ap us history reconstruction essay

MA in American History : Apply now and enroll in graduate courses with top historians this summer!

• AP US History Study Guide
• History U: Courses for High School Students
• History School: Summer Enrichment
• Lesson Plans
• Classroom Resources
• Spotlights on Primary Sources
• Professional Development (Academic Year)
• Professional Development (Summer)
• Book Breaks
• Inside the Vault
• Self-Paced Courses
• Browse All Resources
• Search by Issue
• Search by Essay
• Become a Member (Free)
• Monthly Offer (Free for Members)
• Program Information
• Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Applying and Enrolling
• Eligibility (In-Person)
• EduHam Online
• Hamilton Cast Read Alongs
• Official Website
• Press Coverage
• Veterans Legacy Program
• The Declaration at 250
• Black Lives in the Founding Era
• Celebrating American Historical Holidays
• Browse All Programs
• Donate Items to the Collection
• Search Our Catalog
• Research Guides
• Rights and Reproductions
• See Our Documents on Display
• Bring an Exhibition to Your Organization
• Interactive Exhibitions Online
• About the Transcription Program
• Civil War Letters
• Founding Era Newspapers
• College Fellowships in American History
• Scholarly Fellowship Program
• Richard Gilder History Prize
• David McCullough Essay Prize
• Affiliate School Scholarships
• Nominate a Teacher
• Eligibility
• State Winners
• National Winners
• Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize
• Gilder Lehrman Military History Prize
• George Washington Prize
• Frederick Douglass Book Prize
• Our Mission and History
• Annual Report
• Contact Information
• Student Advisory Council
• Teacher Advisory Council
• Board of Trustees
• Remembering Richard Gilder
• President's Council
• Scholarly Advisory Board
• Internships
• Our Partners
• Press Releases

Period 5: 1848-1877 (AP US History)

Period 5: 1848-1877.

As the nation expanded and its population grew, regional tensions, especially over slavery, led to a civil war—the course and aftermath of which transformed American society. Topics may include

Manifest Destiny

The mexican–american war, attempts to resolve conflicts over the spread of slavery, the election of 1860 and southern secession, the civil war, reconstruction.

Image Source : A detail from A Ride for Liberty—The Fugitive Slaves , a painting by Eastman Johnson, ca. 1862. (Brooklyn Museum)

10-17% Exam Weighting

Resources by Period:

• Period 1: 1491–1607
• Period 2: 1607–1754
• Period 3: 1754–1800
• Period 4: 1800–1848
• Period 5: 1844–1877
• Period 6: 1865–1898
• Period 7: 1890–1945
• Period 8: 1945–1980
• Period 9: 1980–Present

Key Concepts

5.1 : The United States became more connected with the world, pursued an expansionist foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere, and emerged as the destination for many migrants from other countries.

5.2 : Intensified by expansion and deepening regional divisions, debates over slavery and other economic, cultural, and political issues led the nation into civil war.

5.3 : The Union victory in the Civil War and the contested reconstruction of the South settled the issues of slavery and secession, but left unresolved many questions about the power of the federal government and citizenship rights.

On the emigrant trail

Letter explaining the challenges faced by emigrants heading west before railroads

• Primary Source

Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, advocates westward expansion

Women of the West

By virginia scharff.

Read about the critical roles women have played from the earliest Indian societies to the era of the homesteaders.

How did Manifest Destiny shape the American West?

By maria montoya.

Watch a discussion of the origins of the idea of Manifest Destiny.

The Great West Illustrated

Photographs depicting the Union Pacific Railroad and the rugged beauty of western landscapes

Plea to Defend the Alamo

Alamo defender's desperate appeal for reinforcements

A Christian Soldier in the US-Mexican War

By amy s. greenberg.

Read about a soldier's observations about the invasion and occupation of Central Mexico.

Remembering the Alamo

By char miller.

Read about the history of San Antonio and the Alamo.

Inside the Vault: Texas Declaration of Independence

By h. w. brands.

Watch a discussion of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

Mexicans in the Making of America

By neil foley.

Learn about the impact of territorial loss on Mexican-Americans after 1848

Runaway slave ad

Rewards for the return of four men escaping slavery in Missouri

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and the Matter of Influence

By hollis robbins.

Examine the enduring influence and importance of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin.

The “House Divided” Speech

Ca. 1857–1858.

Speech fragment expressing Abraham Lincoln's view of slavery as a threat to the existence of the US

Buying Frederick Douglass’s freedom

Letter discussing the negotiations pertaining the buying of Frederick Douglass’s freedom

Harriet Beecher Stowe shares “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”

Letter to Prince Albert recognizing English strides in their treatment of an “oppressed race"

African American Abolitionists

By evelyn brooks higginbotham.

Watch a discussion of Black abolitionists.

Dred and Harriet Scott

By matthew pinsker.

Watch a discussion of Dred Scott as more than a court case, but as a family story of slavery and freedom.

Backlash against the Fugitive Slave Act

By lois e. horton.

Watch a discussion of how the Fugitive Slave Act changed northern views of slavery.

An African American protests the Fugitive Slave Law

A Black businessman refuses to do work for a US marshal 

Slave auction catalog from Louisiana

Catalogue for an estate sale including enslaved individuals

Abolitionism: A Grassroots Movement

Watch a discussion of abolitionism as a grassroots movement.

The Underground Railroad and the Coming of War

Understand the historical context of the Underground Railroad.

Understanding Lincoln: House Divided Speech (1858)

Watch a discussion of Lincoln's "House Divided" speech.

