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How to Approach the AP U.S. History Long Essay Question

The second part of Section II of the AP US History exam contains three long essay questions—you must respond to one. The long essay question assesses your ability to apply knowledge of history in a complex, analytical manner. In other words, you are expected to treat history and historical questions as a historian would. This process is called historiography—the skills and strategies historians use to analyze and interpret historical evidence to reach a conclusion. Thus, when writing an effective essay, you must be able to write a strong, clearly developed thesis and supply a substantial amount of relevant evidence to support your thesis and develop a complex argument.

The College Board’s characteristics of a high-scoring long essay question response are listed below. Note that the requirements are very similar to those of the DBQ ; the primary difference is that any requirements related to use of the documents are removed from the scoring requirements for the long essay question.

• Thesis: Make a thesis or claim that responds to the prompt. The thesis or claim must be historically defensible and establish a line of reasoning.
• Context: Provide context relevant to the prompt by describing a broader historical development or process.
• Evidence: Use specific and relevant examples as evidence to support an argument in response to the prompt.
• Historical Skill: Use a historical reasoning skill (causation, comparison, or continuity and change) to develop an argument in response to the prompt.
• Complex Understanding: Demonstrate a complex understanding of an argument that responds to the prompt by using evidence to corroborate, qualify, or modify the argument.

AP U.S. History Long Essay Strategy

Consider the following special strategies for the long essay question. Scoring requirements are highlighted in bold.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

• Each long essay question will ask you to “evaluate the extent” of some factor in American history. Since you are evaluating, you will need to develop an argument that addresses the prompt. Make sure to read all three prompts carefully. Think of the evidence you could use and the argument you could develop in response to each one, then choose the question you feel most confident about.
• Begin crafting your thesis statement. You must have a thesis that makes a claim and introduces the reasoning of your argument. It is not enough to merely restate the question as your thesis; you must take a position. Don’t be afraid of making a strong claim; just be sure you can provide relevant evidence to support your assertion. Your thesis may also outline the categories of analysis, or the major points, you will use in your essay.
• Part of developing your thesis should be considering how your essay’s argument will demonstrate a complex understanding, perhaps by analyzing multiple variables, by considering both changes and continuities, or by making an insightful connection to another time period.

Step 2: Plan Your Response

• Making a careful plan can help you make sure you address all the scoring requirements.
• Paraphrase your thesis statement. Knowing your claim will make it easier for you to plan an effective argument in your essay. In light of the documents, you must make a claim and/or demonstrate a line of reasoning that responds to the prompt. Avoid statements that are vague or general (“The Vietnam War was very significant”) and make a claim that responds to the prompt, uses both the documents and your historical knowledge, and sets up the rest of your essay (“The Vietnam War impacted Americans’ perceptions of the U.S. role in international politics, the power of the federal government, and the status of young people, influencing legal and social changes in American society”).
• Be sure your thesis or overall plan incorporates a complex understanding . You need to demonstrate that you have more than just a basic understanding of the content, so your thesis or overall essay should address complexity in the historical development—perhaps by including multiple variables, by considering both causes and effects, or by making an insightful connection to another time period. See below for a complete list of ways to demonstrate complex understanding.
• Make a note about how you will provide context for the topic of the prompt. This may fit well in the introduction or first body paragraph.
• List the documents you will use as evidence —remember that you must use six or seven to earn the maximum number of points for using the documents.
• Consider whether the paragraph is a good place to provide additional evidence —you must include one additional historical example.
• Think about when it would be beneficial to explain sourcing , or how a document’s context or situation is relevant to the argument—you must do so for three documents.
• Finally, review your plan and check off each requirement in your test booklet to ensure you addressed all six.

Step 3: Action! Write Your Response

• Nothing is more important in the first paragraph than the clear statement of an analytical thesis. The reader is most interested in seeing a strong thesis as soon as possible.
• Your thesis can be more than just one sentence. With the compound questions often asked by the DBQ, two sentences might be needed to complete the idea.
• Refer to the authors of the documents, not just the document numbers.
• A good idea is to write a concluding paragraph that might extend your original thesis. Think of a way to restate your thesis, adding information from your analysis of the documents.

Step 4: Proofread

• Skim for any glaring errors and, if you have time, check again to make sure your response meets each of the DBQ requirements.

AP Expert Note

Be prepared to demonstrate complex understanding The AP exam asks you to analyze sources and develop arguments in a sophisticated way. Demonstrating your complex understanding of the topic at hand is crucial to your success, and here are some ways you can do so.

• Analyze multiple variables
• Employ a complex historical reasoning skill by explaining both similarities and differences, both continuity and change, both causes and effects, or multiple causes
• Explain relevant connections to other regions or other time periods
• Corroborate perspectives across multiple course themes (such as environment, cultural developments, governance, economic systems, social organization, and technology)
• Qualify an argument using other evidence or views

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APUSH Long Essay Question Example 2

Evaluate the extent to which the civil war was a turning point in the history of the united states in the period from 1800 to 1877..

