🇺🇸AP US History study guides

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AP US History Exam →

Document-Based Question (DBQ)

Short Answer Questions (SAQ)

Long Essay Question (LEQ)

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ)

Unit 1 – Interactions North America, 1491–1607 →

1.0

Unit 1 Overview: Early Contact with the New World (1491-1607)

1.1

Context: 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

Unit 2 – Colonial Society, 1607–1754 →

2.0

Unit 2 Overview: Colonization of North America (1607-1754)

2.1

Context: European Colonization

2.2

European Colonization

2.3

The Regions of the British Colonies

2.4

Transatlantic Trade

2.5

Interactions between Native Americans and Europeans

2.6

Slavery in the British Colonies

2.7

Colonial Society and Culture

2.8

Comparison in Period 2

Unit 3 – Conflict and American Independence, 1754–1800 →

3.0

Unit 3 Overview: Conflict & American Independence (1754-1800)

3.1

Context: The Revolutionary Period

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 (1754-1800)

Unit 4 – American Expansion, 1800–1848 →

4.0

Unit 4 Overview: Beginnings of Modern American Democracy (1800-1848)

4.1

Context of Early American Democracy

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, 1800-1848

Unit 5 – Civil War and Reconstruction, 1848–1877 →

5.0

Unit 5 Overview: Toward the Civil War & Reconstruction (1848-1877)

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

Unit 6 – Industrialization and the Gilded Age, 1865–1898 →

6.0

Unit 6 Overview: The Industrial Revolution (1865-1898)

6.1

Context of Industrialization and the Gilded Age

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

6.9

Responses to Immigration

6.10

Development of the Middle Class

6.11

Reform in the Gilded Age

6.12

Controversies over the Role of Government

6.13

Politics in the Gilded Age

6.14

Continuity and Change in Period 6

Unit 7 – Conflict in the Early 20th Century, 1890–1945 →

7.0

Unit 7 Overview: The Early 20th Century (1890-1945)

7.1

Context: America in the World

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: Home Front

7.7

1920s: Innovations

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

Unit 8 – The Postwar Period and Cold War, 1945–1980 →

8.0

Unit 8 Overview: The Postwar Period & Cold War (1945-1980)

8.1

Context: U.S. as a Global Leader

8.2

The Cold War from 1945 to 1980

8.3

The Red Scare

8.4

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 Expansion of the Civil Rights Movement

8.12

Youth Culture of the 1960s

8.13

The Environment and Natural Resources

8.14

Society in Transition

8.15

Continuity and Change in Period 8

Unit 9 – Entering Into the 21st Century, 1980–Present →

9.0

Unit 9 Overview: Entering Into the 21st Century (1980-Present)

9.1

Context: Present Day America

9.2

Reagan and Conservatism

9.3

The End of the Cold War

9.4

A Changing Economy

9.5

Migration and Immigration

9.6

Challenges of the 21st Century

9.7

Causation in Period 9

Frequently Asked Questions →

10-Minute Overview of APUSH with Tom Richey

Is AP US History Hard? Is AP US History Worth Taking?

What APUSH Actually Taught Me

How do I read secondary sources in APUSH?

How to Take Notes for APUSH

Best Quizlet Decks for Every APUSH Unit

How did Enlightenment thinking affect the American Revolution?

How Do I Self-Study AP US History?

The Top 10 APUSH Textbooks

Study Guides for Every AP US History Unit

AP US History: Mercantilism

A Brief Overview of The Cold War

What Are the Best AP US History Textbooks and Prep Books?

How to Survive APUSH (with Tom Richey)

98 Important Dates To Know for AP US History

How Can I Get a 5 in AP US History?

What caused the American Revolution?

What Are the Best Quizlet Decks for AP US History?

What is AP US History?

The OG colonies

How Can I Be Prepared for the AP US History FRQs?