“Bleeding Kansas” and the Pottawatomie Massacre

Letter from a woman who lost family to John Brown, written to him in prison

John Brown’s final speech

John Brown’s final speech defending his actions at Harper's Ferry

The Union Is Dissolved!

Broadside published after South Carolina's secession

The South Carolina Secession Ordinance

By charles dew.

Watch a discussion of how the Secession Ordinance led directly to the Civil War. 

Understanding Lincoln: First Inaugural Address (1861)

Watch a discussion of Lincoln's political viewpoints in delivering his first inaugural address.

Abraham Lincoln and Jacksonian Democracy

By sean wilentz.

Examine the influence of Jacksonian democracy on Abraham Lincoln.

Understanding Lincoln: Cooper Union Speech (1860)

Watch a discussion of how Lincoln's speech at the Cooper Institute propelled him to the presidency.

President Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address

President Lincoln’s appeal to "the better angels of our nature" to hold the nation together

The American Civil War

By gary gallagher.

Learn about the causes and key turning points in the Civil War.

The Men of Company E

Watch a discussion of points of view of Black soldiers in a postwar photograph.

Allies for Emancipation?

By manisha sinha.

Learn about Lincoln's evolving position on abolition, emancipation, and African Americans.

What caused the Civil War

By edward l. ayers.

Watch a discussion of slavery as the cause of the Civil War.

Best friends divided by the Civil War

Correspondence reflecting views of two friends on opposite sides of the Civil War

A proposed Thirteenth Amendment to prevent secession

Proposed prewar thirteenth amendment protecting slavery

A proclamation on the suspension of habeas corpus

Lincoln ordering the suspension of habeas corpus in Maryland

Lincoln on the execution of a slave trader

Lincoln denying clemency to a convicted slave trader

African American soldiers at the Battle of Fort Wagner

Currier & Ives print of the famed Massachusetts 54th

The Gettysburg Address

Address commemorating those who had sacrificed their lives for the Union

A Tour of the Battle of Gettysburg

Watch a virtual tour of the battlefield at Gettysburg.

The Emancipation Proclamation

By allen guelzo.

Watch a discussion about Presidential powers and the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Understanding Lincoln: Emancipation

Watch a discussion of the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Enslaved Children of New Orleans

Photograph of emancipated children used to raise money for the education of freed enslaved people

African Americans and Emancipation

Read about the movement to extend freedom to African Americans.

Why the Union Won

Watch a discussion of resources, manpower, and leadership in the North and South.

Fascination with the Civil War

Watch a discussion of why the Civil War remains of great interest to Americans.

Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877

By eric foner.

Civil War and Reconstruction (1861-1877) Timeline and essay addressing the impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Charles Sumner on Reconstruction and the South

Sumner's notes for “One Man Power vs. Congress” address accusing Johnson of jeopardizing the North’s cause and victory

The Contentious Election of 1876

By michael f. holt.

Understand the events that led to the Compromise of 1876 and the end of Reconstruction.

President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

Lincoln's reflections on the causes and meaning of the Civil War

On Juneteenth

By annette gordon-reed.

Examine the story of Juneteenth, which celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S., and specifically the day slavery ended in Texas – June 19, 1865. 

Lincoln’s Interpretation of the Civil War

Reflections on Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and his views of the Civil War.

The Politics of Reconstruction

Watch a discussion of the politics of Reconstruction and the creation of new systems after the Civil War.

Reconstruction and Its Legacy

Watch a discussion of Reconstruction and the titanic changes that emerged from the Civil War.

Changing Views of Reconstruction

Watch a discussion of the evolving scholarly understanding of Reconstruction.

Reconstruction and the Battle for Woman Suffrage

By ellen dubois.

Gain an understanding of how Reconstruction affected the fight for women's suffrage.

Transcendentalism and Social Reform

By philip f. gura.

Learn how Transcendentalism influenced social reform.

American History Timeline: 1844-1877

Image citations.