• What were the major events leading up to the Civil War?
• How did the Civil War change political, economic, and social structures in the U.S.?
• What were the immediate and long-term consequences of the Civil War?
• Were there any other significant turning points during this period? How do they compare to the Civil War?
• How did the Reconstruction era that followed the Civil War further shape the nation?
• Thesis/Claim (1 point): The APUSH exam requires students to present a clear, precise, and defensible thesis in their essay. In the sample essay, the thesis is evident in the statement, “The Civil War, fought between 1861 and 1865, stands as a monumental turning point in the history of the United States.” This thesis directly addresses the prompt and sets the stage for the arguments that follow.
• Contextualization (1 point): To earn this point, students must describe a broader historical context relevant to the prompt. The essay does this by outlining the tensions between the North and the South, mentioning key events like the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. This provides readers with a clear backdrop against which the main arguments of the essay are set.
• Evidence (2 points): The APUSH standards require students to support their thesis with specific evidence. In the sample essay, there’s a plethora of evidence cited, such as the election of Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Homestead Act, and the Reconstruction Amendments. Each piece of evidence is directly related to the thesis and supports the argument that the Civil War was a significant turning point.
• Analysis and Reasoning (2 points): This is where students must demonstrate a deeper understanding of the topic. The essay does this in two ways. First, it analyzes the significance of each piece of evidence, explaining, for example, how the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment changed the lives of African Americans. Second, it shows a complex understanding by comparing the impact of the Civil War to other events of the period, such as the Market Revolution and the Second Great Awakening. This comparison not only reinforces the thesis but also provides a nuanced view of the period.

When you are done reviewing this APUSH LEQ example, you can use the buttons below to proceed to our Long Essay example 3 or return to the Practice Exam main menu.

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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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The Ultimate AP US History Study Guide

Advanced Placement (AP)

Studying for the AP US History course is an exercise in memorization and critical thinking. Multiple-choice questions ask you to read and analyze documents based on your historical knowledge. Essay questions require similar skills but with the added challenge of synthesizing your ideas into a coherent argument that incorporates both outside knowledge and evidence given to you.

In this comprehensive AP US History study guide, we will provide all the resources and strategies you need to prepare for the AP exam and any other test that comes your way in this course !

What's the Purpose of This AP US History Study Guide?

This guide will help you prepare for the AP US History test and other assessments you encounter throughout the school year in your AP US History class. It includes instructions for creating an effective study plan, a few helpful study tips, an overview of the content covered in the AP course, and a list of resources for practice questions.

This article is a one-stop-shop for all the information you need to master the AP US History curriculum.

Creating a Study Plan for AP US History: 5-Step Guide

You should start studying sooner rather than later for the AP US History exam because there's s o much information to remember. Ideally, you'll build on knowledge throughout the year and regularly review to avoid forgetting earlier parts of the course.

We recommend doing a holistic review after each in-class test that covers everything you've learned up to that point. You can then begin your final review for the AP test in March or April, which will give you an  entire month or two to spread out your studying.

Below are the steps we recommend following to prep for the AP US History test. The whole process should take you about 11 hours and 30 minutes .

Step 1: Take a Full-Length Practice Test

Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

The first step is to take a full, official AP US History practice test under realistic conditions. Time yourself in accordance with the actual test and write out both essays (DBQ and Long Essay) completely. Mark any multiple-choice questions you had to guess on—it's crucial to go over this information later even if you happen to guess correctly.

When you're done, score your practice test to see how well you would do on the real AP exam if you were to take it right now.

Depending on how much you're hoping to improve your AP US History test score, you might have to budget for more or less study time. If you're already scoring close to 5 (or a low 5), you might complete these steps once and find that you're satisfied with your results.

If you're scoring 2 or more points lower than you'd like, plan on going through this process several times.

Step 2: Catalog Your Mistakes and Guesses

Time: 1 hour

After you score your practice AP US History test, go through your mistakes and lucky guesses. Try to categorize the mistakes by content area so you can look for patterns and determine which parts of the course you need to study the most.

Once you've identified what you need to learn, move on to reviewing the actual content. Make a list in descending order of the topics that correspond to the highest number of missed multiple-choice questions and missed points on short-answer and free-response questions.

Step 3: Study Relevant Content Areas and Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Time: 2 hours

Use the list you made in the previous step to guide your review of the AP US History content. Start with the areas for which you need a little refresher, and work your way up to the big issues you had on the diagnostic test .

When you're satisfied that you've fixed the gaps in knowledge that led to your errors, you should do some practice APUSH multiple-choice questions to make sure you really know your stuff (you can find them in review books or on one of the sites listed later in this article).

Step 4: Practice Planning and Writing Essays

You'll need to practice writing essays before taking the AP US History test so you feel comfortable with the time constraints and requirements. This is especially true for the Document-Based Question , which has a unique format.

After examining the problems with your essays from the original diagnostic test, practice your skills on additional free-response questions . For the sake of saving time, you don't necessarily need to write out entire essays, but you should at least make rough outlines that include all the components of a successful essay .

If you struggled a lot with time on your initial AP practice test, then we'd recommend going through another timed free-response section in full, so you can practice moving more quickly.

Step 5: Take a Second Full Practice Test

Once you've gotten more familiar with the APUSH material, take a second full AP practice test to assess your progress . If you find that you've improved to a satisfactory level, you might stop there and just do some light review until the exam.

If you're still not happy with your results, repeat this process , and make sure that you're really absorbing the material as you study.

3 Essential AP US History Study Tips

The following tips for AP US History will help you make the most of your time as you work your way through the process outlined above. The APUSH exam assesses your historical knowledge differently than other tests you might have taken in the past do. Make sure your study methods lend themselves to the format!

#1: Make Thematic Connections

The ultimate goal of AP US History is for you to be able to connect individual events to the main themes of the course and draw conclusions about historical trends based on your analysis.

As you study, don't just look at events in isolation— e xamine how they relate to other events of the time and how they might've resulted from different cultural and political attitudes . What were the outcomes of particular events, and how and why did they feed into other, larger trends?

Ask yourself to dig deeper. Doing so help you on both in-class assessments and the AP test.

