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Ultimate Guide to the AP European History Exam

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The AP European History exam is one of the hardest and least-common AP exams taken. In 2019, only about 100,000 of the more than 5 million students taking AP exams took the AP European History exam. Only 11.7% of those AP Euro test-takers scored a 5.

If you’re planning to take the AP European History exam—whether you have taken the class or self-studied—read on for a breakdown of the test and CollegeVine’s advice for how to best prepare for it.

When is the AP European History Exam?

The 2020 AP European History exam takes place on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 12 pm. For a comprehensive list of dates and times for all of the 2020 AP exams, check out our blog post 2020 AP Exam Schedule: Everything You Need to Know .

What Does the AP European History Exam Cover?

The AP European History course investigates the content of European history for significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in four historical periods. In this class, you’ll develop your ability to analyze historical data, assess historical evidence, and analyze significant issues in European history. The course content focuses on events from 1450 to the present and provides seven themes for framing connections over time and between places:

• Interaction of Europe and the world
• Economic and commercial developments
• Cultural and intellectual developments
• States and other institutions of power
• Social organization and development
• National and European identity
• Technological and scientific innovation

In 2015, the AP European History course was redesigned. Though the course content remains largely the same, it is now more focused towards clear learning objectives for the exam. The exam itself has also changed. Starting with the 2016 test, there are now fewer long essays and multiple-choice questions, and short-answer questions were added for the first time. It is important to remember when preparing for the exam to use material produced in 2015 or later, as older material will be outdated.    

AP European History Exam Course Content

The AP European History course consists of nine units, covering the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have shaped Europe from 1450 through the present. Below is a look at how the units break down and what percentage of the exam they represent. 

AP European History Exam Content

The AP European History exam is one of the longer AP exams, clocking in at three hours and 15 minutes. It is comprised of the following parts: 

Section 1: Multiple Choice 

55 minutes | 55 questions | 40% of score

Section 1 takes 55 minutes, contains 55 multiple-choice questions, and accounts for 40% of your total score. Questions generally come in sets of three or four based on the same stimulus, and include one or more sources such as text, images, charts, and maps. 

Section 2: Short-Answer Questions

40 minutes | 3 questions | 20% of score

Section 2 contains three short-answer questions, takes 40 minutes, and accounts for 20% of your total score. 

• The first short-answer question focuses on historical developments or processes from 1600-2001 and includes one or two secondary sources.
• The second short-answer question shares the same focus and time period as the first question—historical developments or processes occurring between 1600-2001—but includes one primary source. 
• The final short-answer question gives test-takers a choice to answer one of three questions. The three questions all focus on the historical developments and processes of particular time periods—1450 to 1648, 1815 to 1914, 1914 to today—and no source material is included. 

In their short answers, students are tasked with analyzing the sources along with the developments described in them, then putting those occurrences in context and making connections between them. 

Section 3: Free Response 

1 hour 40 minutes | 2 questions | 40% of score

The last section features two free-response questions—one is a document-based question (DBQ) which you have an hour to answer and is worth 25% of your score, the other is a long essay that you’re given 40 minutes to write and is worth 15% of your score. 

Document-Based Question: The document-based question is focused on a historical development that happened between 1600 and 2001. Test takers are presented with seven documents giving various perspectives on the event and are tasked with constructing an argument using the documents AND prior knowledge to form and support an argument. 

Long Essay: Test takers are given the choice of three questions, all of them assessing the ability to develop and support arguments based on evidence, but focusing on different historical time periods. The three time periods are: 1450 to 1700, 1648 to 1914, and 1815 to 2001. 

AP European History Score Distribution, Average Score, and Passing Rate

The AP European History exam is a tough one to master, though many students do well enough to pass (score of 3 or higher). In 2019, 58.1% of students who took the AP European History exam received a score of 3 or higher. Of these, only 11.7% of students received the top score of 5 with another 20.5% scoring a 4. Roughly a quarter (25.9%) of all test-takers received a score of 3, contributing greatly to the exam’s pass rate. About a third (29.2%) of students received a score of 2, while 12.5% of test-takers scored a 1 on the exam. If you’re curious about other score distributions, see our post Easiest and Hardest AP Exams .

Keep in mind that policies regarding credit and advanced standing based on AP scores vary widely from college to college. Be sure to check whether the schools on your list accept AP exam credit, and if so, what scores they require.

Best Ways to Study for the AP European History Exam

Step 1: assess your skills.

Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge of the material. The College Board AP European History website provides a number of sample test questions and exam tips, and it also has a practice AP European History exam available. There are numerous other free practice tests offered on the web; for example, Varsity Tutors has a multitude of free AP European History Diagnostic Tests on their website. High School Test Prep also hosts a handful of free AP European History tests on their website. 

Step 2: Study the Material

The AP European History exam tests your knowledge of significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in European history in four historical periods from 1450 to present. 

Learn to Think Like a Historian: You’ll need to learn the thinking skills and methods used by historians to study the past. These include analyzing primary and secondary sources, making historical comparisons, chronological reasoning, and argumentation. 

Go to the Source: The College Board provides a series of useful videos that give an overview of curricular framework and exam format. You should also review the College Board’s Exam Tips .

Ask an Expert: For a more specific idea of where to focus your studying, you should consider using an updated formal study guide. Both the Princeton Review’s Cracking the AP European History Exam, 2020 Edition: Proven Techniques to Help You Score a 5 and Barron’s AP European History, 8th Edition are effective and popular resources. Of these, Barron’s is regarded as the stronger option for long-term studying of the material, while the Princeton Review is often regarded as a better option for test practice (though some users say that its practice tests in the past have been more difficult than the actual AP exam).

There are also a number of free study resources available online. Many AP teachers have posted complete study guides—such as this AP European History study guide from Mrs. Newmark , a teacher at the Raleigh Charter High School in Raleigh, North Carolina—review sheets, and test questions. 

