---
title: "Unit 9 – Cold War and Contemporary Europe - AP European History"
description: "Review Unit 9 – Cold War and Contemporary Europe for AP European History with Fiveable study guides and practice resources."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-euro/unit-9"
type: "unit"
subject: "AP European History"
unit: "Unit 9 – Cold War and Contemporary Europe"
---

# Unit 9 – Cold War and Contemporary Europe - AP European History

## Overview

Review Unit 9 – Cold War and Contemporary Europe for AP European History with Fiveable study guides and practice resources.

## Study Guides

- [9.7 The Fall of Communism](/ap-euro/unit-9/fall-communism/study-guide/2XrFmx0egdpTyoZPsubl)
- [9.6 Contemporary Western Democracies](/ap-euro/unit-9/contemporary-western-democracies/study-guide/62fKzNuE3YVkrAE6QVVT)
- [9.15 Continuity and Change in the 20th and 21st Centuries](/ap-euro/unit-9/continuity-change-20th-21st-centuries/study-guide/7jJ17O0bfQD5TAWIYtzn)
- [9.5 Postwar Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, and Atrocities](/ap-euro/unit-9/postwar-nationalism-ethnic-conflict-atrocities/study-guide/McAhpSNnN1mwuanR8VOu)
- [9.12 Technological Developments Since 1914](/ap-euro/unit-9/technology/study-guide/MUOC9vysuw8yZolAm5gI)
- [9.3 The Cold War](/ap-euro/unit-9/cold-war/study-guide/XtWQDaLVAJNKhS2uobTa)
- [9.4 Two Super Powers Emerge](/ap-euro/unit-9/two-superpowers-emerge/study-guide/dAdAjyP3ACYnfKXch6jj)
- [9.11 Migrations within and to Europe Since 1945](/ap-euro/unit-9/migration-immigration/study-guide/dZWCGzQoQ4erRpeJLGIK)
- [9.2 Rebuilding Europe After World War II](/ap-euro/unit-9/rebuilding-europe/study-guide/nfVlEh0Lv07QW46BFVY4)
- [9.14 20th- and 21st-Century Culture, Arts, and Demographic Trends](/ap-euro/unit-9/21st-century-culture-arts-demographic-trends/study-guide/rxa2123n4dbvPTAmDi4K)
- [9.13 Globalization](/ap-euro/unit-9/globalization/study-guide/tOUk5SAadN8wO1PzHFTm)
- [9.9 Decolonization](/ap-euro/unit-9/decolonization/study-guide/yfdRP1jwcXAOuMTqFrJ1)
- [9.8 20th-Century Feminism](/ap-euro/unit-9/20th-century-feminism/study-guide/VONf7XdoEUx9IO9y9Xp5)
- [9.10 The European Union](/ap-euro/unit-9/european-union/study-guide/sow0bZc5ydppEwtZ3zFK)
- [9.1 Context of the Cold War and Contemporary Europe](/ap-euro/unit-9/context-cold-war-contemporary-europe/study-guide/tMdX4w3SkXpVHCjat9SK)

## FAQs

### What topics are covered in AP Euro Unit 9?

AP Euro Unit 9 covers 15 topics spanning the Cold War era through contemporary Europe. Key topics include Rebuilding Europe, The Cold War, Two Superpowers Emerge, The Fall of Communism, Decolonization, 20th-Century Feminism, The European Union, Migration and Immigration, Globalization, and 20th- and 21st-Century Culture, Arts, and Demographic Trends. The unit opens with 9.1 Contextualizing Cold War and Contemporary Europe and closes with 9.15 Continuity and Change in the 20th and 21st Centuries. See the full topic list at [/ap-euro/unit-9](/ap-euro/unit-9).

### How much of the AP Euro exam is Unit 9?

AP Euro Unit 9 makes up 15-20% of the AP exam, making it one of the more heavily tested units. The unit covers the Cold War, the rise of the European Union, decolonization, the fall of communism, and contemporary issues like globalization and migration. Expect multiple-choice questions and free-response prompts that draw on this material.

### What's on the AP Euro Unit 9 progress check (MCQ and FRQ)?

The AP Euro Unit 9 progress check includes both MCQ and FRQ parts that test your understanding of the Cold War, the European Union, decolonization, the fall of communism, and contemporary European society. The MCQ section asks you to analyze primary sources and historical arguments tied to topics like Two Superpowers Emerge and Postwar Nationalism. The FRQ part typically asks you to construct a short-answer or document-based argument using evidence from this unit's themes. For matched practice questions that mirror the progress check format, head to [/ap-euro/unit-9](/ap-euro/unit-9).

### How do I practice AP Euro Unit 9 FRQs?

To practice AP Euro Unit 9 FRQs, focus on the topics that generate the most free-response prompts: the Cold War, the European Union, decolonization, and the fall of communism. College Board uses all three FRQ types here, including short-answer questions (SAQ), long-essay questions (LEQ), and document-based questions (DBQ) that ask you to analyze causation, continuity and change over time, or comparison across these themes. A strong approach is to outline responses for topics like 20th-Century Feminism and Postwar Nationalism before writing full answers. Practice rubric-scoring your own work. Find FRQ prompts and guided practice at [/ap-euro/unit-9](/ap-euro/unit-9).

### Where can I find AP Euro Unit 9 practice questions?

The best place to find AP Euro Unit 9 practice questions, including multiple-choice and practice test sets, is [/ap-euro/unit-9](/ap-euro/unit-9). There you'll find MCQ questions tied to specific topics like the Cold War, the European Union, Globalization, and Migration and Immigration, along with FRQ practice that mirrors what College Board tests. Working through topic-by-topic MCQ sets is the most efficient way to build confidence before a full practice test.

### How should I study AP Euro Unit 9?

Start by building a clear timeline from the end of World War II through the Cold War to contemporary Europe, since this unit spans roughly 80 years of rapid change. Prioritize the big turning points: the Marshall Plan and rebuilding Europe, the Cold War rivalry between superpowers, the fall of communism, and the formation of the European Union. Then layer in the social history topics like 20th-Century Feminism, Decolonization, and Migration and Immigration, which show up frequently in SAQ and DBQ prompts. A practical study plan looks like this:
- Review each of the 15 topics in order at [/ap-euro/unit-9](/ap-euro/unit-9)
- For each topic, identify one cause, one key event, and one lasting effect
- Practice connecting topics across the unit, for example linking Decolonization to Postwar Nationalism and Migration
- Write at least two timed FRQ responses using Cold War or European Union prompts
- Quiz yourself on MCQs to check retention before moving on This unit carries 15-20% of the exam, so steady review over several sessions beats cramming.

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