#2: Read and Repeat

When you read content notes for AP US History, you might think you have a fact committed to memory but forget it when it appears on a test. The best way to combat this is to pause every couple of minutes and try to remember the facts that you just reviewed without looking back at your notes ; you'll immediately know whether you're absorbing the information or not.

If you're having trouble remembering a particular fact, try to make a distinctive connection with something else that's easier to remember.

For example, say you were trying to remember which items were taxed by the Townshend Acts. (It was glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.) You could think of the mnemonic GuLPP iT to remember them. It also makes sense because all the taxes were repealed except for the one on tea, which you can gulp!

Maybe this sounds super weird, but we often find that the weirder the method of remembering something is, the more likely it will stick in your mind .

#3: Practice Writing Essay Questions

The free-response section is the biggest challenge on the AP US History exam because you have to plan and write two coherent essays (one DBQ and one Long Essay) in less than two hours. It's imperative that you do lots of practice before the AP test to prevent your essays from being disorganized or lacking in focus. You can consult the College Board site for links to past AP US History free-response questions .

Make sure you always have a strong thesis statement and all the points in your essay relate directly back to it. Plan out your essay before you start writing to keep yourself on track.

You should also t ry to include relevant outside knowledge but only if it pertains directly to your argument and the question itself. Don't just spew out everything you know about the topic!

AP US History Course Content: Themes and Units

AP US History covers history in what is now the United States from 1491 to the present. There are eight main themes in the course separated into nine units, or time periods. For each of these themes, we'll go over the main historical topics associated with it.

Before that, though, here's a quick overview of the AP US History units and what percentage of the AP exam they each make up:

Source: 2019-20 AP US History Course and Exam Description

Theme 1: American and National Identity

Focuses on how and why definitions of American and national identity and values have developed among the diverse and changing population of North America as well as on related topics, such as citizenship, constitutionalism, foreign policy, assimilation, and American exceptionalism.

Theme 2: Work, Exchange, and Technology

Focuses on the factors behind the development of systems of economic exchange, particularly the role of technology, economic markets, and government.

Theme 3: Geography and the Environment

Focuses on the role of geography and both the natural and human-made environments in the social and political developments in what would become the United States.

Theme 4: Migration and Settlement

Focuses on why and how the various people who moved to and within the United States both adapted to and transformed their new social and physical environments.

Theme 5: Politics and Power

Focuses on how different social and political groups have influenced society and government in the United States and how political beliefs and institutions have changed over time.

Theme 6: America in the World

Focuses on the interactions between nations that affected North American history in the colonial period and on the influence of the United States on world affairs.

Theme 7: American and Regional Culture

Focuses on the how and why national, regional, and group cultures developed and changed as well as how culture has shaped government policy and the economy.

Theme 8: Social Structures

Focuses on how and why systems of social organization develop and change as well as the impact that these systems have on the broader society.

AP US History Content: Notes and Outlines

In this section, we'll give you notes on the AP US History course content so you can study the facts and connect them to the themes above.

The content is divided into nine units and historical periods. Under each time period, we'll list important topics with links to notes you can use. Every period also includes a link to at least one timeline of significant events. It's helpful to have these handy, so you get a better grasp of the chronology (which will be very helpful for free-response questions).

The timelines are from AP Study Notes , while the rest of the notes are from a different site called APnotes.net , which gives a more succinct overview of the content, with key dates and major events in bold. Overall, this resource is great for a quick review.

We recommend looking at the chapter outlines on AP Study Notes  to see a longer, more detailed description of historical trends and events in the United States.

Period 1: 1491-1607

• Timeline of Significant Events (1650 and earlier)
• "New World" beginnings
• Early English settlement

Period 2: 1607-1754

• Timeline of Significant Events (1650-1750)
• Settlement of the Northern colonies
• American life in the 17th century
• Colonial society leading up to the Revolution
• The fight for control of North America

Period 3: 1754-1800

• Timeline of Significant Events (1750-1775)
• The road to the American Revolution
• Timeline of Significant Events (1775-1800)
• Seceding from the British Empire
• The Confederation and the Constitution
• Starting up a new government

Period 4: 1800-1848

• Timeline of Significant Events (1800-1825)
• The Jeffersonian Republic
• Nationalism and the second war for independence
• Formation of a national economy
• Timeline of Significant Events (1825-1850)
• The rise of a mass democracy
• The ferment of reform and culture
• Controversy over slavery

Period 5: 1844-1877

• Timeline of Significant Events (1850-1875)
• Manifest destiny and its legacy
• The sectional struggle
• Leading up to the Civil War
• Civil War Part 1
• Civil War Part 2
• Reconstruction

Period 6: 1865-1898

• Timeline of Significant Events (1875-1900)
• Politics in the Gilded Age
• Industrial progress
• Development of cities
• Agricultural revolution and the West
• American imperialism

Period 7: 1890-1945

• Timeline of Significant Events (1900-1920)
• America on the world stage
• Progressivism and Theodore Roosevelt's presidency
• Wilsonian progressivism at home and abroad
• World War I
• Timeline of Significant Events (1920-1940)
• The Roaring Twenties
• Economic Boom and Bust
• The Great Depression and the New Deal
• FDR Presidency and the Road to WW2
• World War II

Period 8: 1945-1980

• Timeline of Significant Events (1940-1960)
• Start of the Cold War
• Eisenhower Era
• Timeline of Significant Events (1960-1970)
• Political and social unrest in the sixties
• Timeline of Significant Events (1970-1980)
• Stagnation in the seventies

Period 9: 1980-Present

• Timeline of Significant Events (1980-1990)
• Resurgence of Conservatism
• Clinton presidency and post-Cold War era
• Timeline of Significant Events (2000-Present)
• The start of the new century

Quick Reference Sheets

Here are some quick reference sheets you can use for further AP US History prep.