Try using a study app: Finally, another convenient way to study is to use one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams. These can be free or cost a small fee, and are an easy way to quiz yourself on-the-go. Make sure you read reviews before choosing one—their quality varies widely. Varsity Tutors also offers a free app to help you study for the AP Euro exam .

Step 3: Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Once you have your theory down, test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You can find these in most study guides or through online searches. You could also try taking the multiple-choice section of another practice exam.

The College Board Course Description includes many practice multiple-choice questions along with explanations of their answers. There are also many practice questions available in any commercial study guide. As you go through these, try to keep track of which areas are still tripping you up, and go back over this theory again. Focus on understanding what each question is asking and keep a running list of any concepts that are still unfamiliar.

Step 4: Practice Free-Response Questions

The AP European History exam is different from many AP exams in that it consists of five free-response questions of varying length and content. To be successful in these sections, you should know what to expect from each question. If you are already familiar with the free-response portions of the AP U.S. History or AP World History exams, you will find these similar in format.

Short Answer: The first four free-response questions are considered “short answer” and you will be allowed 40 minutes to complete them all. These questions tend to have multiple parts, with each being very specific and limited in scope. In this section, you will have an opportunity to explain the historical examples you know best. You will probably be asked to interpret a graph or figure, compare and contrast the effects of different cultural approaches from specific time periods, or list distinct precipitating factors of significant historical events. You should be able to answer each part of these questions in a short, succinct paragraph.

Document-Based Question : The second free-response section is a document-based question and you will have one hour to complete it. This one question alone is worth 25% of your total exam score. To master it, you need to carefully read the question, practice active reading skills while reviewing the documents, and make a strong outline before you begin to write. In this section, you will assess written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence. Be sure to completely review the outline of requirements provided before the prompt, and check them off as you are outlining and writing your response. 

• Scoring: It’s also beneficial to understand the rubric used to score document-based questions before formulating answers. Document-based questions are scored on a scale of 0 to 7, with points awarded for: Thesis/Claim (0 to 1 point), Contextualization (0 to 1 point), Evidence (0 to 3 points), and Analysis/Reasoning (0 to 2 points).

Long Essay: The last free-response section is a long-essay response, which you will have 40 minutes to complete. It is worth 15% of your total exam score. This section gives you the choice of three separate prompts—remember that you only need to answer one of them! As in the document-based question above, you will be provided with a rough outline of key considerations for the scoring of your work. These include a strong thesis, application of your historical thinking skills, ability to support your argument with specific examples, and the synthesis of your response into a greater historical context. You will be asked to explain and analyze significant issues in world history and develop an argument supported by your analysis of historical evidence.

• Scoring: Once again, understanding the scoring rubric is beneficial. The long essay is scored on a scale ranging from 0 to 6. Points are awarded for Thesis/Claim (0 to 1 point), Contextualization (0 to 1 point), Evidence (0 to 2 points), and Analysis/Reasoning (0 to 2 points). This YouTube video explains the AP Euro DBQ rubric and gives concrete examples of what to do and what NOT to do.

As you complete the document-based question and long essay, make sure to keep an eye on the time. Though you will be reminded of time remaining by the exam proctor, you will not be forced to move on to another question once the amount of time recommended for the first question has passed. Make sure you stay on track to address each section of every question. No points can be awarded for answer sections left completely blank when time runs out.

For a more in-depth explanation of how the document-based section and long-essay section are scored, review the College Board’s scoring rubric . To read descriptions of the directives commonly found on this section, visit the Common Directives page. To see authentic examples of past student responses and scoring explanations for each, visit the College Board’s Student Samples, Scoring Guidelines, and Commentary .

Step 5: Take Another Practice Test

As you did at the very beginning of your studying, take a practice test to evaluate your progress. You should see a steady progression of knowledge, and it’s likely that you will see patterns identifying which areas have improved the most and which areas still need improvement.

If you have time, repeat each of the steps above to incrementally increase your score.

Step 6: Exam Day Specifics

If you’re taking the AP course associated with this exam, your teacher will walk you through how to register. If you’re self-studying, check out our blog post How to Self-Register for AP Exams .

For information about what to bring to the exam, see our post What Should I Bring to My AP Exam (And What Should I Definitely Leave at Home)?

History enthusiasts will love CollegeVine’s free chancing engine. We use past performance (grades, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities) to predict future outcomes—in this case, your chance of acceptance into college. Try our chancing engine today to see your odds of getting into over 500 colleges and universities. 

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the expert's guide to the ap european history exam.

Advanced Placement (AP)

The AP European History course and exam cover the history of Europe from 1450 to the present. That means you'll be asked about everything from the Renaissance to the European Union—it's a lot! In addition, the course has had recent updates, making everything a bit more complicated.

If you need guidance for the AP European History exam, read on. In this article, we'll give you an overview of the exam, take a close look at each of its sections, offer some key preparation tips, and explain some important things to keep in mind on test day.

AP European History Exam Format and Overview

The next AP Euro Exam will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 8 am.

The test is three hours and 15 minutes long and consists of two sections , each of which is further split into a Part A and a Part B.

Here's an overview of each section of the AP European History exam:

As you can see here, Section 1 consists of a 55-question multiple-choice section, worth 40% of your overall grade, and a three-question short-answer section, worth 20% of your score. In total, Part 1 is 95 minutes long.

Meanwhile, Section 2 consists of one document-based question, for which you have to synthesize historical documents into a coherent analysis of a historical moment, and a longer essay, for which you must write one essay analyzing a historical moment, with no outside sources at your disposal.

The DBQ is worth 25% of your final grade, whereas the long essay is worth 15%. You'll get 100 minutes for Section 2, including a 15-minute reading period.

Section 1 is worth 60% of your exam score, and Section 2 is worth 40%. In terms of what individual parts are worth the most, the multiple-choice section and the DBQ are the subsections worth the most on the exam , at 40% and 25%, respectively.

