World War II as the only major combatant to avoid having its homeland ravaged by war, the U.S. economy was clearly the strongest in the world, and, of course, the United States was the only country in the world to possess that awesome new weapon, the atomic bomb. However, over the next five years relations between the United States and the Soviet Union went from alliance to Cold War.

• Lesson 1: Soviet Espionage in America
• Lesson 2: The House Un-American Activities Committee
• Lesson 3: The Rise and Fall of Joseph McCarthy

Dramatizing History in Arthur Miller's The Crucible —By closely reading historical documents and attempting to interpret them, students consider how Arthur Miller interpreted the facts of the Salem witch trials and how he successfully dramatized them in his play, The Crucible. As they explore historical materials, such as the biographies of key players (the accused and the accusers) and transcripts of the Salem Witch trials themselves, students will be guided by aesthetic and dramatic concerns: In what ways do historical events lend themselves (or not) to dramatization? What makes a particular dramatization of history effective and memorable?

"Police Action”: The Korean War, 1950–1953 —In 1950, North Korean forces, armed mainly with Soviet weapons, invaded South Korea in an effort to reunite the peninsula under communist rule. This lesson will introduce students to the conflict by having them read the most important administration documents related to it.

"The Missiles of October”: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 —Most historians agree that the world has never come closer to nuclear war than it did during a thirteen-day period in October 1962, after the revelation that the Soviet Union had stationed several medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba. This lesson examines how this crisis developed, how the Kennedy administration chose to respond, and how the situation was ultimately resolved.

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Escalation of the Vietnam War —In August 1964, a small military engagement off the coast of North Vietnam helped escalate the involvement of the United States in Vietnam; the Vietnam War would become the longest military engagement in American history.

Building Suburbia: Highways and Housing in Postwar America —The postwar United States experienced a dramatic economic boom—and a dramatic reorientation of American ideals of the home.

Competing Voices of the Civil Rights Movement —When most people think of the Civil Rights Movement in America, they think of Martin Luther King, Jr. Delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. But "the Movement" achieved its greatest results due to the competing strategies and agendas of diverse individuals. This unit presents the views of several important black leaders who shaped the debate over how to achieve freedom and equality in our nation.

• Lesson 1: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nonviolent Resistance
• Lesson 2: Black Separatism or the Beloved Community? Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Profiles in Courage: To Kill A Mockingbird and the Scottsboro Boys Trial —Students study select court transcripts and other primary source material from the second Scottsboro Boys Trial of 1933, a continuation of the first trial in which two young white women wrongfully accused nine African-American youths of rape.

JFK, LBJ, and the Fight for Equal Opportunity in the 1960s —This lesson provides students with an opportunity to study and analyze the innovative legislative efforts of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson in the social and economic context of the 1960s.

The Kennedy Administration and the Civil Rights Movement —Students learn how civil rights activists, state and local officials in the South, and the Administration of President Kennedy come into conflict during the early 1960s.

Freedom Riders and the Popular Music of the Civil Rights Era —The American civil rights movement incorporated a variety of cultural elements in their pursuit of political and legal equality under law. This lesson will highlight the role of music as a major influence through the use of audio recordings, photographs, and primary documents.

Twelve Angry Men: Trial by Jury as a Right and as a Political Institution — Twelve Angry Men , originally written for television by Reginald Rose in 1954 and subsequently adapted for stage (1955), film (1957) and television again (1997), effectively conveys the central importance of the right to a jury trial afforded by Article III of the Constitution as well as Amendments V, VI, and XIV.

Building Suburbia: Highways and Housing in Postwar America

The Election of Barack Obama 44th President of the United States —In this lesson, students put Barack Obama’s election as the first African-American President of the United States in historical context by studying two of his speeches and reviewing some of the history of African-American voting rights.

APUSH Review: A Handy Study Plan

The best way to be well-prepared for the AP US History exam is to keep up with the work throughout the whole school year. You should be doing your reading, keeping up with your assignments, studying each unit thoroughly as it comes, and reviewing old units periodically throughout the course. Once you get closer to test day, however, you may want to start studying more intensely. We’ve prepared a handy APUSH review plan to help you get ready for the big day!

APUSH Review Throughout the Year

So you’re planning ahead and want to keep up with your studying throughout the course? Awesome! This is the best way to go. Kaplan has a monthly and quarterly study plan to make sure you’re staying on track as new content is added.

As each new unit is added, it’s a good idea to:

• Keep or create a concept outline of just the most important ideas of the unit. If you have unit or chapter outlines from your class, great! Use them. There are also tons of great APUSH outlines online . Some of them align to specific textbooks, while others are more broadly-based.  

Either way, flashcards are a tool you can carry around in your pocket or bag and pull out any time. Riding the bus? Brush up on your New Deal programs with all their pesky acronyms. Waiting around for soccer practice to start? What a great time to review the colonial tax laws !

• Do practice questions which mimic the real exam, and are relevant to the unit you’re studying.