APUSH Teacher Creations

• Interactive timeline of major historical events in the US through 2015

CourseNotes

• Political parties in US History
• Important political documents in US History
• Important Supreme Court cases

Additional AP US History Resources to Test Your Knowledge

Here are some print and online resources you can use to review for the AP US History exam and smaller portions of the curriculum throughout the school year.

AP US History Review Books

Though not free, AP prep books can be excellent resources for your prep. Here are a few books we recommend getting your hands on :

• The Princeton Review's Cracking the AP US History Exam, 2022 Premium Edition
• Kaplan's AP US History Prep Plus 2020 & 2021
• REA's AP US History Crash Course for the 2020 Exam, 5th Edition

Read our full article on the best review books for APUSH for more details and advice!

Official College Board Materials

The following AP US History practice questions come directly from the College Board, so they're the most accurate representations of what you can expect on the actual test. Try to save these resources for later in your studying to get an accurate reading of your strengths and weaknesses when you're about to take the exam.

Note that older materials (pre-2019) are not aligned with the current exam format , so you will have to tweak your prep a bit to make them work.

• 2020 AP US History Course and Exam Description
• 2017 APUSH Practice Exam
• APUSH Free-Response Questions, 2015-2020 and 2021

Get more guidance on how to use official practice resources in our collection of APUSH practice tests .

Unofficial Practice Materials

Although College Board materials are the gold standard when it comes to APUSH prep, there are some good-quality unofficial resources you can make use of, too. Here are the best ones.

Quizlet Flashcards and Quizzes

These student-created sets of flashcards cover every single aspect of AP US History. You can study different sets depending on where you are in the course or which areas need the most improvement. After studying the terms, you can play games to review them and test your factual recall!

Historyteacher.net Mini Practice Quizzes

This site offers mini practice quizzes for every topic covered in the APUSH course . There are multiple-choice questions as well as "short-answer" questions (you get a drop-down menu of 12 answer choices). These won't help much with the more analytical elements of the test, but if you want to test your knowledge of facts, they'll serve you well.

Albert.io AP US History Practice Quizzes

Albert provides a series of quizzes on every topic in the current APUSH curriculum. As you go through them, the site gives you stats showing how you performed on questions of varying difficulty levels . This should help you figure out whether you've truly mastered the material.

Practice Quizzes for The American Pageant , 12th Edition

This helpful site contains chapter-by-chapter practice quizzes based on an old edition of The American Pageant APUSH textbook. Questions are multiple choice and true/false. This resource is more helpful for factual recall than for analysis questions.

CourseNotes AP US History Practice Quizzes

CourseNotes offers a total of six pages of multiple-choice quizzes on all the topics you need to know for the AP US History exam. Nice!

Varsity Tutors AP US History Practice Quizzes

A well-known test-prep company, Varsity Tutors has short multiple-choice practice quizzes on every APUSH topic as well.

Matching and Multiple-Choice Short Practice Quizzes

This website has sets of matching and multiple-choice questions for every period in US History.

They've got questions; YOU'VE got answers!

Wrap-Up: Making the Most of This AP US History Study Guide

AP US History covers eight major themes across nine time periods. It's hard to study this much material, which is why it's good to have a game plan!

To recap, the steps we recommend taking for your APUSH prep are:

#1: Take a full practice test #2: Catalog your mistakes #3: Study relevant content areas and practice multiple-choice questions #4: Practice planning and writing essays #5: Take a second full practice test

You can repeat these steps as necessary depending on how much you need to improve. As you review, also keep a few key tips in mind:

• Make thematic connections
• Read and repeat
• Practice writing essays frequently

Use the AP US History notes and resources provided above to get yourself up to speed. Also, make sure to start studying for the final exam at least one or two months before test day, so you're not going to be forced to cram for it!

What's Next?

Want more practice with Document-Based Questions? We've got an in-depth article on the best resources for DBQs that you can use in your studying.

Need even more APUSH study materials? Check out our complete list of free AP US History practice tests .

You can also check out our complete study guide to the New York US History Regents Exam . If you take it right after the AP US History exam, you might not need to study much at all!

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.

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How to Prep for APUSH Essays

Preparation is key to writing a quality APUSH essay. Knowing what and how to write are both skills that you can improve and cultivate through practice. Use the following suggestions to help you prep for your upcoming APUSH essays.

APUSH essays: long essay, short answer or DBQ?

APUSH exams actually contain three different types of essays: long essay, short answer and Data-Based Question (DBQ) . Each asks you to analyze and synthesize historical data, but vary in response format and content. Visit AP College Board to take a closer look at individual APUSH essay requirements.

Short Answer Response: 3 questions, 40 minute response time

Technically, short answer is not an essay at all, but rather a paragraph (or two) that concisely explain your ideas on a topic or prompt. Even though you are not writing a full-length essay for this section, keep in mind that your response still needs to read coherently and maintain focus – just like a standard writing. Short answer responses require three individual answers (parts A, B, C), each worth one point.

Data-based Question Essay: 1 question, 60 minutes response time

The DBQ essay focuses on topics exclusively from periods 3-8. In this section, you are given a series of historical documents that you must cite as evidence throughout your essay. Documents come in various forms: written materials, illustrations, graphs, charts or pictures.

A successful DBQ answer demonstrates the relationship between the provided document and a historical time period or theme. Cite the documents as evidence as well as use them to formulate an argument or express an opinion in order to maximize your DBQ score.

Long Essay: 1 question, 40 minutes response time

An update for the 2017-18, you can now choose from a selection of three essay topics: periods 1-3, 4-6 or 7-9. Each APUSH essay option focuses on the same themes and writing requirements, so choose the time period that best fits your skill set.

