ABOUT APUSH

ABOUT APUSH

The AP U.S. History course focuses on the development of historical thinking skills (chronological reasoning, comparing and contextualizing, crafting historical arguments using historical evidence, and interpreting and synthesizing historical narrative) and an understanding of content learning objectives organized around seven themes, such as identity, peopling, and America in the world. In line with college and university U.S. history survey courses’ increased focus on early and recent American history and decreased emphasis on other areas, the AP U.S. History course expands on the history of the Americas from 1491 to 1607 and from 1980 to the present. It also allows teachers flexibility across nine different periods of U.S. history to teach topics of their choice in depth.

AP U.S. History is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college or university U.S. history course.

AP REASONING SKILLS (a.k.a. HISTORICAL THINKING SKILLS)

This section presents the historical thinking skills that students should develop in all AP history courses. Every AP Exam question will assess one or more of the skill-based proficiency expectations as well as one or more of the thematic learning objectives.

AP HISTORY DISCIPLINARY SKILLS

HISTORICAL THEMES

The thematic learning objectives describe, at a high level, the knowledge colleges expect students to develop in the AP U.S. History course in order to be qualified for credit and placement.

These themes focus on major historical issues and changes, helping students connect the historical content they study to broad developments and processes that have emerged over centuries in what has become the United States.

American and National Identity (NAT)

This theme focuses on how and why definitions of American and national identity and values have developed, as well as on related topics such as citizenship, constitutionalism, foreign policy, assimilation, and American exceptionalism.

NAT-1.0 Explain how ideas about democracy, freedom, and individualism found expression in the development of cultural values, political institutions, and American identity.

NAT-2.0 Explain how interpretations of the Constitution and debates over rights, liberties, and definitions of citizenship have affected American values, politics, and society.

NAT-3.0 Analyze how ideas about national identity changed in response to U.S. involvement in international conflicts and the growth of the United States.

NAT-4.0 Analyze relationships among different regional, social, ethnic, and racial groups, and explain how these groups’ experiences have related to U.S. national identity.

Politics and Power (POL)

This theme focuses on how different social and political groups have influenced society and government in the United States, as well as how political beliefs and institutions have changed over time.

POL-1.0 Explain how and why political ideas, beliefs, institutions, party systems, and alignments have developed and changed.

POL-2.0 Explain how popular movements, reform efforts, and activist groups have sought to change American society and institutions.

POL-3.0 Explain how different beliefs about the federal government’s role in U.S. social and economic life have affected political debates and policies.

Work, Exchange, and Technology (WXT)

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

WXT-1.0 Explain how different labor systems developed in North America and the United States, and explain their effects on workers’ lives and U.S. society.

WXT-2.0 Explain how patterns of exchange, markets, and private enterprise have developed, and analyze ways that governments have responded to economic issues.

WXT-3.0 Analyze how technological innovation has affected economic development and society.

Culture and Society (CUL)

This theme focuses on the roles that ideas, beliefs, social mores, and creative expression have played in shaping the United States, as well as how various identities, cultures, and values have been preserved or changed in different contexts of U.S. history.

CUL-1.0 Explain how religious groups and ideas have affected American society and political life.

CUL-2.0 Explain how artistic, philosophical, and scientific ideas have developed and shaped society and institutions.

CUL-3.0 Explain how ideas about women’s rights and gender roles have affected society and politics.

CUL-4.0 Explain how different group identities, including racial, ethnic, class, and regional identities, have emerged and changed over time.

Migration and Settlement (MIG)

This theme 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.

MIG-1.0 Explain the causes of migration to colonial North America and, later, the United States, and analyze immigration’s effects on U.S. society.

MIG-2.0 Analyze causes of internal migration and patterns of settlement in what would become the United States, and explain how migration has affected American life.

Geography and the Environment (GEO)

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

GEO-1.0 Explain how geographic and environmental factors shaped the development of various communities, and analyze how competition for and debates over natural resources have affected both interactions among different groups and the development of government policies.

America in the World (WOR)

This theme 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.

WOR-1.0 Explain how cultural interaction, cooperation, competition, and conflict between empires, nations, and peoples have influenced political, economic, and social developments in North America.

WOR-2.0 Analyze the reasons for and results of U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military initiatives in North America and overseas.

HISTORICAL PERIODS

THE TEST

TEST SCORES