AP US History AMSCO Guided Notes
AP US History AMSCO Guided Notes106 chapters of study guides with key terms and essential questions
All Chapters
Unit 0 - Introduction and Preparation
Unit 1 - Period 1: 1491-1607
Unit 2 - Period 2: 1607-1754
Unit 3 - Period 3: 1754-1800
3.1Contextualizing Period 3
3.2The Seven Years' War
3.3Taxation Without Representation
3.4Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution
3.5The American Revolution
3.6The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals
3.7The Articles of Confederation
3.8The Constitutional Convention and Debates Over Ratification
3.9The Constitution
3.10Shaping a New Republic
3.11Developing an American Identity
3.12Movement in the Early Republic
3.13Continuity and Change in Period 3
Unit 4 - Period 4: 1800-1848
4.1Contextualizing Period 4
4.2The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson
4.3Politics and Regional Interests
4.4America on the World Stage
4.5Market Revolution
4.6Effects of the Market Revolution on Society and Culture
4.7Expanding Democracy
4.8Jackson and Federal Power
4.9The Development of an American Culture
4.10The Second Great Awakening
4.11An Age of Reform
4.12African Americans in the Early Republic
4.13Southern Society in the Early Republic
4.14Causation in Period 4
Unit 5 - Period 5: 1844-1877
5.1Contextualizing Period 5
5.2The Idea of Manifest Destiny
5.3Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War
5.4The Compromise of 1850
5.5Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences
5.6Failure of Compromise
5.7Election of 1860 and Secession
5.8Military Conflict in the Civil War
5.9Government Policies During the Civil War
5.10Reconstruction
5.11Failure of Reconstruction
5.12Comparison in Period 5
Unit 6 - Period 6: 1865-1898
6.1Contextualizing Period 6
6.2Westward Expansion: Economic Development
6.3Westward Expansion: Social and Cultural Development
6.4The "New South"
6.5Technological Innovation
6.6The Rise of Industrial Capitalism
6.7Labor in the Gilded Age
6.8Immigration and Migration in the Gilded Age
6.9Responses to Immigration in the Gilded Age
6.10Development of the Middle Class
6.11Reform in the Gilded Age
6.12Role of Government in the Gilded Age
6.13Politics in the Gilded Age
6.14Continuity and Change Period 6
Unit 7 - Period 7: 1890-1945
7.1Contextualizing Period 7
7.2Imperialism: Debates
7.3The Spanish-American War and U.S. Foreign Policy to 1917
7.4The Progressives
7.5World War I: Military and Diplomacy
7.6World War I: Home Front
7.71920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology
7.81920s: Cultural and Political Controversies
7.9The Great Depression
7.10The New Deal
7.11Interwar Foreign Policy
7.12World War II Mobilization
7.13World War II: Military
7.14World War II and Postwar Diplomacy
7.15Comparison in Period 7
Unit 8 - Period 8: 1945-1980
8.1Contextualizing Period 8
8.2The Cold War from 1945 to 1980
8.3The Red Scare
8.4Economy after 1945
8.5Culture after 1945
8.6Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement, 1945-1960
8.7America as a World Power
8.8The Vietnam War
8.9The Great Society
8.10The African American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s
8.11The Civil Rights Movement Expands
8.12Youth Culture of the 1960s
8.13The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980
8.14Society in Transition
8.15Continuity and Change in Period 8
About AMSCO AP US History
The AMSCO United States History textbook, written by John J. Newman and John M. Schmalbach, is one of the most widely used AP prep books for APUSH. Now in its 4th edition, this concise and accessible text is structured to follow the College Board's AP Course and Exam Description, covering all nine chronological periods from 1491 to the present day.
What makes AMSCO stand out is its focused approach. Unlike traditional college-level textbooks that can be overwhelming, AMSCO distills U.S. history into manageable sections that align directly with what students need to know for the AP exam. Each chapter includes historical perspectives showing how historians have interpreted events, plus practice questions in the AP format.
Our guided notes are designed to work alongside the AMSCO textbook chapter by chapter. As you read each section, the guided questions help you identify key concepts, cause-and-effect relationships, and the historical thinking skills that the AP exam tests. This active reading approach has been shown to improve retention and exam performance compared to passive reading alone.
What This AMSCO Covers
- Covers all 9 periods of AP US History (1491-Present)
- Aligned to the latest College Board curriculum framework
- Includes DBQ and LEQ writing practice
- Historical perspectives in every chapter
Frequently Asked Questions
What are AMSCO guided notes?
AMSCO guided notes are structured worksheets designed to accompany the AMSCO AP US History textbook. Instead of passive reading, guided notes provide questions and prompts that help you actively engage with each chapter. As you read, you answer questions that focus your attention on key concepts, cause-and-effect relationships, and important details that are likely to appear on the AP exam.
How do I use these guided notes with my AMSCO AP US History textbook?
Open the guided notes alongside your AMSCO textbook. As you read each section, look for answers to the guided questions. Write your responses in the space provided (if you print them) or take notes separately. The questions follow the structure of the AMSCO chapters, so you can work through them section by section. This active reading approach helps you retain information better than highlighting or re-reading alone.
Are these guided notes aligned to the AP AP US History exam?
Yes. The AMSCO textbook itself is written to align with the College Board's AP Course and Exam Description, and our guided notes follow the AMSCO chapter structure. This means the questions focus on the content, skills, and historical thinking processes that the AP exam tests. Using guided notes as part of your study routine helps you prepare for both the multiple-choice and free-response sections of the exam.
Can I print these guided notes?
Yes. Each guided notes page includes print and download options. You can print them with or without answer space depending on how you prefer to take notes. Many students find it helpful to print the notes and fill them in by hand while reading, as handwriting can improve retention. You can also download them as PDFs to annotate digitally.
Where can I find the AP US History AMSCO textbook PDF?
You can sometimes find PDF files for AMSCO textbooks on teacher websites if you search online or on Reddit. The PDF is not publicly available for free. If you purchase the AMSCO textbook through Perfection Learning, you will get an online version of it.
What is the AMSCO textbook and why is it popular?
AMSCO (published by Perfection Learning) is a series of AP exam preparation textbooks known for being concise and accessible. Unlike bulky college-level textbooks, AMSCO books focus specifically on what students need to know for the AP exam. The AP US History AMSCO is written by experienced AP teachers and exam readers, making it practical and exam-focused. Many teachers use it as either their primary text or as a supplement for AP exam review.
How are guided notes different from regular notes?
Regular notes require you to decide what's important while reading, which can be challenging with dense material. Guided notes provide structure by giving you specific questions to answer as you read. This keeps you focused on key concepts rather than getting lost in details. Research shows that guided notes improve comprehension and test performance because they require active processing of information rather than passive copying.