The long essay section is exactly what you expect from a typical essay: topic sentence, body paragraphs that cite historical evidence, strong closing. Add more paragraphs as necessary, but never write less than 5. This is your opportunity to demonstrate the depth of your APUSH knowledge, as well as your ability to make connections between historical time periods and content.

How to prepare an APUSH essay format

Regardless of format, APUSH essay responses that fully answer the question prompt and cite evidence tend to score the best. However, if essay-writing is not one of your current strengths, there are some tips you can follow to make writing in an APUSH essay format much easier.

1. Read the question prompt.

All the way through. At least twice. You may see the term “AP” in this section. In this case, “AP” does not stand for “Advance Placement”, but rather “address prompt”.

What is this prompt actually asking you to write? How are they asking you to write your response? Look for keywords such as compare/contrast, analyze or evaluate. These words are good indicators into which direction your APUSH essay should head.

There may be several, especially if you are being asked to state an opinion or formulate an argument. Note any commonalities between the documents. Do they share similar themes? Are they written by the same author? Do they represent ideals or events of a certain time period?

In order to best recall main events of a historical time period, AP College Board recommends using the acronym PERSIA. Essays that include the Political, Economic, Religious, Social, Intellectual and Artistic aspects of a certain time period show an overall understanding of historical context.

For short answer or DBQ essays, this may not be necessary, so use your best judgement. However, we recommend using a quick outline to help focus your thinking before writing your long essay. Taking a few minutes to organize your thoughts by jotting down notes or ideas that will help frame your thinking and make writing a structured essay much easier.

Practice makes perfect

Writing a quality essay is a skill. Like any skill, the more you practice, the better you get. Over the course of your APUSH study sessions, aim to write a total of 3-4 essays per section. If writing essays proves to be difficult, consider writing more often in order to hone your skills.

Even though it may seem daunting, also remember to practice your writing during timed sessions . Timing your writing helps you become aware of areas you may need to work on. It also forces you to focus your efforts into completing the prompt in its entirety each time you write. This is a great way to assess different areas of your writing process, so that you can make adjustments accordingly.

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2024 APUSH Exam Guide

14 min read • june 18, 2024

Your Guide to the 2024 AP US History Exam

We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP US History exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day.  Unlock Cram Mode  for access to our cram events—students who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions.

Format of the 2024 AP US History Exam

Going into test day, this is the exam format to expect:

• 55 questions in 55 minutes
• 3 questions in 40 minutes
• 1 DBQ with the recommended 60 minutes to complete
• 1 LEQ with the recommended 40 minutes to complete

Scoring Rubric for the 2024 AP US History exam

Multiple Choice: Earn a point for each correct answer. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.

Short Answer Question: 1 point is received for each correct piece of information. There are three parts labeled A-C and 1 point for each part, totaling a maximum of 3 points for each short answer question.

Document-Based Question:

Thesis = 1pt

Contextualization = 1 pt

Evidence = 3 pts

• 2 pts for evidence in documents
• 1 pt for evidence beyond documents Analysis and Reasoning = 2 pts
• 1 pt for sourcing
• 1 pt for complexity Long Essay Question:

Evidence = 2 pts

Analysis and Reasoning = 2 pts

📖 DBQ, LEQ, & SAQ Rubrics Points Explained

Check out our study plan below to find resources and tools to prepare for your AP US History exam.

When is the 2024 AP US History Exam and How Do I Take It?

** The exam will be in-person and on paper at your school on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 8:00 AM your local time.  **

You will have 3 hours and 15 minutes to take the exam. 

How Should I Prepare for the APUSH Exam?

• First, download the  AP United States History Cheatsheet PDF - a single sheet that covers everything you need to know at a high level. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses!
• We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.
• Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via  Cram Mode . Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.

Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment

Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.

🖥 Create a study space.

Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space. 

📚 Organize your study materials.

Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also, create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!

📅 Plan designated times for studying.

The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.

🏆 Decide on an accountability plan.

How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First, set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused!

AP US History 2024 Study Plan

🌽 unit 1: period 1, 1491-1607, big takeaways:.

Unit 1 introduces the Americas as a place of interaction. It first discusses the diversity of Native Americans prior to contact with Europeans (symbolized by 1491, the year before Columbus). Then, the unit pivots into interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans as well as between rival European powers. It ends in 1607 with the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. 

Definitely do this:

📚 Read these study guides:

Overview of Unit 1

1.1 European Encounters in the Americas

1.2 Native American Societies Before European Contact

1.3 European Exploration in the Americas

1.4 Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest

1.5 Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System

1.6 Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans

1.7 Causation in Period 1 🎥 Watch these videos:  

Unit 1 Full Review: A full review of the main concepts, plus practice questions

Interactions Between Native Americans and Europeans : A deeper dive into interactions during Period 1 📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

Native American Societies Before European Contact

Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, & Africans

Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System

Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, & Spanish Conquest

If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

📰 Check out these articles:  

• The Columbian Exchange (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• How the Humble Potato Changed the World (BBC)
• The Columbian Exchange Should Be Called the Columbian Extraction (JSTOR)
• The Americas to 1620 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

🦃 Unit 2: Period 2, 1607-1754

Unit 2 dives more into the European colonization of the Americas. This involves comparing European countries to each other and then mostly focusing on the English who settled much of what would later become the United States of America. The rise of African slavery and continued interactions and conflict with Native Americans also plays an important role. 