It's worth noting that the exam was recently revised in 2018 and changed slightly again in 2020 . The most recent revision was minimal and mainly involved the College Board aligning short answer questions with the course skills. 

These revisions mean that there are not that many up-to-date practice resources available through the College Board, since old released exams have slightly different formats. That doesn't mean you can't use them—just that you'll need to be aware of these differences.

In the next sections of this guide, I'll break down each of the AP Euro exam sections even further.

This is the old-old form of the AP Euro exam.

Section 1: Multiple Choice and Short Answer

Here, we'll go over what you can expect to see on Section 1 of the AP European History exam. All question examples come from the AP Euro Course and Exam Description .

Part A: Multiple Choice

• Time: 55 minutes
• Number of Questions: 55
• Percent of Score: 40%

On this section, you'll be presented with primary and secondary historical sources and asked to answer three to four questions relevant to each source . In that sense, the 55 questions are almost divided up into a series of mini-quizzes. Each question has four possible answer choices.

Note that the presentation of sources in the text ties into the AP test's focus on historical evidence and the actual work historians do when it comes to evaluating and analyzing evidence.

There are two basic kinds of questions on the multiple-choice section: source-analysis questions, and outside-knowledge questions .

Source Analysis

Most of the questions in the multiple-choice section are source-analysis questions. These are questions that ask you to analyze the historical source presented in some way. You might be asked to link the events described in the given source to a broader historical movement, contrast it with other sources, determine whether it supports or contradicts a certain historical trend, and so on.

In general, you will need to have some degree of outside historical knowledge to be able to answer these questions, but they are at their core questions about what the source says or means , often within the overarching historical moment.

Below is an example of a source-analysis question:

Outside Knowledge

These are questions that have little, if anything, to do with the source itself , and instead ask a historical question based on your own knowledge. It will most likely be about events connected to or immediately following the time period described in the source, but the source is not the focus of the question and will therefore not provide much help in answering it.

Here's an example of a multiple-choice question that tests your outside knowledge:

What could this mean?

Part B: Short Answer

• Time: 40 minutes
• Number of Questions: 3 (for third short answer, choose 1 of 2 prompts to respond to)
• Percent of Score: 20%

The short-answer section is three questions long and lasts 40 minutes, giving you approximately 13 minutes per question . You will be asked to give a total of three pieces of information (labeled A-C). For example, you might be asked to provide two pieces of information in favor of a historical thesis and one piece of information against.

You'll get different types of stimuli, or sources, for each question, as well as different topics. Here's what you can expect on test day:

There is generally an element of choice to these questions. For example, you might need to name one reason of many that something happened or two consequences of a particular event, but you will not be required to name particular events.

Here's an example of question 2 (with a primary source):

Keep your answers short like this guy.

Section 2: Free-Response Section

Now that we've explained what you can expect in Section 1, let's review what you'll be asked to do on Section 2 of the AP Euro exam. Again, all sample questions come from the 2020 Course and Exam Description .

Part A: Document-Based Question

• Time: 60 minutes (including 15-minute reading period)
• Number of Questions: 1
• Percent of Score: 25%

On the DBQ , you'll be given seven documents , made up of primary and secondary sources, and asked to write an essay that analyzes a historical issue. This is meant to put you in the role of historian, interpreting historical material and then relaying your interpretation in an essay. You'll need to combine material from the sources with your own outside knowledge .

You'll have 15 minutes to plan the essay and 45 minutes to write it. The 15-minute planning period is specifically designated and timed at the start of Section 2, and you will be prompted to begin your essay at the close.

Here's an example of an AP Euro DBQ (documents not shown):

Part B: Long Essay

• Number of Questions: 1 (choose 1 of 3 prompts to respond to)
• Percent of Score: 15%

The Long Essay will ask you a broad thematic question about a particular historical period. You must craft an analytical essay with a thesis that you can defend using specific historical evidence you learned in class.

You'll get a choice between three prompts for this essay, each of which is based on a different historical period:

• Option 1: 1450-1700
• Option 2: 1648-1914
• Option 3: 1815-2001

Below is an example of a Long Essay question on the AP Euro exam:

A main theme of Europe: cheese.

How Is the AP European History Exam Scored?

As a reminder, here's how each section is weighted on the AP European History exam:

• Multiple Choice: 40%
• Short Answer: 20%
• Long Essay: 15%

As with other AP exams, your raw score will be converted to a final scaled score from 1 to 5 . In 2022, about 14% of AP Euro test takers received a 5 , and about 21% received a 4. The test is difficult, but it's definitely possible to do well if you prepare.

So how is your raw score calculated? Let's go over how points are awarded on every part of each AP European History test section.

Multiple Choice

On the multiple-choice section, you receive a point for each question you answer correctly. This means you could receive a total of 55 points on the multiple-choice section, weighted as 40% of your total score . Note that there are no penalties for incorrect answers.

Short Answer

Short-answer questions always ask you to provide three pieces of information , labeled A-C. This means that you will receive a point for every correct and relevant piece of information you give.

For example, if a question asks for one cause of a particular conflict, one result of a particular conflict, and one similar situation in a different country, and you provided one cause and one result, you would receive 2 out of 3 possible points.

Because you must answer three short-answer questions, you could potentially earn up to 9 points on this section, weighted at 20% of your total exam score .

Document-Based Question

The DBQ is worth 25% of your overall grade and is scored on a 7-point rubric . I'll give a quick rubric breakdown here:

In 2021, results for the DBQ looked like this:

• 80% of students earned the thesis point
• 55% of students earned the contextualization point
• Evidence: 25% of students earned all 3 evidence points; 41% earned 2 points; 27% earned 1 point; 7% earned 0 points
• Analysis & Reasoning: 5% earned 2 points; 25% earned 1 point; 70% earned 0 points

She diligently studies for the DBQ.