  In addition to keeping up with the current work your teacher assigns you, it’s a good idea to review old material all year long so you don’t forget it by the time May comes around. If your teacher gives cumulative unit tests (meaning they cover the current unit plus everything that came before), studying for these will help make sure that even the old material stays fresh. If, however, your teacher gives unit tests that are NOT cumulative (meaning they only cover the material from the current unit), then you’ll need to do cumulative review on your own. At a minimum, right after you’ve taken your unit test (so you can concentrate on studying for that test) but before you dive deep into the new unit, use that window for review of old material. Break out the flashcards, take some practice questions, and take note of your areas of weakness so you can give them more attention.

APUSH Review If You Have Three Months

You’ve made it through the holidays and through midterms, and now it’s time to buckle down and think about the AP exam. If you have three months for APUSH review before test day, here’s what you should plan to cover each week:

Week 1: Prepare to Review + Period 1 (1491-1607)

First off, spend a couple of days preparing to review. This may not sound like much, but it’s super important. This is the time to gather your materials and perform a self-assessment to see where you need to focus. This week, you should:

• Review the APUSH themes and historical thinking skills that you’ll need to know for the test. Think about which ones you’re confident in and which ones need more work.  
• Take a practice test . As you review the results, take careful note of what you got right and wrong. Keep a tally of the units that your missed questions came from. Notice any patterns? Which units need the most review? Is there a specific type of question you keep getting wrong? Are you strong on multiple choice but your DBQs need work? Take stock of where you are so you know where you need to go in the next 11 weeks.  
• Make flashcards if you haven’t already. Have these ready to go when it comes time to review each unit.  
• Gather your resources. Pull together whatever review books, outlines, videos, games, practice questions, or other resources you plan on using. Get them in one place. Bookmark websites you plan to come back to. Spend this time figuring out what resources you want to use so that you can spend your time in the upcoming weeks actually using them.

  Next, start your review with Period 1, which covers everything that came before the British founded the 13 colonies. We’re only devoting part of the first week to this period because it is only worth 5% of the exam.

Weeks 2-5: Review Periods 2-5

Week 2: Period 2 (1607-1754) Week 3: Period 3 (1754-1800) Week 4: Period 4 (1800-1848) Week 5: Period 5 (1844-1877)

Week 6: Combined Review of Periods 1-5

Take this week to go over everything you’ve covered so far.

Do at least one practice essay (or even better, one essay of each type). Here are some past essay questions relevant to these periods:

• DBQ on the Revolutionary Era (p. 7-11)
• LEQ on trans-Atlantic trade (#2 on p. 34)
• LEQ on the French and Indian War (#2 on p. 11)
• LEQ on the market revolution (#2 on p. 12)
• LEQ on the Mexican-American War (#3 on p. 11)

Weeks 7-10: Review Periods 6-9

Week 7: Period 6 (1865-1898) Week 8: Period 7 (1890-1945) Week 9: Period 8 (1945-1980) Week 10: Period 9 (1980-present)

Week 11: Combined Review of Periods 6-9

Take this week to go over everything you’ve covered in the last month of review.

• DBQ on imperialism (p. 29-32)
• DBQ on the Women’s Rights Movement (p. 6-11)
• DBQ on New Conservatism (p. 6-10)
• LEQ on the 14th and 15th Amendments (#2 on p. 12)
• LEQ on technology and industrialization (#3 on p. 34)
• LEQ on World War I (#3 on p. 12)
• LEQ on the 19th Amendment (#3 on p. 12)
• LEQ on globalization (#4 on p. 34)

Week 12: Complete APUSH Review

Perform a quick cumulative review of the entire course. This is also a good time to take another practice test in preparation for exam day.

APUSH Review If You Have Two Months

Ok, so you weren’t quite on top of things enough to follow the 3-month schedule, but that’s ok. You’ve still got two months left to get in a great APUSH review. Here’s how to divide your time.

Week 1: Take a practice test, gather materials, and study Period 1 Week 2: Periods 2 and 3 Week 3: Periods 4 and 5 Week 4: Review Periods 1-5 Week 5: Periods 6 and 7 Week 6: Periods 8 and 9 Week 7: Review Periods 6-9 Week 8: Final review of the whole course

APUSH Review If You Have One Month

If you’ve waited until a month before the test to buckle down, here’s how to divide your time to make sure you stay on track and cover everything:

Week 1: Periods 1-3 Week 2: Periods 4-6 Week 3: Periods 5-9 Week 4: Final review of the whole course

If you’re looking for a very prescribed day-to-day plan, Albert has a nice one-month plan as well.

APUSH Review If You Have One Week

Cutting it a little close, are we? When you’ve only got a week left, there’s still a lot you can do to prepare for the exam. Check out our in-depth article on what to do when you’ve got one week left for APUSH review .

This is also a great time for a crash course. Check out our list of some of the best video and text-based crash courses to help you get the most out of your speedy APUSH review.

  No matter when you decide to begin your APUSH review, we hope you find these tips and resources helpful. Let us know what you think, and happy studying!

Sarah is an educator and writer with a Master’s degree in education from Syracuse University who has helped students succeed on standardized tests since 2008. She loves reading, theater, and chasing around her two kids.