Listed in order of appearance in the sections above

• Emigrant party on the road to California. United States, 1850. Photograph. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division Washington, D.C. https://www.loc.gov/item/2002716775/.
• Greeley, Horace. Letter to R. L. Sanderson, November 15, 1871. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00608.
• Mayer, Henry. "The Awakening." Puck, February 20, 1915. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Crofutt, George A. American Progress. Chicago, 1873. Chromolithograph. Based on a painting by John Gast. The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Russell, Andrew J. "Echo City, Looking Up Weber River." In Union Pacific Railroad. Photographical Illustrations. New York, 1869. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC04348.
• Travis, William B. To the Citizens of Texas. February 28, 1836. San Felipe de Austin, TX. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC03230.02.
• Currier & Ives. Battle of Buena Vista. Fought Feby. 23rd, 1847. In which the American Army under Genl. Taylor were Completely Victorious. New York, 1847. Lithograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• "The Alamo" US postage stamp, issued June 14, 1956. National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution. 
• Texas. Unanimous Declaration of Independence by the Delegates of the People of Texas in General Convention, March 2, 1836. San Felipe de Austin: Baker and Bordens, 1836. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of America nHistory, GLC02559.
• Berryman, Clifford Kennedy. Hand carving up a map of the Southwestern United States. Evening Star, March 4, 1917. Political cartoon. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Means, John, and R. E. Stanley. $2,500 Reward. St. Louis, August 23, 1852. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC07238.
• Unknown. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" banner [on cloth]. s.l., after 1852. Textile. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC06894.
• Lincoln, Abraham. Notes for the "House Divided" Speech. Springfield, Illinois, ca. December 1857. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02533.
• Auld, Hugh. Letter to Amy [Anna] Richardson, October 6, 1846. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC07484.04.
• Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Letter to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, March 20, 1852.  The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01585.
• Bradford, Sarah H. Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman. Auburn NY: W. J. Moses, 1869. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC06840.
• The Scott Family: Eliza and Lizzie; Dred and Harriet in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, June 27, 1857. Engravings based on photographs by John H. Fitzgibbon. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Thompson, Joseph Parrish. The Fugitive Slave Law: Tried by the Old and New Testaments. New York, 1850. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00267.142.
• Weeden, Henry. Letter to Watson Freeman, December 4, 1850. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC09028.01.
• J. A. Beard & May. [Catalogue for the sale of enslaved people from Waverly and Meredith plantations]. New Orleans, Louisiana. March 1855. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC09340.
• Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and Rebel Ventilator, January 30, 1864. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. 
• "The Road to Liberty: A Station on the Underground Railroad." s.l., ca. 1857. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, New York Public Library. New York Public Library Digital Collections.
• Lincoln's address at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Pennsylvania Gettysburg, ca. 1905. Chicago: Sherwood Lithograph Co. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2003674448/.
• Doyle, Mahala. Letter to John Brown, November 20, 1859. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC07590.
• Brown, John. Address of John Brown to the Virginia Court, When About to Receive the Sentence of Death, for His Heroic Attempt at Harper's Ferry. Boston: The Liberator, December 1859. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC05508.051.

The Election of 1860

• Charleston Mercury. The Union Is Dissolved! Charleston, December 20, 1860. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02688.
• South Carolina. Convention, 1860-1862. [South Carolina secession ordinance]. Charleston: Evans and Cogswell, [1860]. Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC05987.15.
• Gardner, Alexander, photographer. President Abraham Lincoln, seated, with his left hand on his face. , ca. 1900. [probably taken 1863 Aug. 9; printed later] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2013648773/.
• Bingham, George Caleb. Stump Speaking. New York: Goupil & Co., 1856. Hand-colored engraving. The Gilder Lehrman Institute Institute of American History, GLC04075.
• Lincoln, Abraham. The Address of the Hon. Abraham Lincoln ... at Cooper Institute, February 27th, 1860. New York: Young Men's Republican Union, 1860. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00533.
• Lincoln, Abraham. Inaugural Address of the President of the United States, on the Fourth of March, 1861. Special sess. Senate. Ex. doc. no. 1. Washington DC, 1861. Pamphlet. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01264.
• Kurz & Allison. Assault on Fort Sanders. Tennessee, 1891. Chicago: Kurz & Allison, Art Publishers. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/91721203/.
• Smith, William Morris. Company E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry, at Fort Lincoln. Washington DC, 1865. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Strobridge & Co. Abraham Lincoln and His Emancipation Proclamation / Cincinnati, 1888. Chromolithograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Lincoln, Abraham. [Emancipation Proclamation]. Philadelphia, 1864. Printed document. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American Histoty, GLC00004.
• Bragg, Braxton. Letter to Henry J. Hunt, April 21, 1861. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00925.01.
• US Congress. Copy of Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, amend. 13. Baltimore, 1861. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC09040.
• US War Department. Adjutant General's Office. General Orders No. 141. Washington DC: September 25, 1862. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC06099.
• Lincoln, Abraham. Respite of execution for slaver Nathaniel Gordon, February 4, 1862. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00182.
• Currier & Ives. The Gallant Charge of the Fifty Fourth Massachusetts (Colored) Regiment. New York, 1893. Print. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02881.23.
• Lincoln, Abraham. The President's dedication address at Gettysburg. New York: Miller & Mathews, 1863. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC06811.
• New York. Monuments Commission for the Battlefields of Gettysburg and Chattanooga. "Position of Union and Confederate Armies on the Morning of July 1, 1863." Final Report on the Battlefield of Gettysburg. Albany NY, 1900. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00267.298.
• Stebbins, Lucius. Reading the Emancipation Proclamation. Hartford, 1864. Lithograph. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC07595.
• US War Department. Adjutant General's Office. General Orders No. 1 [Abraham Lincoln. The Emancipation Proclamation]. Washington DC, January 2, 1863. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00460.
• Unknown. Fannie Virginia Casseopia Lawrence. ca. 1863. Photograph. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC09841.01.
• Only Seven Millions! Pennsylvania, 1866. Broadsheet. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00329.
• Smith, Edward Parmelee. Incidents of the United States Christian Commission. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1869. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00267.337. Homer, Winslow. Rainy Day in Camp. 1871. Oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Currier & Ives. Battle of Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9th 1862. New York, ca. 1862. Lithograph. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02881.24.
• Sumner, Charles. "[One man power versus Congress] Address." ca. October 2, 1866. Manuscript. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00496.088.01.
• Williams, [Unknown]. "Alas, the Woes of Childhood." (NY) Daily Graphic,  June 26, 1877. Courtesy of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum Collection.
• Gardner, Alexander. Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. Washington DC, 1865. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Frederick Dielman, “Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia by the Colored People, in Washington,”  Harper’s Weekly, May 12, 1866. (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01733)
• Ehrgott, Forbriger & Co., Lithographer, and David Gilmour Blythe. President Lincoln, writing the Proclamation of Freedom. January 1st,/ painted by David Gilmour Blythe ; lithogr. and printed in colors by Ehrgott, Forbriger & Co. Cincinnati, O. , 1863. [Pittsburgh, Pa.: M. Depuy, no. 21 Wylie St., Pittsburgh, publisher] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2004665377/.
• United States. Congress. Acts of Congress, General Orders, and Instructions for the Guidance of Boards of Registration in the Third Military District (Georgia, Alabama, and Florida). Atlanta, 1867. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00349.
• Chicago Tribune, April 15, 1865, p1. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00339.03.
• Cooper, Peter. Letter to John Sherman, May 12, 1866. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00150.
• Anthony, Susan B. An Appeal to the Women of the United States by the National Woman Suffrage and Educational Committee. Hartford, 1871. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC08999.
• Whipple, John Adams. Ralph W. Emerson. Boston, ca. 1860. Carte de visite. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC05141.