The Long Essay is worth the least of all the exam components at only 15% of your total score . It's scored out of a 6-point rubric , which looks like this:

As you can see, this rubric is similar to that for the DBQ in that it's fairly concerned with choosing appropriate, specific evidence to support your argument and adequately explaining those examples. To succeed, you will need to have a strong knowledge base in specific historical content, more so than on any other section of the exam.

That covers it for what's on the AP Euro test. Next, we'll address how you should prepare for it.

You can't tell by looking, but this kitten is an AP Euro expert.

How to Prepare for the AP Euro Exam: 5 Key Tips

Here are five essential tips you should know when preparing for the AP European History exam.

#1: Start Reviewing Content Early

One major thing you can do to help yourself on the AP Euro exam is to start reviewing content early on in the year . As soon as you know enough to start reviewing, you should be periodically looking back at old material to refresh your knowledge.

If you make sure your knowledge is constantly renewed, you'll have less work to do as you get closer to exam day , as you'll maintain a fairly high level of familiarity with a whole school year's worth of historical material. This means that you'll be able to focus primarily on building skills for the exam.

#2: Fill In Gaps

As soon as you realize you don't know or understand much about a particular historical period or movement—maybe after doing less than awesome on a test, paper, or project, for example—you should work to shore up that knowledge with extra studying and review .

If you can, consult with your teacher on what you are missing. This will help keep you from serious weakness on the exam if the DBQ or Long Essay ends up being on an area you don't actually know anything about.

#3: Seek Breadth and Depth in Knowledge

As you review historical content, be sure to balance acquiring breadth and depth . You definitely need to understand the major historical movements and moments of European history, but you should also know specific facts and events about each era to maximize your chances of success on the short-answer and free-response sections of the exam.

Of course, you aren't going to be able to memorize every single date and person's name ever mentioned in class for the purposes of the AP exam, but do try to make sure you have at least a few facts you could use as specific evidence in an essay about any of the major historical happenings covered in the course.

#4: Understand Historical Evidence

One of the most important skills you can build for the AP Euro exam is understanding historical evidence. When you confront primary and secondary sources on the AP exam, you'll need to think about who is writing, why they are writing, their audience, and the historical (or current) context they are writing in. What is the source evidence of? Is it relating facts, opinions, or interpretations?

For more guidance on working with primary and secondary sources, see this online lesson from a college history professor .

#5: Practice the DBQ

Because the DBQ is somewhat unusual compared with the typical AP essay , you will need to make sure you understand how to plan and write one. Really work on not just your ability to understand historical evidence but also your ability to synthesize different pieces of historical evidence into a coherent interpretation or argument about a historical topic .

On top of that, you'll need to make a connection to another time period, movement, or discipline! Use the rubric as a guide to improve your DBQ skills. You can also check out my guide to writing a great DBQ essay .

Filling in some very important gaps.

Acing the AP European History Exam: 2 Test-Day Tips

Although all the typical preparation tips apply—you should get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, manage your time wisely, and answer every question—there's even more you can do to ensure you get the score you want. Here, we introduce two AP Euro-specific test-day tips .

Tip 1: Focus on the Multiple-Choice and DBQ Sections

There are four parts to the AP Euro test, but they aren't all equally important due to differences in score weighting. As a reminder, the multiple-choice section is worth 40% of your overall score, the DBQ is worth 25%, the short-answer is worth 20%, and the long essay is worth 15%.

As you can see, the multiple-choice and DBQ sections make up the majority (65%) of your AP Euro score , so make sure you pay them adequate attention in terms of time and effort.

Obviously, you should still do your best on every part of the exam—your scores on the other two sections do matter! But if you find yourself pressed for time on either Section 1 or 2, the multiple-choice and the DBQ sections are worth more than the other parts, so prioritize them.

Tip 2: Mine Sources for Contextual Information

The AP European History test has a big focus on primary and secondary sources .

While most questions do still require some outside knowledge to answer, you can use the primary and secondary sources to orient yourself in history and pick up contextual details that will help you answer questions, even if you are initially a little lost as to the particulars of the historical moment being described.

Here's an example of a multiple-choice AP Euro question with a source:

What can we figure out from this source? Based on the caption alone, we know right away that this is a song by 18th-century French market women. But what is the source itself telling us?

In the first line, we see the word "Versailles." Assuming you know that's where French royalty lived, you should start to think this: does this source have something to do with royalty? (If you don't know that Versailles is where French royalty used to live, you aren't out of luck—the second stanza offers this information implicitly.)

We then see the second line: "We brought with us all our guns." This implies that something violent occurred at Versailles, i.e., something violent at the place where royalty lives .

The second stanza switches into the present tense. So that means whatever happened at Versailles with the guns already took place. In the present, they say, "We won't have to go so far ... to see our King ... Since he's come to live in our Capital." The King, then, lives in Paris now—so the ladies don't have to go to Versailles to see him.

The fact that the king was in Versailles in the first stanza when they brought their guns to him and is in Paris in the second stanza implies that he was forcibly moved to Paris . In this light, the line that reads, "We love him with a love without equal" becomes ironic: they love him now that they have defeated him .

The only one of the answers that is possibly compatible with the idea of defeating a king is choice B , which discusses creating a republican government in France.

As you can see, simply by using sources, you can navigate many questions, even if you are initially at a total loss in terms of historical contextual information.

France: beautiful architecture and bloody revolution.

Recap: What to Know About the AP European History Exam

The AP European History exam is three hours and 15 minutes long and consists of two sections. Section 1 has two parts: a 55-minute, 55-question multiple-choice section, and a three-question, 40-minute short-answer section. Section 2 also has two parts: a 60-minute document-based question, or DBQ, and a 40-minute essay.