Overview of Unit 2

2.1 Contextualizing Period 2

2.2 European Colonization

2.3 The Regions of British Colonies

2.4 Transatlantic Trade

2.5 Interactions Between American Indians and Europeans

2.6 Slavery in the British Colonies

2.7 Colonial Society and Culture

2.8 Comparison in Period 2 🎥 Watch these videos:  

Unit 2 Full Review : A full review of the main concepts

Colony Comparison : A deeper dive into the different British North American colonies during unit 2

The Impact of African Slavery on the Colonies : A deeper dive into coercive labor systems in unit 2 📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

Period 2: Interactions Between Europeans and Native Americans 

Transatlantic Trade

Colonial Society & Culture

• Jamestown and the Founding of English America (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Puritans and Dissent: The Cases of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Origins of Slavery (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)

🇺🇸 Unit 3: Period 3, 1754-1800

Unit 3 sees the creation of the United States as a country out of thirteen British North American colonies. The unit then covers the early Republic, focusing on the creation of the Constitution, the first federal government, and the administrations of Washington & Adams.

Overview of Unit 3

3.1 Contextualizing Period 3

3.2 The Seven Years’ War (The French and Indian War)

3.3 Taxation Without Representation

3.4 Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

3.5 The American Revolution

3.6 The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals

3.7 The Articles of Confederation

3.8 The Constitutional Convention and Debates over Ratification

3.9 The Constitution

3.10 Shaping a New Republic

3.11 Developing an American Identity

3.12 Movement in the Early Republic

3.13 Continuity and Change in Period 3 🎥 Watch these videos:

Unit 3 Full Review:  A full review of the main concepts

Key Documents and Foundations of the American Revolution : Review the American revolution and practice your HIPP analysis for the DBQ

Historical Thinking Skills in Period 3 : Review using the skills the exam tests

The American Revolution 📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

Unit 3 Overview: Contextualization 

Continuity and Change in Period 3

The American Revolution

The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals

📰 Check out these articles:

• The American Revolution, 1763–1783 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The New Nation, 1783–1815 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Legal Status of Women, 1776–1830 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Unruly Americans in the Revolution (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Developing an American Identity (Fiveable Study Guide)

🚂 Unit 4: Period 4, 1800-1848

Unit 4 is when the United States begins to grow into its own identity as a country. It includes massive expansions of democracy through Jefferson & Jackson, the economic and social upheaval of the Market Revolution and Second Great Awakening, and also sees continued migration westward.

Overview of Unit 4

4.1 Contextualizing Period 4

4.2 The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson

4.3 Politics and Regional Interests

4.4 America on the World Stage

4.5 Market Revolution: Industrialization

4.6 Market Revolution: Society and Culture

4.7 Expanding Democracy

4.8 Jackson and Federal Power

4.9 The Development of an American Culture

4.10 The Second Great Awakening

4.11 An Age of Reform

4.12 African Americans in the Early Republic

4.13 The Society of the South in the Early Republic

 4.14 Causation in Period 4 🎥 Watch these videos:  

Putting Period 4 in Context

The Rise of Political Parties

The Market Revolution

The First & Second Great Awakenings & Antebellum Reform Movements

Manifest Destiny and Its Impacts 📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

Unit 4 Overview: Contextualization  

Expansion of Democracy

America on the World Stage in Period 4

The Age of Reform

• The South in the Early Republic (Fiveable Study Guide)
• Context: Development of the Republic (Fiveable Study Guide)
• National Expansion and Reform, 1815–1860 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The First Age of Reform (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Abolition and Antebellum Reform (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Seneca Falls Convention (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Causation in Period 4 (Fiveable Study Guide)

💣 Unit 5: Period 5, 1844-1877

Unit 5 is all about the Civil War: the road to the Civil War, the war itself, and its aftermath called Reconstruction. Westward expansion and migration/immigration continue to be a big deal during this time period, and conflicts over slavery and rights for African Americans dominate the political discussions. 

Overview of Unit 5

5.1 Contextualizing Period 5

5.2 Manifest Destiny

5.3 The Mexican–American War

5.4 The Compromise of 1850

5.5 Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences

5.6 Failure of Compromise

5.7 Election of 1860 and Secession

5.8 Military Conflict in the Civil War

5.9 Government Policies During the Civil War

5.10 Reconstruction

5.11 Failure of Reconstruction

5.12 Comparison in Period 5, 1844-1877 🎥 Watch these videos:  

Period 5 Review : A complete review of all the major concepts

Putting Period 5 in Context

The Election of 1860 📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

Government Policies During the Civil War 

Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences

The Compromise of 1850

The Failure of Compromise

Reconstruction

• Context: Sectional Conflict (Fiveable Study Guide)
• The 1860 Election & Secession (Fiveable Study Guide)
• Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Contentious Election of 1876 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Government Policies During the Civil War (Fiveable Study Guide)

💰 Unit 6: Period 6, 1865-1898

Unit 6 overlaps with Period 5, but it begins after the Civil War and is not as focused on Reconstruction. Its main focus is the Second Industrial Revolution, sometimes called the Gilded Age in the United States, and on the Western United States.

