The AP United States History course is designed to be equivalent to a two-semester introductory college course in U.S. history. Students will study the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have shaped the United States from c. 1491 to the present. You’ll analyze texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence and write essays expressing historical arguments. Emphasis will be placed on reading and evaluating primary and secondary sources, analyzing the claims, evidence, and reasoning you find in sources, putting historical developments in context and making connections between them, and coming up with a claim or thesis and explaining and supporting it in writing.
Check out the syllabus for this course! Students will be required to sign and return a printed copy of this.
The textbook we will be using for class is the AMSCO APUSH book. I will have some physical copies of this textbook to check out; however, you are also able to use the link above. This link will also be provided in google classroom.
All of your assessments for this class will all be taken through AP Classroom. This includes multiple choice questions (MCQ), short answer questions (SAQ), long essay questions (LEQ), and the document based question (DBQ) essay. This will help prepare you for the digital exam in May.
All of your daily assignments will be posted in google classroom. While there will be some paper assignments, due dates will be posted within google classroom.
There is so much content to cover in AP US History! Here are some links that you can use to help you learn and explore more on your own!
The Stuff You Missed in History Class--each episode of this podcast goes into detail about a historical event or person.
A People's History of the United States--this book by Howard Zinn shows an alternate look at American history through a different lens. While this is an interesting read, it is important to read it with a critical eye as always.
Smithsonian Articles--attached is a goole document that includes articles (by APUSH time period) from Smithsonian magazine. You can use this to learn more about topics that interest you.
Gilder Lehrman--This is a great study guide resource that includes timelines, documents, videos, and essays for each of the 9 APUSH periods. There are even free courses that you can take through this as a high school student!
Review!!
Adam Norris--great APUSH teacher with some great YouTube videos.
Heimler's History Videos--Heimler is like if your dad was an expert on all things APUSH--a little bit of lecture a little bit of bad dad joking!
Jocz Productions--Mr. Jocz was the history teacher of the year in California. Very informational videos!
AP Review Cards 1-250--Digital flashcards on quizlet. Ms. Lind will also have physical copies that you can check out.
AP Review Cards 251-500--Digital flashcards on quizlet. Ms. Lind will also have physical copies that you can check out.
Amazing Essay and Thematic Review--This amazing teacher lists previous essay prompts and then goes on to ask questions and provide charts and other information to help you to answer potential essay questions. This is from the teacher who created the reading guides we are using!
The AP US History course is comprised of nine units spanning the years pre 1492 to 2010. Below is a description of the content of each unit as well as the tentative agenda for each unit. This includes due dates for homework, activities to be completed in class, and tentative dates of unit exams. All of this is subjec to change as we begin the year!
The first period of APUSH covers the years from 1491 to 1607. During this time, the Americas were controlled by Native American Indian tribes. The period begins with the arrival of Christopher Columbus and ends with the establishment of the Jamestown Colony. Students will learn about the interactions between Native American societies and European explorers, as well as the purpose of European exploration and colonization.
Period 2 covers the years from 1607 to 1754. During this time, the Spanish, French, Dutch, and British established colonies in the New World. Students will learn about the differences between the colonies, including their economies, social structures, and political systems. They will also study the interactions between the colonies and Native American societies.
Period 3 covers the years from 1754 to 1800. This period is marked by the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the American Revolutionary War. Students will learn about the causes and consequences of these events, as well as the development of the United States as a new nation. They will also study the impact of the Enlightenment on American political thought.
Period 4 covers the years from 1800 to 1848. During this time, the United States experienced rapid territorial expansion, including the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War. Students will learn about the causes and consequences of American migration, as well as the social and economic changes that occurred during this period.
Period 6 covers the years from 1865 to 1898. During this time, the United States experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization. Students will learn about the social and economic changes that occurred during this period, as well as the impact of these changes on American society and politics. They will also study the country’s expansion overseas, including the Spanish-American War.
Period 9 covers the years from 1980 to the present day. During this time, the United States experienced significant political, social, and economic changes. Students will learn about the Reagan Revolution, the end of the Cold War, and September 11, 2001.
The APUSH Exam consists of four major components: 55 Stimulus Based Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), 3 Short Answer Questions (SAQs), 1 Long Essay Question (LEQ), and 1 Document Based Question (DBQ) Essay. Below you will find rubrics and other information that will help you with each of these question types!
Stimulus Based Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Short Answer Questions (SAQs)
Long Essay Question (LEQ)
Document Based Question (DBQ) Essay