Here's a quick overview of each section on the AP Euro test:

• Multiple Choice: Worth 40% of your final score. You get a point for every correct answer (there's no penalty for incorrect answers). To answer questions, you must analyze historical sources and evidence; you must also rely on your own knowledge of historical events.
• Short Answer: Worth 20% of your final score. On each of the three questions you'll be asked to provide three pieces of information about a particular historical movement or period. You will get a point for each correct piece of information you provide.
• Document-Based Question: Worth 25% of your final score. You'll receive seven documents and must write an essay synthesizing your interpretation of a specific historical movement or period using these sources. The DBQ is graded out of 7 points.
• Long Essay: Worth 15% of your final score. Here, you get to choose one prompt from among three options. You'll then need to write an essay supported with specific historical evidence. The essay is graded out of 6 points.

Here are our best tips for preparing for the AP European History exam:

• Start reviewing content early on in the year and keep it up throughout
• Fill in any evident gaps in your content knowledge
• Seek both breadth and depth in your knowledge of the content
• Learn to understand and analyze historical evidence and primary and secondary sources
• Build exam-specific skills, particularly for the DBQ
• Focus most of your energy on the multiple-choice and DBQ sections
• Use sources to orient yourself in history when you need to

With all this knowledge at your fingertips, you're guaranteed to crush the AP European History exam—just as the Hapsburgs crushed in the 30 Years' War! (Too soon?)

What's Next?

Need more AP test-taking tips? Our in-depth guide introduces the six critical tips you'll need to ace any AP exam , including AP Euro.

Looking for AP practice tests? Get tips on where to find the best practice exams in our detailed guide .

Want more of our AP guides? We've got complete AP test guides for AP Human Geography , AP Language and Composition , AP Literature and Composition , AP World History , AP US History , AP Chemistry , AP Biology , and AP Psychology .

Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., guide to the ap european history exam.

Familiar with the defenestration of Prague? Know the causes of the French Revolution? The AP ® European History exam tests topics and skills discussed in your Advanced Placement European History course. If you score high enough, your AP Euro score could earn you college credit!

Check out our AP European History guide for the essential info you need about the exam:

• Exam Overview
• Sections and Question Types
• How to Prepare

What’s on the AP European History Exam?

The course focuses on the following nine units of study:

• Unit 1: Renaissance and Exploration
• Unit 2: Age of Reformation
• Unit 3: Absolutism and Constitutionalism
• Unit 4: Scientific, Philosophical, and Political Developments
• Unit 5: Conflict, Crisis, and Reaction in the Late 18th Century
• Unit 6: Industrialization and its Effects
• Unit 7: 19th Century Perspectives and Political Developments
• Unit 8: 20th Century Global Conflicts
• Unit 9: Cold War and Contemporary Europe

The College Board is very detailed in what they require your AP teacher to cover in his or her AP European History course. They explain that you should be familiar with the following themes:

• Interaction of Europe and and the World: commercial and religious motivations to interact with the world; competition for trade; commercial rivalries; Christianity; social Darwinism; mercantilism; slave-labor system; expansion of slave trade; slave revolt and Haitian independence; national self-determination; extreme nationalist political parties; increased immigration into Europe, anti-immigrant policies; Woodrow Wilson’s political/diplomatic idealism; causes of World War I; Columbian exchange; Marshall Plan; 1929 stock market crash; Cold War outside Europe; responses to imperialism; diplomacy and colonial wars
• Economic and Commercial Developments: industrialization; Second Industrial Revolution; French Revolution; Russian reform and modernization; world monetary and trade systems; European economic and political integration; baby boom; the putting-out system; Agricultural Revolution and population growth; mechanization; the factory system; migration from rural to urban areas; critiques of capitalism; evolution of socialist ideology; Russian Revolution; Lenin’s New Economic Policy; Stalin’s economic modernization; fascism; the Great Depression; green parties; revolts of 1968; labor laws and reform programs
• Cultural and Intellectual Developments: revival of classical texts; invention of the printing press; Renaissance art; scientific method; rational thought; theories of Locke and Rousseau; humanism; romanticism; fascist nationalism
• States and Other Institutions of Power: English Civil War; French Revolution; wars of Napoleon; Enlightenment principles; Congress of Vienna; social contract; post-1815 revolutions; nation-building; industrialization; Russian Revolution; constitutionalism; rise of the Nazis; mass media and propaganda; total war; post-1945 nationalist/separatist movements; genocide; imperialism; colonial independence movements; League of Nations; collapse of communism
• Social Organization and Development: gender roles and marriage patterns; hierarchy and social status; urban expansion; rise of commercial and professional groups; family economy; Napoleon and meritocracy; industrialization and class; destructive effects of technology; religious minorities; social Darwinism
• National and European Identity: new class identities; ethnic cleansing; national self-determination; transnational identities; European integration; conflict between religious groups; continued influence of local identities; separatist movements; decolonization; radical political thought; rise of Zionism; mass politics; worker movements
• Technological and Scientific Innovation : Golden Age of Dutch advances (telescope, microscope, etc.); 1 st Industrial Revolution (spinning jenny, steam engine, steamboat); 2 nd Industrial Revolution (electric motors, railways, telegraph, automobile, medical technology); 20 th century (Einstein and theory of relativity, color photography, warfare technology, radio and television, medical innovations)

Read More: For a comprehensive content review, check out our line of AP guides

AP Euro Sections and Question Types

The AP European History exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long. It is composed of two sections: a multiple choice/short answer section and a a free response section. There are two parts (Part A and Part B) to each section.

Note: The College Board has not yet announced if the 2021 digital version of the AP European History exam will be in place for future exam years. For updates on the digital test and its format, please visit the  AP Euro page on the College Board's website .

AP European History Multiple-Choice

Multiple-choice questions are grouped into sets of typically three or four questions and based on a primary or secondary source, including excerpts from historical documents or writings, images, graphs, maps, and so on. This section will test your ability to analyze and engage with the source materials while recalling what you already know about European History.

