The Insider's Complete Guide to AP US History

The Insider's Complete Guide to AP US History: A Strategic Review

by Larry Krieger

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6461 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	352 pages

FREE

Are you preparing for the AP US History exam and feeling overwhelmed? Don't worry, we've got you covered! This insider's guide will provide you with everything you need to know to ace the exam.

We'll start with a comprehensive overview of the exam, including the content, structure, and scoring. Then, we'll dive into each unit of the course, providing in-depth analysis of the key concepts, historical events, and primary sources you'll need to master.

Finally, we'll share our expert strategies for multiple-choice success, document-based question analysis, and free-response essay writing. With this guide, you'll have all the tools you need to achieve your target score and succeed in AP US History.

Content Overview

The AP US History exam covers the entire span of American history, from the colonial era to the present day. The content is divided into nine units:

1. Unit 1: The Colonial Era (1491-1754)
2. Unit 2: The American Revolution (1754-1789)
3. Unit 3: The New Nation (1789-1824)
4. Unit 4: Expansion and Reform (1824-1861)
5. Unit 5: The Civil War and Reconstruction (1861-1877)
6. Unit 6: The Gilded Age (1877-1898)
7. Unit 7: The Progressive Era (1890-1920)
8. Unit 8: The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression (1920-1939)
9. Unit 9: World War II, the Cold War, and the Post-Cold War Era (1940-Present)

Each unit covers a specific time period and includes a variety of historical topics, such as political, economic, social, and cultural developments.

Exam Structure

The AP US History exam is a three-hour, 15-minute exam that is divided into two sections:

• Multiple-Choice Section (55 minutes): 55 multiple-choice questions testing your knowledge of the course content. Each question is worth one point.
• Free-Response Section (90 minutes): Three essay questions testing your ability to analyze historical documents, synthesize information, and write a clear and concise argument. Each essay question is worth four points.

The overall exam score is based on a 5-point scale, with a score of 3 or higher considered passing.

Scoring

The AP US History exam is scored by a team of experienced AP teachers. Each multiple-choice question is scored independently, and the average score across all questions is used to determine your multiple-choice score.

For the free-response section, each essay question is scored by two independent readers. The two scores are then combined to give you a total score for each essay.

The overall exam score is calculated by adding your multiple-choice score and your free-response score. The following table shows the score ranges for each level of achievement:

| Score | Achievement Level | |---|---| | 5 | Extremely well qualified | | 4 | Well qualified | | 3 | Qualified | | 2 | Possibly qualified | | 1 | No recommendation |

Unit-by-Unit Analysis

Now that you have an overview of the exam, let's dive into each unit of the course and provide an in-depth analysis of the key concepts, historical events, and primary sources you'll need to master.

Unit 1: The Colonial Era (1491-1754)

Key Concepts:

• European exploration and colonization of North America
• The development of the American colonies
• The causes of the American Revolution

Historical Events:

• Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas (1492)
• The founding of Jamestown (1607) and Plymouth (1620)
• The French and Indian War (1754-1763)

Primary Sources:

• The Mayflower Compact (1620)
• The Declaration of Independence (1776)
• The Articles of Confederation (1781)

Unit 2: The American Revolution (1754-1789)

Key Concepts:

• The causes of the American Revolution
• The major battles and events of the war
• The consequences of the American Revolution

Historical Events:

• The Boston Massacre (1770)
• The Battle of Bunker Hill (1775)
• The Declaration of Independence (1776)
• The Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Primary Sources:

• Common Sense (1776) by Thomas Paine
• The Declaration of Independence (1776)
• The Treaty of Paris (1783)

Unit 3: The New Nation (1789-1824)

Key Concepts:

• The creation of the Constitution and the federal government
• The major political and economic challenges facing the new nation
• The development of American nationalism

Historical Events:

• The Constitutional Convention (1787)
• The ratification of the Constitution (1788)
• The Louisiana Purchase (1803)
• The War of 1812 (1812-1815)

Primary Sources:

• The Constitution of the United States (1787)
• The Federalist Papers (1787-1788)
• The Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Unit 4: Expansion and Reform (1824-1861)

Key Concepts:

• The westward expansion of the United States
• The rise of sectionalism and the growing tensions between the North and South
• The major reform movements of the era

The Insider's Complete Guide to AP US History: A Strategic Review

by Larry Krieger

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6461 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	352 pages

FREE