APUSH 2023 DBQ Rubric Changes

AMSCO Notes →

AMSCO 1.2:Native American Societies Before European Contact Notes

AMSCO 2.1 Context: European Colonization of North America Notes

AMSCO 2.2 European Colonization Notes

AMSCO 2.3 The Regions of the British Colonies Notes

AMSCO 2.4 Transatlantic Trade Notes

AMSCO 2.5 Interactions between American Indians and Europeans Notes

AMSCO 2.6 Slavery in the British Colonies Notes

AMSCO 2.7 Colonial Society and Culture Notes

AMSCO 2.8 Comparison in Period 2 (1607-1754) Notes

Subject Guides →

APUSH Period 1 Review (1491-1607)

Using Dates as an Exam Strategy - Stream Slides

APUSH Student Skills - Slides

Building Your Study Skills and DBQ Skills - Slides

APUSH Period 7 Review (1898-1945)

Inside the Exam - Strategies and Advice from an APUSH Reader - Stream Slides

APUSH Period 8 Review (1945-1980)

APUSH Period 4 Review (1800-1848)

APUSH Period 9 Review (1980-Present)

APUSH Period 6: The Gilded Age (1865-1898)

APUSH Period 5 Review (1844-1877)

APUSH Period 2 Review (1607-1754)

APUSH Period 3 Review (1754-1800)

Thematic Guides →

Theme 1 (NAT) - American and National Identity

Theme 2 (WXT) - Work, Exchange, and Technology

Theme 3 (GEO) - Geography and The Environment

Theme 4 (MIG) - Migration and Settlement

Theme 5 (PCE) - Politics and Power

Theme 6 (WOR) - Americans in the World

Theme 7 (ARC) - American and Regional Culture

Theme 8 (SOC): Social Structures

Exam Skills →

Multiple Choice & SAQs - Slides

Exam Part I: Multiple Choice and SAQ - Slides

AP US History Multiple Choice Questions

Score Higher on AP US History: MCQ Tips from Students

Score Higher on AP US History: Tips for Short Answer Questions

Score Higher on AP US History: Tips for DBQs

Score Higher on AP US History: Tips for LEQs

Unit 8 LEQ (The Civil Rights Movement) Answers

Unit 2 SAQ (The Colonies) Answers

Unit 2 SAQ (The Colonies)

APUSH Unit 1 SAQ (Land Ownership) with Feedback

Unit 5 SAQ (Slavery Between 1844-1865)

How to Pre-Write Your Essay for AP US History

Unit 1 SAQ (The New World) Answers

APUSH Unit 5 LEQ (African Americans in 1840-1880) with Feedback

Unit 3 DBQ (Economic Issues) Answers

APUSH Unit 6 Practice DBQ Prompt Answers & Feedback

Unit 7 DBQ (International Expansion)

Unit 4 LEQ (The Market Revolution) Answers

Unit 6 SAQ (Interpretation of Immigrants) Answers

Unit 8 LEQ (The Civil Rights Movement)

Unit 3 SAQ (Land Ownership) with Feedback

Unit 1 SAQ (The New World)

APUSH Last Minute Review - Slides

Unit 3 DBQ (Economic Issues)

Unit 4 LEQ (The Market Revolution)

Unit 6 SAQ (Interpretation of Immigrants)

Unit 5 SAQ (Slavery Between 1844-1865) Answers

Unit 7 DBQ (International Expansion) Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does APUSH cover?

APUSH covers U.S. history from early America through the present, including colonization, the Constitution, sectional conflict, reform, industrialization, war, and modern political and social change.

How should I use these APUSH study guides?

Use the unit pages for the big picture, then open individual topic guides for specific events, court cases, and historical developments. FRQ practice is best once you can place evidence in the right time period and theme.

Where can I find APUSH DBQ, LEQ, and SAQ practice?

Fiveable's APUSH FRQ practice includes AP-style DBQ, LEQ, and SAQ work so you can practice historical argument, evidence, and contextualization with feedback.

What should I review first for APUSH?

Start with the unit or era that feels least familiar, especially if you mix up chronology. For exam review, focus on major turning points, recurring themes, and the evidence you can reuse across FRQs.

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