AP European History Short Answer

The short answer questions will ask you to write answers to questions in your test booklet. Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps. Questions 1 and 2 are required and focus on historical developments or processes from 1600–2001. You can choose between Question 3, which focuses on periods 1450–1648 and/or 1648–1815, and Question 4, which focuses on periods 1815–1914 and/or 1914–present.

AP European History Document-Based Question (DBQ)

DBQ questions will present you with a variety of historical documents that are intended to show various perspectives on a historical development or process. You will need to develop a thesis that responds to the question prompt and to support that thesis with evidence from both the documents and your knowledge of European history. The topic of the DBQ will include historical developments or processes between the years 1600 and 2001.

AP European History Long Essay

You’re given a choice form three long essay prompts to complete. You must develop a thesis and use historical evidence to support your thesis, but there won’t be any documents on which you must base your response. Instead you’ll need to draw upon your own knowledge of topics you learned in your AP European History class. Each question focuses on a different time period (1450–1700, 1648–1914, or 1815–2001).

Learn More: Review for the exam with our AP European History Cram Course and Tutors

What's a Good AP European History Score?

AP scores are reported from 1 to 5. Colleges are generally looking for a 4 or 5 on the AP Euro exam, but some may grant credit for a 3. Here’s how students scored on the AP European History exam in May 2022:

Source: College Board

How can I prepare?

AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP European History content and strategy, pick the AP prep option that works best for your goals and learning style.

• AP Exams  

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Find what you need to study

2024 AP European History Exam Guide

23 min read • august 18, 2023

Attend a live cram event

Review all units live with expert teachers & students

Your Guide to the 2024 AP European History Exam

We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP European History exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day.  Unlock Cram Mode  for access to our cram events—students who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions. FYI, something cool is coming your way Fall 2023! 👀

Format of the 2024 AP European History exam

Going into test day, this is the exam format to expect:

Section 1A: Multiple Choice (40% of score)

55 questions in 55 minutes

Section 1B: Short Answer (20% of score)

3 questions in 40 minutes

Section 2: Free Response (40% of score)

Document-Based Question (25% of score)

1 DBQ with the recommended 60 minutes to complete it.

Long Essay Question (15% of score)

1 LEQ with the recommended 40 minutes to complete it.

Total time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Scoring Rubric for the 2024 AP European History exam

Multiple Choice: Earn a point for each correct answer. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.

Short Answer Question: 1 point is received for each correct piece of information. There are three parts labeled A-C and 1 point for each part, totaling a maximum of 3 points for each short answer question.

Document-Based Question:

Thesis = 1pt

Contextualization = 1 pt

Evidence = 3 pts

2 pts for evidence in documents 

1 pt for evidence beyond documents

Analysis and Reasoning = 2 pts

1 pt for sourcing

1 pt for complexity

Long Essay Question:

Evidence = 2 pts

Check out our study plan below to find resources and tools to prepare for your AP European History exam.

When is the 2024 AP European History Exam and How Do I Take It?

The tests will be taken in person at your school unless your AP Coordinator has indicated otherwise. Here is what we know from College Board so far: 

The exam will be on paper, Friday, May 10, 2024, at 8:00 AM local time.

Activate Cram Mode to get updates on the latest 2024 exam news. 

How Should I prepare for the Exam?

First, download the AP European History Cheatsheet PDF - a single sheet that covers everything you need to know at a high level. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses! 

We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.

Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via  Cram Mode . Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.

Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment

Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.

🖥 Create a study space.

Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space. 

📚 Organize your study materials.

Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also, create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!

📅 Plan designated times for studying.

The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.

🏆 Decide on an accountability plan.

How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First, set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused!

AP European History 2024 Study Plan

🎨 unit 1: renaissance and exploration, big takeaways:.

Unit 1 covers three main areas of content. First, it introduces us to Europe and briefly covers the end of the Middle Ages. This first area of content predominantly focuses on the crises of the Late Middle Ages (Bubonic Plague, 100 Years War, and Peasant Revolts) and sets the stage for the birth of the Modern Era. Secondly, this unit covers the Italian and Northern Renaissance. Not only is this focused on artistic developments, but also social and political changes. Finally, this unit covers the Age of Exploration and the broad impacts that it has on the continent. 

Content to focus on:

🏰 End of the Middle Ages:

Don’t worry too much about specific knowledge, but instead have a broad understanding of the impacts of the crises of the late Middle Ages.

🖼 Renaissance

Have a good understanding of the differences between the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance. Pay close attention to Italian Humanists vs Christian Humanists.

Have a good understanding of the major themes of the Renaissance including: 

Greek and Roman influence

Machiavelli

Print Culture

Artistic change is important, but be sure to focus on artistic themes and developments 

⛵️ Age of Exploration

The big focus for the Age of Exploration is the causes and effects. What led to the Age of Exploration and how was Europe and the world changed because of it? 

Technological advancements

New Monarchies

New Rivalries 

The Columbian Exchange and Triangle Trade

The Slave Trade

The Commercial Revolution

Shifting the political balance in Europe

Resources to use:

🎥 Watch These Videos:  

Medieval Europe

Age of Exploration  

Italian Renaissance

Italian Renaissance Art

Northern Renaissance

Northern Renaissance Art

Exploration

The Renaissance (Humanism)

Period 1 & 2 Review

📖 Read these study guides:

1.0 Unit 1 Overview: Renaissance and Exploration

1.1 Context of the Renaissance

1.2 Italian Renaissance

1.3 Northern Renaissance

1.4 Printing

1.5 New Monarchies from 1450 to 1648

1.6 Age of Exploration

1.7 Colonial Rivals

1.8 Columbian Exchange

1.9 The Slave Trade

1.10 The Commercial Revolution

1.11 Causation in the Renaissance and Age of Discovery

💒 Unit 2: Reformation and Wars of Religion

Unit 2 covers two bigger topics: the Protestant Reformation and the Wars of Religion. We can break down those two topics into some smaller topics. The Protestant Reformation covers Luther’s Reformation, Calvinism, Anglicanism, and Counter-Reformation. The Wars of Religion mostly look at the political and social responses to Reformation. There are several engagements that are focused on: the French Wars of Religion, the wars of Philip II, and the 30 Years War. 