Stay up to date, and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.

Learn how the Institute impacts history education through our work guiding teachers, energizing students, and supporting research.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the ultimate ap us history study guide.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Studying for the AP US History course is an exercise in memorization and critical thinking. Multiple-choice questions ask you to read and analyze documents based on your historical knowledge. Essay questions require similar skills but with the added challenge of synthesizing your ideas into a coherent argument that incorporates both outside knowledge and evidence given to you.

In this comprehensive AP US History study guide, we will provide all the resources and strategies you need to prepare for the AP exam and any other test that comes your way in this course !

What's the Purpose of This AP US History Study Guide?

This guide will help you prepare for the AP US History test and other assessments you encounter throughout the school year in your AP US History class. It includes instructions for creating an effective study plan, a few helpful study tips, an overview of the content covered in the AP course, and a list of resources for practice questions.

This article is a one-stop-shop for all the information you need to master the AP US History curriculum.

Creating a Study Plan for AP US History: 5-Step Guide

You should start studying sooner rather than later for the AP US History exam because there's s o much information to remember. Ideally, you'll build on knowledge throughout the year and regularly review to avoid forgetting earlier parts of the course.

We recommend doing a holistic review after each in-class test that covers everything you've learned up to that point. You can then begin your final review for the AP test in March or April, which will give you an  entire month or two to spread out your studying.

Below are the steps we recommend following to prep for the AP US History test. The whole process should take you about 11 hours and 30 minutes .

Step 1: Take a Full-Length Practice Test

Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

The first step is to take a full, official AP US History practice test under realistic conditions. Time yourself in accordance with the actual test and write out both essays (DBQ and Long Essay) completely. Mark any multiple-choice questions you had to guess on—it's crucial to go over this information later even if you happen to guess correctly.

When you're done, score your practice test to see how well you would do on the real AP exam if you were to take it right now.

Depending on how much you're hoping to improve your AP US History test score, you might have to budget for more or less study time. If you're already scoring close to 5 (or a low 5), you might complete these steps once and find that you're satisfied with your results.

If you're scoring 2 or more points lower than you'd like, plan on going through this process several times.

Step 2: Catalog Your Mistakes and Guesses

Time: 1 hour

After you score your practice AP US History test, go through your mistakes and lucky guesses. Try to categorize the mistakes by content area so you can look for patterns and determine which parts of the course you need to study the most.

Once you've identified what you need to learn, move on to reviewing the actual content. Make a list in descending order of the topics that correspond to the highest number of missed multiple-choice questions and missed points on short-answer and free-response questions.

Step 3: Study Relevant Content Areas and Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Time: 2 hours

Use the list you made in the previous step to guide your review of the AP US History content. Start with the areas for which you need a little refresher, and work your way up to the big issues you had on the diagnostic test .

When you're satisfied that you've fixed the gaps in knowledge that led to your errors, you should do some practice APUSH multiple-choice questions to make sure you really know your stuff (you can find them in review books or on one of the sites listed later in this article).

Step 4: Practice Planning and Writing Essays

You'll need to practice writing essays before taking the AP US History test so you feel comfortable with the time constraints and requirements. This is especially true for the Document-Based Question , which has a unique format.

After examining the problems with your essays from the original diagnostic test, practice your skills on additional free-response questions . For the sake of saving time, you don't necessarily need to write out entire essays, but you should at least make rough outlines that include all the components of a successful essay .

If you struggled a lot with time on your initial AP practice test, then we'd recommend going through another timed free-response section in full, so you can practice moving more quickly.

Step 5: Take a Second Full Practice Test

Once you've gotten more familiar with the APUSH material, take a second full AP practice test to assess your progress . If you find that you've improved to a satisfactory level, you might stop there and just do some light review until the exam.

If you're still not happy with your results, repeat this process , and make sure that you're really absorbing the material as you study.

3 Essential AP US History Study Tips

The following tips for AP US History will help you make the most of your time as you work your way through the process outlined above. The APUSH exam assesses your historical knowledge differently than other tests you might have taken in the past do. Make sure your study methods lend themselves to the format!

#1: Make Thematic Connections

The ultimate goal of AP US History is for you to be able to connect individual events to the main themes of the course and draw conclusions about historical trends based on your analysis.

As you study, don't just look at events in isolation— e xamine how they relate to other events of the time and how they might've resulted from different cultural and political attitudes . What were the outcomes of particular events, and how and why did they feed into other, larger trends?

Ask yourself to dig deeper. Doing so help you on both in-class assessments and the AP test.

#2: Read and Repeat

When you read content notes for AP US History, you might think you have a fact committed to memory but forget it when it appears on a test. The best way to combat this is to pause every couple of minutes and try to remember the facts that you just reviewed without looking back at your notes ; you'll immediately know whether you're absorbing the information or not.