Overview of Unit 6

6.1 Contextualizing Period 6

6.2 Westward Expansion: Economic Development

6.3 Westward Expansion: Social and Cultural Development

6.4 The “New South”

6.5 Technological Innovation

6.6 The Rise of Industrial Capitalism

6.7 Labor in the Gilded Age

6.8 Immigration and Migration in the Gilded Age

6.9 Responses to Immigration in the Gilded Age

6.10 Development of the Middle Class

6.11 Reform in the Gilded Age

6.12 Controversies over the Role of Government in the Gilded Age

6.13 Politics in the Gilded Age

6.14 Continuity and Change in Period 6 🎥 Watch these videos:   

Review of Period 6 : A complete review of all the major concepts

The Rise of Industrialization & City Life during the Gilded Age 📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

The Rise of Industrial Capitalism 

Immigration & Migration

Labor in the Gilded Age

Westward Expansion: Social & Cultural Developments

• Responses to Immigration  (Fiveable Study Guide)
• The Rise of Industrial America, 1877-1900 (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Gilded Age (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Immigration & Migration (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Born Modern: An Overview of the West (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Politics in the Gilded Age (Fiveable Study Guide)

🌎 Unit 7: Period 7, 1890-1945

Unit 7 is a massive unit, so you need to keep an eye on both domestic and foreign policy. Foreign policy becomes a big deal thanks to US involvement in several wars, including the two World Wars. Domestically, the Progressive Era tries to tackle the problems of the Gilded Age, plus there is the massive up and down of the “Roaring” 1920s and then the Great Depression and New Deal of the 1930s. 

Overview of Unit 7

7.1 Contextualizing Period 7

7.2 Imperialism: Debates

7.3 The Spanish-American War

7.4 The Progressives

7.5 World War I: Military and Diplomacy

7.6 World War I: The Home Front

7.7 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology

7.8 1920s: Cultural and Political Controversies

7.9 The Great Depression

7.10 The New Deal

7.11 Interwar Foreign Policy

7.12 World War II: Mobilization

7.13 World War II: Military

7.14 Postwar Diplomacy

7.15 Comparison in Period 7 🎥 Watch these videos:  

USA’s Shift Toward Empire Building

Early 20th Century Progressive Era & World War One

1920s & 1930s: An Overview

The Great Depression & New Deal 📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:  

Unit 7 Overview & Context 

1920s Cultural & Political Controversies 

The Great Depression 

World War Two: Military

• Context: America in the World (Fiveable Study Guide)
• 1920s Innovations (Fiveable Study Guide)
• Postwar Diplomacy (Fiveable Study Guide)
• The Politics of Reform: An Overview of the Progressives (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• World War I (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Roaring Twenties (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Great Depression (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The New Deal (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• World War II  (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The World War II Homefront (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Interwar Foreign Policy (Fiveable Study Guide)

🥶 UNIT 8: Period 8, 1945-1980

Unit 8 focuses on the effects of the World Wars, including the Cold War and the Red Scare. This unit also dives into the social movements that happened at this time, namely the Civil Rights Movement, and addresses how this was a period of social transition within the United States, changing the course of future generations. 

Overview of Unit 8

8.1 Contextualizing Period 8

8.2 The Cold War from 1945 to 1980

8.3 The Red Scare

8.4 The Economy After 1945

8.5 Culture After 1945

8.6 Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement (1940s and 1950s)

8.7 America as a World Power

8.8 The Vietnam War

8.9 The Great Society

8.10 The African American Civil Rights Movement (1960s)

8.11 The Civil Rights Movement Expands

8.12 Youth Culture in the 1960s

8.13 The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980

8.14 Society in Transition

8.15 Continuity and Change in Period 8 🎥 Watch these videos:  

Period 8 & 9 Complete Review

The Cold War

Review of Major Events in the 1960s - Review of Major Events in the 1970s

Introduction to the Civil Rights Movement

More details about the Civil Rights Movement

The Vietnam War 📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

Period 8 Review

The Red Scare 

The Vietnam War

Culture and  Economy After 1945

• The Civil Rights Movement
• Environment and Natural Resources
• The Transition of Society
• The Great Society
• Contextualizing Period 8 (Fiveable Study Guide)
• The Civil Rights Movement (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Korean War (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• The Vietnam War (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Anti-Communism & the Red Scare (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Continuity & Change of Period 8 (Fiveable Study Guide)

📲 UNIT 9: Period 9, 1980-Present

Unit 9 is the final unit of AP US History, and it covers Reagan and the rise of conservative politics, the end of the Cold War in 1991, as well as the changes in the economy, society, and emigration and migration throughout this period. This unit also contextualizes the challenges faced in the modern-day due to the growth of technology and other aspects of the 21st century.

Overview of Unit 9

9.1 Contextualizing Period 9

9.2 Reagan and Conservatism

9.3 The End of the Cold War

9.4 A Changing Economy

9.5 Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000s

9.6 Challenges of the 21st Century

9.7 Causation in Period 9 🎥 Watch these videos:   

Period 8 & 9 Complete Review 📰 Check out these Fiveable study guides:

Period 9 Review

The Changing Economy

Migration and Immigration

Challenges of the 21st Century

• Unit 9 Contextualization (Fiveable Study Guide)
• 1945 to the Present Day (Gilder Lehrman APUSH Review)
• Causation in Unit 9 (Fiveable Study Guide)

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AP United States History

Learn all about the course and exam. Already enrolled? Join your class in My AP.

Not a Student?

Go to AP Central for resources for teachers, administrators, and coordinators.

About the Course

How did the United States become THE United States? What happened to the American economy when factories went from being powered by water to powered by coal? Or how have definitions of who is, and who is not, a U.S. citizen changed over time? In AP United States History, you’ll explore and try to answer questions like these, while discussing the ways in which Americans have debated their values, practices, and traditions since even before the country’s founding.

Skills You'll Learn

Evaluating primary and secondary sources

Analyzing the claims, evidence, and reasoning you find in sources

Putting historical developments in context and making connections between them

Coming up with a claim or thesis and explaining and supporting it in writing

Equivalency and Prerequisites

College course equivalent.

A two-semester introductory college course in U.S. history

Recommended Prerequisites

Fri, May 9, 2025

AP U.S. History Exam

This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP United States History Exam.