Content to focus on: 

💒 Protestant Revolution

Foundations of Reformation

Have a good understanding of why people are unhappy with the Catholic Church by the 16th century. 

You can focus on the Catholic Schism and the abuses of the Church

Luther’s Reformation

Martin Luther is given credit for starting the Protestant Reformation and laying the groundwork for all future reformation leaders.

Make sure to focus on why Luther wanted to break from the Church and the differences between Luther’s Christianity and the Catholic Church’s Christianity. 

You also want to make sure to review the Peasant Revolt and how the German Princes/Charles V dealt with Luther.

The Calvinist Reformations

The Calvinist Reformations refer to several reformation movements that occur after Luther’s 95 Theses. Specifically, you should focus on Zwingli, Calvin, and John Knox. 

Make sure to understand the differences between Calvinism and  Lutheranism.

Anglican Reformation

The big takeaway to be focused on is that the Anglican Reformation was a political reformation and not a religious one.

Understand the reasons why Henry VIII wanted to break from the Church. 

Also, focus on the major changes that Elizabeth I made to the Anglican Church and how she solidified it.

Counter-Reformation

When studying the Counter-Reformation, focus on how the Catholic Church worked to gain followers back, and how they reformed some corrupt practices.

Focus on studying the Council of Trent and the Catholic Inquisition.

🔫 Wars of Religion

The French Wars of Religion

The specific details of the French Wars of Religion are less important than the effects of it.

Definitely study the tension between Hugeonots and French Catholics and the general reasons why war broke out. 

Focus most of your attention on Henry IV and the Edict of Nantes.

The Conflicts of Philip II

There are two specific conflicts that should be studied with Philip II. The first is the Spanish Armada and the attempted invasion of England. And the second is the response to the Dutch independence movement. 

Both of these have religious undertones that should be focused on. 

The 30 Years War

This is arguably the most important war of the Wars of Religion. Like with all of these wars, the cause and effects outway the specific details of the war. 

For the causes, focus on the continued conflicts between Lutherans and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire. 

You can study the specific details of the war. Typically, it’s divided up into four periods: 

Bohemian Period

Danish Period

Swedish Period

French Period

The Peace of Westphalia, which ended the war, is the biggest aspect that needs to be focused on. While you should do a deep dive into it, the big takeaway is that it ended all future religious wars in Europe.

🎥 Watch these videos:

Martin Luther and the Reformation

English Reformation

Catholic Counter-Reformation

French Wars of Religion

Thirty Years War

Baroque Art

Art 15th-16th Century: Renaissance, Mannerism, and Baroque

Reformation pt1

Reformation pt2

2.0 Unit 2 Overview: Age of Reformation

2.1 Contextualizing 16th and 17th-Century Challenges and Developments

2.2 Martin Luther

2.3 The Protestant Reformation

2.4 Wars of Religion

2.5 The Catholic Reformation

2.6 16th-Century Society & Politics in Europe

2.7 Mannerism and Baroque Art

2.8 Causation in the Age of Reformation and the Wars of Religion

👑 Unit 3: Absolutism and Constitutionalism

This unit focuses on the development of monarchical power in Europe during the 17th century. The overarching theme is the comparison of absolutism and constitutionalism. However, the unit also covers several important historical developments that do not necessarily fall specifically within this larger theme; these will be mentioned as we work through the unit. Here are the big takeaways for the unit. Focus on the development of absolutism in France (Henry IV, Cardinal Richelieu, Louis XIV) and Russia (Peter the Great). You should also focus on the use and development of mercantilism. Constitutionalism focuses mostly on England by analyzing the rule of James I and Charles I, the English Civil War, and the Glorious Revolution. You should also make sure you look at the Dutch Golden Age during this unit. 

👑 Absolutism

French Absolutism

Henry IV is a good place to start here. Focus on he developed the power of the French monarchy. 

Cardinal Richelieu laid the foundation for Louis XIV, so make sure to focus on how he did that. You can also pay attention to his role in the 30 Years War and how he became one of the examples of a politique . 

Louis XIV is the model absolutist in European History. When you study him, pay attention to how he solidified power for himself and created the cult of personality that surrounded him. You should also pay attention to his foreign policy and his wars. The war to focus on most is the War of Spanish Succession. Lastly, think about whether he was truly a successful absolute monarch and where his shortcomings were.

This is also a good place to study up mercantilism and the impact it had on European economies and the development of colonies throughout the world.

Russian Absolutism

Russian absolutism is really focused on Peter the Great and the advancements he made for Russia

Focus on the establishment of a warm water port, the Table of Ranks, and his westernization of Russia

📜 Constitutionalism

Focus first on the rule of James I, why he wanted to be an absolute king, and why he couldn’t. This is a good place to review the Magna Carta . 

When tackling Charles I, study why he feuded with Parliament and what eventually led to the outbreak of the English Civil War.

Like most wars that we study, the specific details of the war are not important, but instead, understand the causes of it and how it ended. It would be good to understand why it’s significant that Charles I was executed. 

Oliver Cromwell and the Puritan dictatorship should be the next thing that you look at. The biggest thing to focus on, though, would be understanding why England allowed Cromwell to rule as a dictator for ten years. 

The last thing that you should study is the Glorious Revolution and the establishment of the English Bill of Rights. Here, I would focus on why Parliament wanted James II gone and why they appealed to William and Mary. Understand the basic premise of the English Bill of Rights and how it established a constitutional monarchy in England.

🇳🇱 The Dutch Golden Era

This is kind of the odd man out here but is very important to know. Focus on the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ when studying the Dutch Golden Age. How and why did the dutch control trade in the east during the 17th century? How did this impact Europe?

