Embarking on your AP American History journey? Navigate the challenges with this comprehensive study guide, designed to empower you with the knowledge and skills to excel in the exam.
Unit 1: Founding Principles and the American Revolution
Key Concepts
- The Enlightenment and its impact on the American Revolution
- The Declaration of Independence and its significance
- The Articles of Confederation and their weaknesses
- The Constitution and the creation of a federal government
- The Bill of Rights and its protection of individual liberties
Historical Events and Figures
- The Boston Tea Party
- The battles of Lexington and Concord
- The Declaration of Independence (1776)
- The ratification of the Constitution (1788)
- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin
Unit 2: Expansion and Reform
Key Concepts
- The Louisiana Purchase and the westward expansion
- The Indian Removal Act and its consequences
- The rise of abolitionism and the fight against slavery
- The Mexican-American War and its territorial gains
- The California Gold Rush and its impact on the economy
Historical Events and Figures
- The Louisiana Purchase (1803)
- The Battle of New Orleans (1815)
- The Missouri Compromise (1820)
- The Nat Turner Rebellion (1831)
- The Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
Unit 3: Civil War and Reconstruction
Key Concepts
- The causes and outbreak of the Civil War
- The Emancipation Proclamation and its impact on slavery
- The Reconstruction era and its challenges
- The rise of Jim Crow laws and their consequences
- The end of Reconstruction and the legacy of racial injustice
Historical Events and Figures
- The Battle of Fort Sumter (1861)
- The Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
- The Gettysburg Address (1863)
- The Thirteenth Amendment (1865)
- The Ku Klux Klan and its terror tactics
Unit 4: The Gilded Age and Progressivism
Key Concepts
- The rise of industrial capitalism and its impact on society
- The Gilded Age and its social and economic inequality
- The Progressive Era and its reforms
- World War I and its impact on American society
- The Roaring Twenties and its cultural and economic prosperity
Historical Events and Figures
- The Homestead Strike (1892)
- The Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)
- The Progressive Era (late 19th century – early 20th century)
- World War I (1914-1918)
- The Great Depression (1929-1939)
Unit 5: The New Deal and World War II
Key Concepts
- The causes and impact of the Great Depression
- The New Deal and its response to the economic crisis
- World War II and its global consequences
- The Holocaust and its horrors
- The Cold War and its impact on American foreign policy
Historical Events and Figures
- The Stock Market Crash of 1929
- The New Deal (1933-1939)
- The attack on Pearl Harbor (1941)
- The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945)
- The Cold War (1947-1991)
Unit 6: Postwar America
Key Concepts
- The baby boom and its impact on American society
- The civil rights movement and its fight for equality
- The Vietnam War and its consequences
- The Watergate scandal and its erosion of public trust
- The Reagan Revolution and its impact on American politics
Historical Events and Figures
- The baby boom (1946-1964)
- The Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case (1954)
- The Vietnam War (1954-1975)
- The Watergate scandal (1972-1974)
- The Reagan Revolution (1980-1988)
Unit 7: Contemporary America
Key Concepts
- The end of the Cold War and its impact on global politics
- The rise of globalization and its impact on the American economy
- The War on Terror and its consequences
- The Great Recession and its economic devastation
- The rise of social media and its impact on society
Historical Events and Figures
- The fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)
- The September 11 attacks (2001)
- The Great Recession (2007-2009)
- The rise of social media (late 1990s – present)
- The COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
Exam Structure and Tips
- Multiple Choice: 55 questions (45 minutes)
- Document-Based Question: 1 question (55 minutes)
- Free-Response Questions: 3 questions (130 minutes)
Tips for success:
- Study regularly and review frequently
- Focus on understanding the historical context and concepts
- Practice answering multiple choice questions and writing essays
- Utilize a variety of resources, including textbooks, online materials, and primary sources
- Seek help from teachers, tutors, or online forums if needed
AP American History Course Statistics
- Number of students who took the AP American History exam: 418,656 (2023)
- Percentage of students who received a passing score (3 or higher): 62.3% (2023)
- Average score: 2.90 (on a scale of 1 to 5)
By following this comprehensive study guide and dedicating yourself to your studies, you can increase your chances of achieving success in the AP American History exam.