If you're having trouble remembering a particular fact, try to make a distinctive connection with something else that's easier to remember.

For example, say you were trying to remember which items were taxed by the Townshend Acts. (It was glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.) You could think of the mnemonic GuLPP iT to remember them. It also makes sense because all the taxes were repealed except for the one on tea, which you can gulp!

Maybe this sounds super weird, but we often find that the weirder the method of remembering something is, the more likely it will stick in your mind .

#3: Practice Writing Essay Questions

The free-response section is the biggest challenge on the AP US History exam because you have to plan and write two coherent essays (one DBQ and one Long Essay) in less than two hours. It's imperative that you do lots of practice before the AP test to prevent your essays from being disorganized or lacking in focus. You can consult the College Board site for links to past AP US History free-response questions .

Make sure you always have a strong thesis statement and all the points in your essay relate directly back to it. Plan out your essay before you start writing to keep yourself on track.

You should also t ry to include relevant outside knowledge but only if it pertains directly to your argument and the question itself. Don't just spew out everything you know about the topic!

AP US History Course Content: Themes and Units

AP US History covers history in what is now the United States from 1491 to the present. There are eight main themes in the course separated into nine units, or time periods. For each of these themes, we'll go over the main historical topics associated with it.

Before that, though, here's a quick overview of the AP US History units and what percentage of the AP exam they each make up:

Source: 2019-20 AP US History Course and Exam Description

Theme 1: American and National Identity

Focuses on how and why definitions of American and national identity and values have developed among the diverse and changing population of North America as well as on related topics, such as citizenship, constitutionalism, foreign policy, assimilation, and American exceptionalism.

Theme 2: Work, Exchange, and Technology

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

Theme 3: Geography and the Environment

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

Theme 4: Migration and Settlement

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.

Theme 5: Politics and Power

Focuses on how different social and political groups have influenced society and government in the United States and how political beliefs and institutions have changed over time.

Theme 6: America in the World

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.

Theme 7: American and Regional Culture

Focuses on the how and why national, regional, and group cultures developed and changed as well as how culture has shaped government policy and the economy.

Theme 8: Social Structures

Focuses on how and why systems of social organization develop and change as well as the impact that these systems have on the broader society.

AP US History Content: Notes and Outlines

In this section, we'll give you notes on the AP US History course content so you can study the facts and connect them to the themes above.

The content is divided into nine units and historical periods. Under each time period, we'll list important topics with links to notes you can use. Every period also includes a link to at least one timeline of significant events. It's helpful to have these handy, so you get a better grasp of the chronology (which will be very helpful for free-response questions).

The timelines are from AP Study Notes , while the rest of the notes are from a different site called APnotes.net , which gives a more succinct overview of the content, with key dates and major events in bold. Overall, this resource is great for a quick review.

We recommend looking at the chapter outlines on AP Study Notes  to see a longer, more detailed description of historical trends and events in the United States.

Period 1: 1491-1607

• Timeline of Significant Events (1650 and earlier)
• "New World" beginnings
• Early English settlement

Period 2: 1607-1754

• Timeline of Significant Events (1650-1750)
• Settlement of the Northern colonies
• American life in the 17th century
• Colonial society leading up to the Revolution
• The fight for control of North America

Period 3: 1754-1800

• Timeline of Significant Events (1750-1775)
• The road to the American Revolution
• Timeline of Significant Events (1775-1800)
• Seceding from the British Empire
• The Confederation and the Constitution
• Starting up a new government

Period 4: 1800-1848

• Timeline of Significant Events (1800-1825)
• The Jeffersonian Republic
• Nationalism and the second war for independence
• Formation of a national economy
• Timeline of Significant Events (1825-1850)
• The rise of a mass democracy
• The ferment of reform and culture
• Controversy over slavery

Period 5: 1844-1877

• Timeline of Significant Events (1850-1875)
• Manifest destiny and its legacy
• The sectional struggle
• Leading up to the Civil War
• Civil War Part 1
• Civil War Part 2
• Reconstruction

Period 6: 1865-1898

• Timeline of Significant Events (1875-1900)
• Politics in the Gilded Age
• Industrial progress
• Development of cities
• Agricultural revolution and the West
• American imperialism

Period 7: 1890-1945

• Timeline of Significant Events (1900-1920)
• America on the world stage
• Progressivism and Theodore Roosevelt's presidency
• Wilsonian progressivism at home and abroad
• World War I
• Timeline of Significant Events (1920-1940)
• The Roaring Twenties
• Economic Boom and Bust
• The Great Depression and the New Deal
• FDR Presidency and the Road to WW2
• World War II

Period 8: 1945-1980

• Timeline of Significant Events (1940-1960)
• Start of the Cold War
• Eisenhower Era
• Timeline of Significant Events (1960-1970)
• Political and social unrest in the sixties
• Timeline of Significant Events (1970-1980)
• Stagnation in the seventies

Period 9: 1980-Present

• Timeline of Significant Events (1980-1990)
• Resurgence of Conservatism
• Clinton presidency and post-Cold War era
• Timeline of Significant Events (2000-Present)
• The start of the new century

Quick Reference Sheets

Here are some quick reference sheets you can use for further AP US History prep.

APUSH Teacher Creations

• Interactive timeline of major historical events in the US through 2015

CourseNotes

• Political parties in US History
• Important political documents in US History
• Important Supreme Court cases

Additional AP US History Resources to Test Your Knowledge

Here are some print and online resources you can use to review for the AP US History exam and smaller portions of the curriculum throughout the school year.