About the Units

The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.

Course Content

Unit 1: period 1: 1491–1607.

You’ll learn about Native American societies as well as how and why Europeans first explored, and then began to colonize, the Americas.

Topics may include:

• Native American societies before European contact
• European exploration in the New World
• The Columbian Exchange
• Labor, slavery, and caste in the Spanish colonial system
• Cultural interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans

On The Exam

4%–6% of score

Unit 2: Period 2: 1607–1754

You'll study the colonies established in the New World by the Spanish, French, Dutch, and British.

• How different European colonies developed and expanded
• Transatlantic trade
• Interactions between American Indians and Europeans
• Slavery in the British colonies
• Colonial society and culture

6%–8% of score

Unit 3: Period 3: 1754–1800

You'll explore the events that led to the American Revolution and the formation of the United States and examine the early years of the republic.

• The Seven Years’ War
• The American Revolution
• The Articles of Confederation
• The creation and ratification of the Constitution
• Developing an American identity
• Immigration to and migration within America

10%–17% of score

Unit 4: Period 4: 1800–1848

You’ll examine how the young nation developed politically, culturally, and economically in this period.

• The rise of political parties
• American foreign policy
• Innovations in technology, agriculture, and business
• Debates about federal power
• The Second Great Awakening
• Reform movements
• The experience of African Americans

Unit 5: Period 5: 1844–1877

You’ll learn how the nation expanded and you’ll explore the events that led to the secession of Southern states and the Civil War.

• Manifest Destiny
• The Mexican–American War
• Attempts to resolve conflicts over the spread of slavery
• The election of 1860 and Southern secession
• The Civil War
• Reconstruction

Unit 6: Period 6: 1865–1898

You’ll examine the nation’s economic and demographic shifts in this period and their links to cultural and political changes.

• The settlement of the West
• The "New South"
• The rise of industrial capitalism
• Immigration and migration
• Debates about the role of government

Unit 7: Period 7: 1890–1945

You’ll examine America’s changing society and culture and the causes and effects of the global wars and economic meltdown of this period.

• Debates over imperialism
• The Progressive movement
• World War I
• Innovations in communications and technology in the 1920s
• The Great Depression and the New Deal
• World War II
• Postwar diplomacy

Unit 8: Period 8: 1945–1980

You’ll learn about the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States, the growth of various civil rights movements, and the economic, cultural, and political transformations of this period.

• The Cold War and the Red Scare
• America as a world power
• The Vietnam War
• The Great Society
• The African American civil rights movement
• Youth culture of the 1960s

Unit 9: Period 9: 1980–Present

You’ll learn about the advance of political conservatism, developments in science and technology, and demographic shifts that had major cultural and political consequences in this period.

• Reagan and conservatism
• The end of the Cold War
• Shifts in the economy
• Migration and immigration
• Challenges of the 21st century

Credit and Placement

Search AP Credit Policies

Find colleges that grant credit and/or placement for AP Exam scores in this and other AP courses.

Course Resources

Ap classroom resources.

Once you join your AP class section online, you’ll be able to access AP Daily videos, any assignments from your teacher, and your assignment results in AP Classroom. Sign in to access them.

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United States History Reading Study Skills

Review these tips to help you better understand and analyze the material you’ll read in this course.

United States History Writing Study Skills

Read these suggestions for writing a good essay, such as one you’d write as a response to a document-based question or other free-response question on the exam.

AP U.S. History Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and the AP Program in general.

See Where AP Can Take You

AP United States History can lead to a wide range of careers and college majors

Additional Information

AP United States History

Ap u.s. history course and exam description.

This is the core document for the course.

Course Overview

AP U.S. History is an introductory college-level U.S. history course. Students cultivate their understanding of U.S. history from c. 1491 CE to the present through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like American and national identity; work, exchange, and technology; geography and the environment; migration and settlement; politics and power; America in the world; American and regional culture; and social structures.​​​​​​

Rubrics Updated for 2023-24

We’ve updated the AP U.S. History document-based question (DBQ) and long essay question (LEQ) rubrics for the 2023-24 school year. 

This change only affects the DBQ and LEQ scoring, with no change to the course or the exam: the exam format, course framework, and skills assessed on the exam all remain unchanged.

The course and exam description (CED) has been updated to include: 

• Revised rubrics (general scoring criteria) for the DBQ and LEQ.
• Revised scoring guidelines for the sample DBQ and LEQ within the CED.

Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for this course. Unit guides clearly lay out the course content and skills and recommend sequencing and pacing for them throughout the year. It was updated in the fall of 2023 to include revised scoring rubrics and scoring guidelines for the example questions.

Course Resources

Ap u.s. history course overview.

This resource provides a succinct description of the course and exam.

AP U.S. History Course at a Glance

Excerpted from the AP U.S. History Course and Exam Description, the Course at a Glance document outlines the topics and skills covered on the AP U.S. History Exam, along with suggestions for sequencing.

Course Content

Influenced by the Understanding by Design® (Wiggins and McTighe) model, this course framework provides a description of the course requirements necessary for student success.

The AP U.S. History framework is organized into nine commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.

Historical Thinking Skills

The AP U.S. History framework included in the course and exam description outlines distinct skills that students should practice throughout the year—skills that will help them learn to think and act like historians.

AP and Higher Education

Higher education professionals play a key role in developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Education section features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.

This chart  shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the  AP Credit Policy Search .

Meet the Development Committee for AP U.S. History

The AP Program is unique in its reliance on Development Committees. These committees, made up of an equal number of college faculty and experienced secondary AP teachers from across the country, are essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams.

AP United States History Development Committee