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., guide to the ap u.s. history exam.

The AP ® U.S. History exam, also known as APUSH, is a college-level exam administered every year in May upon the completion of an Advanced Placement U.S. History course taken at your high school. If you score high enough, you could earn college credit!

Check out our AP U.S. History Guide for the essential info you need about the exam:

• AP U.S. History Exam Overview
• AP U.S. History Sections & Question Types
• AP U.S. History Scoring
• How to Prepare

What's on the AP U.S. History Exam?

The College Board requires your AP teacher to cover certain topics in the AP U.S. History course. As you complete your APUSH review, make sure you are familiar with the following topics:

• Period 1 (1491–1607) : Native American Societies Before European Contact; European Exploration in the Americas; Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest; Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System; Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans
• Period 2 (1607–1754) : European Colonization; The Regions of British Colonies; Transatlantic Trade; Interactions Between American Indians and Europeans; Slavery in the British Colonies; Colonial Society and Culture
• Period 3 (1754–1800) : The Seven Years’ War (The French and Indian War); Taxation Without Representation; Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution; The American Revolution; The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals; The Articles of Confederation; The Constitutional Convention and Debates over Ratification; The Constitution; Shaping a New Republic; Developing an American Identity; Movement in the Early Republic
• Period 4 (1800–1848) : The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson; Politics and Regional Interests; America on the World Stage; Market Revolution: Industrialization; Market Revolution: Society and Culture; Expanding Democracy; Jackson and Federal Power; The Development of an American Culture; The Second Great Awakening; An Age of Reform; African Americans in the Early Republic; The Society of the South in the Early Republic
• Period 5 (1844–1877) : Manifest Destiny; The Mexican–American War; The Compromise of 1850; Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences; Failure of Compromise; Election of 1860 and Secession; Military Conflict in the Civil War; Government Policies During the Civil War; Reconstruction; Failure of Reconstruction
• Period 6 (1865–1898) : Westward Expansion: Economic Development; Westward Expansion: Social and Cultural Development; The “New South”; Technological Innovation; The Rise of Industrial Capitalism; Labor in the Gilded Age; Immigration and Migration in the Gilded Age; Responses to Immigration in the Gilded Age; Development of the Middle Class; Reform in the Gilded Age; Controversies over the Role of Government in the Gilded Age; Politics in the Gilded Age
• Period 7 (1890–1945) : Imperialism: Debates; The Spanish–American War; The Progressives; World War I: Military and Diplomacy; World War I: Home Front; 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology; 1920s: Cultural and Political Controversies; The Great Depression; The New Deal; Interwar Foreign Policy; World War II: Mobilization; World War II: Military; Postwar Diplomacy
• Period 8 (1945–1980) : The Cold War from 1945 to 1980; The Red Scare; Economy after 1945; Culture after 1945; Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement (1940s and 1950s); America as a World Power; The Vietnam War; The Great Society; The African American Civil Rights Movement (1960s); The Civil Rights Movement Expands; Youth Culture of the 1960s; The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980; Society in Transition
• Period 9 (1980–Present): Reagan and Conservatism; The End of the Cold War; A Changing Economy; Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000s; Challenges of the 21 st Century

Read More: Review for the exam with our AP U.S. History Crash Courses

Sections & Question Types

The APUSH exam takes 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete and is comprised of two sections: a multiple-choice/short answer section and a a free response section. There are two parts to each section.

APUSH Multiple Choice Questions

Questions are grouped into sets of three or four questions and based on a primary source, secondary source, or historical issue. Each set of questions is based on a different piece of source material. This section will test your ability to analyze and engage with the source materials while recalling what you already know about U.S. history.

APUSH Short Answer Questions

The three questions in this section will be tied to a primary source, historical argument, data or maps, or general propositions of U.S. history. Students are required to answer the first and second questions and then answer either the third or the fourth question. You are not required to develop and support a thesis statement, but you must describe examples of historical evidence relevant to the source or question.

APUSH Document-Based Question (DBQ)

The DBQ question requires you to answer a question based on seven primary source documents and your knowledge of the subject and time period. All the documents will pertain to a single subject. Students should develop an argument about the question and use the documents to support this argument.

APUSH Long Essay Question

For the long essay question, you’ll be given a choice of three essay options on the same theme, and you must choose one. You must develop and defend a relevant thesis, but there won’t be any documents on which you must base your response. Instead, you’ll need to draw upon your own knowledge of topics you learned in your AP U.S. History class.

For a comprehensive content review, check out our book,  AP U.S. History Prep

What’s a good AP U.S. History Score?

AP scores are reported from 1 to 5. Colleges are generally looking for a 4 or 5 on the AP U.S. History exam, but some may grant credit for a 3. Here’s how students scored on the May 2020 test:

Source: College Board

How can I prepare?

AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP U.S. History content and strategy, pick the  AP prep option  that works best for your goals and learning style. 

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Princeton Review AP U.S. History Premium Prep, 2021: 6 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Strategies & Techniques (2021) (College Test Preparation)

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