AP US History Review Books

Though not free, AP prep books can be excellent resources for your prep. Here are a few books we recommend getting your hands on :

• The Princeton Review's Cracking the AP US History Exam, 2022 Premium Edition
• Kaplan's AP US History Prep Plus 2020 & 2021
• REA's AP US History Crash Course for the 2020 Exam, 5th Edition

Read our full article on the best review books for APUSH for more details and advice!

Official College Board Materials

The following AP US History practice questions come directly from the College Board, so they're the most accurate representations of what you can expect on the actual test. Try to save these resources for later in your studying to get an accurate reading of your strengths and weaknesses when you're about to take the exam.

Note that older materials (pre-2019) are not aligned with the current exam format , so you will have to tweak your prep a bit to make them work.

• 2020 AP US History Course and Exam Description
• 2017 APUSH Practice Exam
• APUSH Free-Response Questions, 2015-2020 and 2021

Get more guidance on how to use official practice resources in our collection of APUSH practice tests .

Unofficial Practice Materials

Although College Board materials are the gold standard when it comes to APUSH prep, there are some good-quality unofficial resources you can make use of, too. Here are the best ones.

Quizlet Flashcards and Quizzes

These student-created sets of flashcards cover every single aspect of AP US History. You can study different sets depending on where you are in the course or which areas need the most improvement. After studying the terms, you can play games to review them and test your factual recall!

Historyteacher.net Mini Practice Quizzes

This site offers mini practice quizzes for every topic covered in the APUSH course . There are multiple-choice questions as well as "short-answer" questions (you get a drop-down menu of 12 answer choices). These won't help much with the more analytical elements of the test, but if you want to test your knowledge of facts, they'll serve you well.

Albert.io AP US History Practice Quizzes

Albert provides a series of quizzes on every topic in the current APUSH curriculum. As you go through them, the site gives you stats showing how you performed on questions of varying difficulty levels . This should help you figure out whether you've truly mastered the material.

Practice Quizzes for The American Pageant , 12th Edition

This helpful site contains chapter-by-chapter practice quizzes based on an old edition of The American Pageant APUSH textbook. Questions are multiple choice and true/false. This resource is more helpful for factual recall than for analysis questions.

CourseNotes AP US History Practice Quizzes

CourseNotes offers a total of six pages of multiple-choice quizzes on all the topics you need to know for the AP US History exam. Nice!

Varsity Tutors AP US History Practice Quizzes

A well-known test-prep company, Varsity Tutors has short multiple-choice practice quizzes on every APUSH topic as well.

Matching and Multiple-Choice Short Practice Quizzes

This website has sets of matching and multiple-choice questions for every period in US History.

They've got questions; YOU'VE got answers!

Wrap-Up: Making the Most of This AP US History Study Guide

AP US History covers eight major themes across nine time periods. It's hard to study this much material, which is why it's good to have a game plan!

To recap, the steps we recommend taking for your APUSH prep are:

#1: Take a full practice test #2: Catalog your mistakes #3: Study relevant content areas and practice multiple-choice questions #4: Practice planning and writing essays #5: Take a second full practice test

You can repeat these steps as necessary depending on how much you need to improve. As you review, also keep a few key tips in mind:

• Make thematic connections
• Read and repeat
• Practice writing essays frequently

Use the AP US History notes and resources provided above to get yourself up to speed. Also, make sure to start studying for the final exam at least one or two months before test day, so you're not going to be forced to cram for it!

What's Next?

Want more practice with Document-Based Questions? We've got an in-depth article on the best resources for DBQs that you can use in your studying.

Need even more APUSH study materials? Check out our complete list of free AP US History practice tests .

You can also check out our complete study guide to the New York US History Regents Exam . If you take it right after the AP US History exam, you might not need to study much at all!

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Find what you need to study

APUSH Unit 6 Practice DBQ Prompt Answers & Feedback

6 min read • january 2, 2021

Caleb Lagerwey

Exam simulation mode

Prep for the AP exam with questions that mimic the test!

View the following practice Unit 6 DBQ prompt where students were asked to practice analyzing, sourcing, and using a document as evidence. The students used the passage below as evidence to support an argument about the following prompt. They were asked to include both usage (summary) and sourcing analysis (HIPP) in their practice paragraph submissions.

HIPP is an acronym for sourcing points:

H istorical Context

I ntended audience

P oint of view

The corresponding feedback is provided by Fiveable teacher Caleb Lagerwey. It is important to learn how other students responded to improve one's own DBQ writing.

Practice DBQ Prompt

Evaluate the extent to which various factors changed the American South from 1876 to 1898.

Source: J.A. Wales, cartoon in Puck magazine, May 12, 1881.

DBQ Student Samples and Feedback

Practice submission 1.

The American Civil War during the 19th century greatly impacted the South. Homes were leveled with the ground, fields burned, and communities destroyed. This all however changed with the Reconstruction Era in which the goal of the United States was to unite as one large nation once again. While developments in the economy such as the creation of the “New South” idea were temporary changes to the Southern lifestyle, the continuance of sectionalist policies such as the Let’em Alone policy and the policy of sharecropping, ultimately changed the American South to a great extent.

Document Use:

As the Compromise of 1877 took effect in the United States, many aspects of the Southern lifestyle changed back to accommodate for the original Southern purpose: to support a agriculturally dependent economy. As J.A. Wales portrays in a Puck Magazine cartoon, the newly elected republican president, James Garfield, encouraged policies that would further lift the Northern guidance off the South. By depicting Garfield as using wartime weaponry, like the sword and guns as a plow to the southern land, Wales helps identify that even though factories and ships were quickly developing, as seen in the background, things such as the system of sharecropping and an end to the reconstruction political actions were clear drawbacks of the end of reconstruction and of the development of a weak government. This of course is what Wales’s purpose is in the cartoon; depicting the weak government that was present after the period of reconstruction ended. By visually representing this purpose in the form of a cartoon, Wales is able to accurately represent that while positive changes in the South took place from 1876 to 1898, continuance of systems such as sharecropping and hands off policies played a larger role in reshaping the Southern lifestyle as reconstruction ended.

Teacher Feedback

You started off well by talking about the aftereffects of the Civil War on the American South. That would earn the Contextualization point. For your thesis, you want to avoid using language directly from sources/cartoons (“Let’em Along Policy”) and leave evidence for your body paragraphs. Also, if this was a longer prompt with more documents, consider adding a change argument too. Nice work.

Practice Submission 2

Southern states were largely controlled by the Union after their loss in the civil war and weak admission back into the United States. Their control did not last long though as the desire for control of their own governments led to troops leaving the former confederate states and the compromise of 1877. This led to the formation of the “New South” which ended up not being much different than the Confederacy which the continuation of slavery through its legal counterpart, sharecropping, and discrimination of African Americans through black codes and later Jim Crow laws.

You did a good job of setting up the essay, but consider adding a little more specificity to the discussion of the Compromise of 1877 by talking about how it ended Reconstruction. Your thesis was all continuity, which is fine and would earn the point; just be careful with prompts that have more docs, since those might need a change paragraph too. Nice work.

Practice Submission 3

Contextualization:

Following the Civil War in the 1860s, Southern states, which had been treated as a separate nation for much of the century, were now to be included into the Union again. However, the status of blacks and the reentry of many states into the Union was a challenge that faced the South after towns had been destroyed and slavery had been prohibited. The idea of military Reconstruction, which took place for the years after the Civil War, was not successful and while Southern men had gained many rights during this period, high taxes and political scandals turned many anti-Reconstruction Southerners even more hostile than they were before. In addition, the end of Reconstruction only spelled trouble for the “freed” blacks. Although the end of Reconstruction brought some educational opportunities for blacks, it led to further revolt, white supremacy, and the creation of Jim Crow Laws.

Body Paragraph:

For example, the end of Reconstruction led to white supremacy in the South. Under Hayes’ presidency, federal troops were pulled out of South Carolina and Louisiana and Southern Democrats regained control of the region. With this, many blacks thought that they could emulate the northern industrialization in the “New South,” but to their surprise, sharecropping and tenant farming continued for many years. In addition, the Let 'em Alone Policy was enacted, which meant that federal control in the area was gone. This led to the replacement of bayonet rule and the bloody shirt campaign with a policy of neglect as the government paid no attention to the status of blacks and left everything up to groups such as the Redeemers and the Freedman’s Bureau to control what took place. As shown in the background, industrial developments were still taking place in the North while the South was using sharecropping and agricultural methods to help the economy. The author, J.A. Wales, likely created this cartoon to criticize the loosening of federal control as his usage of the word “Weak” in his cartoon title shows that he advocated for the Northern way of doing things, under federal control, as shown in the background, in contrast to how the South was operating against their will to sharecrop and exclude Southerners from the trending industrial parts of the economy. Hence, the idea of letting the South alone only led to White supremacy in economic matters and did little to help the status of “freed” blacks.

Nice work! Your Contextualization and thesis would earn the point. Your Contextualization in particular was well done since it used Reconstruction well and made it relevant to the prompt. In your body paragraph–as others before you did–you saw the cartoon as pro-Northern when it was really anti-South. The “weak” part is sarcastic and shows the South prospering, despite the government not getting involved. That’s okay (plus, I didn’t give you the first half of the cartoon).

Practice Submission 4

As a result of the Southern loss during the civil war, the reconstruction period of 1865-1877 was characterized by constant regulation of the South that allowed for a growth of the Northern power despite Johnson’s implicit support of the South. Although, during the 1876 to 1898 period, the end of reconstruction allowed for changes that allowed for a shift towards an increase in Southern power in the government, ultimately, the nature of the agricultural economical structure of the South and the continuance of the social class hierarchy undermined the change that occurred post-reconstruction. After reconstruction and the end of Grant’s administration, the bloody shirt campaign began to loose significance among the Southern people, granting them the courage to more openly continue practices, and creating regulations like the slave codes to legally enforce them, such as sharecropping which was basically post civil war slavery under another name due to the binds it placed on the newly “free” men to a landowners land.

Your intro paragraph would earn those two points, both Contextualization and the Thesis. The Grant administration and Bloody shirt pieces of evidence were a nice touch. Well done.

Stay Connected

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

AP US History Practice Tests

The AP U.S. History Exam consists of two main sections: a multiple-choice and short-answer section and an essay questions section. See the table below:

If you are a mobile user, click here: Do AP US History Practice Questions .

AP US History Multiple-Choice Practice Tests

• AP US History Practice Test 1
• AP US History Practice Test 2
• AP US History Practice Test 3
• AP US History Practice Test 4
• AP US History Practice Test 5
• AP US History Practice Test 6
• AP US History Practice Test 7
• AP US History Practice Test 8
• AP US History Practice Test 9
• AP US History Practice Test 10
• AP US History Practice Test 11
• AP US History Practice Test 12
• AP US History Practice Test 13
• AP US History Practice Test 14
• AP US History Practice Test 15
• AP US History Practice Test 16
• AP US History Practice Test 17
• AP US History Practice Test 18
• AP US History Practice Test 19
• AP US History Practice Test 20
• AP US History Practice Test 21
• AP US History Practice Test 22
• AP US History Practice Test 23
• AP US History Practice Test 24
• AP US History Practice Test 25
• AP US History Practice Test 26
• AP US History Practice Test 27
• AP US History Practice Test 28
• AP US History Practice Test 29
• AP US History Practice Test 30
• AP US History Practice Test 31
• AP US History Practice Test 32
• AP US History Practice Test 33
• AP US History Practice Test: Early Contact with the New World (1491–1607) Colonization of North America (1607–1754)
• AP US History Practice Test: Conflict and American Independence (1754–1800)
• AP US History Practice Test: Beginnings of Modern American Democracy (1800–1848)
• AP US History Practice Test: Toward the Civil War and Reconstruction (1844–1877)
• AP US History Practice Test: The Industrial Revolution (1865–1898)
• AP US History Practice Test: The Early Twentieth Century (1890–1945)
• AP US History Practice Test: The Postwar Period and Cold War (1945–1980)
• AP US History Practice Test: Entering Into the Twenty-First Century (1980–Present)
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 1: 1491–1607
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 2: 1607–1754
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 3: 1754–1800
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 4: 1800–1848
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 5: 1844–1877
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 6: 1865–1898
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 7: 1890–1945
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 8: 1945–1980
• AP US History Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Period 9: 1980–Present
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 1: 1491-1607)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 2: 1607-1754)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 3: 1754-1800)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 4: 1800-1848)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 5: 1844-1877)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 6: 1865-1898)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 7: 1890-1945)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 8: 1945-1980)
• AP U.S. History Practice Test (Period 9: 1980-Present)
• AP U.S. History Period 1: 1491-1607 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1491-1607
• AP U.S. History Period 2: 1607-1754 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1607-1754
• AP U.S. History Period 3: 1754-1800 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1754-1800
• AP U.S. History Period 4: 1800-1848 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1800-1848
• AP U.S. History Period 5: 1844-1877 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1844-1877
• AP U.S. History Period 6: 1865-1898 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1865-1898
• AP U.S. History Period 7: 1890-1945 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1890-1945
• AP U.S. History Period 8: 1945-1980 Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1945-1980
• AP U.S. History Period 9: 1980-Present Practice Questions
• AP U.S. History Practice Tests: 1980-Present

AP US History Free-Response Practice Tests

• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 1
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 2
• AP US History Free-Response Test 1: Document-Based Question
• AP US History Free-Response Test 1: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Test 2: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Test 3: Long Essay
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 3
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 4
• AP US History Free-Response Test 2:Document-Based Question
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 4: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 5: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 6: Long Essay
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 5
• AP US History Short-Answer Practice Test 6
• AP US History Free-Response Test 3:Document-Based Question
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 7: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 8: Long Essay
• AP US History Free-Response Practice Test 9: Long Essay

AP US History Downloads

• AP US History Exam 2017 PDF download
• AP US History Practice Exam download
• AP US History Test Bank download
• 200 AP US History Practice Questions pdf download
• The Official U.S. History Cram Packet
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 1 (1491–1607) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 2 (1607–1754) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 3 (1754–1800) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 4 (1800–1848) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 5 (1844–1877) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 6 (1865–1898) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 7 (1890–1945) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 8 (1945–1980) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Test: Period 9 (1980–Present) pdf download
• AP US History Practice Questions: Pre-Columbian/Nativc American History
• AP US History Practice Questions: Early Exploration and Spanish and French in the Colonies of the New World
• AP US History Practice Questions: Eariy English Colonies
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Era of Discontent
• AP US History Practice Questions: Tbe Constitution and Early U.S. Government
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Era of Good Feelings to the Age of Jackson
• AP US History Practice Questions: Antebellum Reform Movements
• AP US History Practice Questions: Antebellum Cultural Movements and Manifest Destiny
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Mid-19th Century and Causes of the Civil War
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Civil War
• AP US History Practice Questions: Post Civil War and Reconstruction
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Gilded Age and the American West
• AP US History Practice Questions: U.S. Imperialism and the Progressive Movement
• AP US History Practice Questions: The First World War and the Roaring Twenties
• AP US History Practice Questions: Hie Great Depression and the Second World War
• AP US History Practice Questions: The Cold War and Postwar America
• AP US History Practice Questions: Civil Rights, the 1960s, and Vietnam
• AP US History Practice Questions: End of the Cold War, the 1970s to the Present
• More AP US History Downloads

If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

AP®︎/College US History

Course: ap®︎/college us history   >   unit 10.

• AP US History periods and themes
• AP US History multiple choice example 1
• AP US History multiple choice example 2
• AP US History short answer example 1
• AP US History short answer example 2
• AP US History DBQ example 1
• AP US History DBQ example 2
• AP US History DBQ example 3
• AP US History DBQ example 4

AP US History long essay example 1

• AP US History long essay example 2
• AP US History long essay example 3
• Preparing for the AP US History Exam (5/4/2016)
• AP US History Exam Prep Session (5/1/2017)

Want to join the conversation?

• Upvote Button navigates to signup page
• Downvote Button navigates to signup page
• Flag Button navigates to signup page

Video transcript