Resources to Use

Absolutist France

Absolutist Russia

Constitutionalism

English Civil War

English Reformation and Glorious Revolution

Absolutism vs Constitutionalism

Economics and Society

Dutch Golden Age

📖Read these study guides:

3.0 Unit 3 Overview: Absolutism and Constitutionalism

3.1 Context of State Building from 1648-1815

3.2 The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution

3.3 Continuities and Changes to Economic Practice and Development from 1648-1815

3.4 Mercantilism

3.5 The Dutch Golden Age

3.6 Balance of Power in Europe from 1648-1815

3.7 Absolutism

3.8 Comparison in the Age of Absolutism and Constitutionalism

🤔 Unit 4: Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment 

Unit 4 might be the simplest unit to tackle because there is not a heavy amount of content to cover. The overarching theme of unit 4 is the advancement in scholarly thought in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries. It focuses on two major developments: the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. For both of these, it’s important to understand major themes and how it will impact future European events. This is probably the most important thing to focus on. You could also study Absolute Despots, but I would recommend studying that in unit 5. 

👨🏻‍🔬 Scientific Revolution

Go through the general history of the Scientific Rev. Know that it was a slow-moving process that gradually changed the way people thought about the world and the solar system.

Pay attention to major themes that will lay the foundation for the Scientific Revolution. These are themes like deductive reasoning and the use of the scientific method.

In terms of people to study, I would recommend knowing a few people who contributed to scientific thought and theory, and a few people who developed scientific methods. 

Scientific Theory and Discovery

Copernicus 

Scientific Methods

Francis Bacon

🤔 Enlightenment 

The Enlightenment is much denser to study than the Scientific Rev. I would not try to tackle all Enlightened thinkers, instead I’ll give recommendations of a few to know. You should also study the causes of it. Why did the Enlightenment happen here and now? Also, look into Enlightenment-era Salons and the impact that they had.

Enlightenment philosophers to know: 

Voltaire: Religious Toleration

Montesquieu: Political separation of powers

Diderot: Equal access to knowledge

Rousseau: The dangers of society  

Beccaria: Criminal reform

Wollstonecraft: Women’s rights in society

Resources to Use: 

🎥Watch these videos:

History of European Literature

New Societal Order - 1700s European Family

Enlightenment pt1

Enlightenment pt2

Scientific Revolution pt1

Scientific Revolution pt2

Enlightenment & Scientific Revolution

Enlightened Absolutists

4.0 Unit 4 Overview: Scientific, Philosophical, and Political Developments

4.1 Context of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment

4.2 The Scientific Revolution

4.3 The Enlightenment

4.4 18th Century Society and Demographics in Europe

4.5 18th Century Culture and Art in Europe

4.6 Enlightened Monarchies

🥖 Unit 5: Old Regime, the French Revolution, and Napoleon

This is probably the heftiest unit in the course and definitely deserves a lot of your attention. There are three main components that make up this unit: the Old Regime (Europe in the 18th Century), the French Revolution, and the reign of Napoleon. The Old Regime has a lot of important content that helps build the foundations of the French Revolution and Europe moving into the 19th century. Below, I’ll cover the important aspects of each. 

🤴🏻 Old Regime: 

There are several specific pieces of content to focus on here. The biggest takeaway from the Old Regime is that Europe experienced systematic change throughout the century. I’ll highlight some of that change below: 

The Enlightenment

The Agricultural Revolution

The Cottage Industry

Population Growth

Societal and Family Change

But there are also some “Europe up to their old shenanigans” aspects of the Old Regime:

Constant warfare 

War of Austrian Succession

Seven Years War

Partitioning of Poland

Peasant Revolts in Russia

🇫🇷The French Revolution

You can spend A LOT of time on the French Revolution, but I really don’t think you need to. Instead, I would focus mostly on the causes and effects, while looking at the important changes that are made in France during the Revolution.

Long term vs Short term

The Enlightenment as a cause

Changes made in France

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

Civil Constitution of the French Clergy

Republic of Virtue

Abolition of the Estates

The overthrow of the monarchy

Wars of the French Revolution

The Spread of Revolutionary Ideas

Notable People and Events

Robespierre

Abbe Sieyes

Fall of the Bastille

Execution of the royal family

The Emigries

Levee en masse

Reign of Terror

Napoleon is another rabbit hole you can fall down. Instead, have an understanding of how he rose to power and his domestic and foreign policies.

Domestic Changes

Napoleonic Code

The Concordat

Social and Educational Reforms

Foreign Policy

Napoleonic Wars

Continental System

Invasion of Russia

100 Days and Fall from Power

Congress of Vienna can also be lumped in here. Make sure to know the goals of the Congress and its impacts on Europe going into the 19th century.

🎥Watch these videos: 

The Old Regime

French Revolution, Part I

French Revolution, Part II

Congress of Vienna

The Seven Years War and American Revolution

English and French Revolution

Napoleon Part 1

Napoleon Part 2

French Revolution and Neoclassical Art

French Revolution - Beginning Years

5.0 Unit 5 Overview: Conflict, Crisis, and Reaction in the Late 18th-Century

5.1 Context of 18th-Century Politics

5.2 The Rise of Global Markets in the 18th-Century

5.3 Britain's Ascendency

5.4 The French Revolution

5.5 Effects of the French Revolution

5.6 Napoleon's Rise, Dominance, and Defeat

5.7 The Congress of Vienna

5.8 Romanticism

5.9 Continuity and Change in the 18th-Century States

🚂 Unit 6: Industrial Revolution and Its Effects

We can really think about this unit as the first half of the 19th century. A lot of the stuff we’ll be talking about here will continue to be mentioned in Unit 7 as well. I like to break up this unit into three sections: Industrialization, Competing Ideologies, and Reactions to Social and Political Change. You really want to study this unit and unit 7 thematically and not chronologically. 

🚂Industrial Revolution

Study why and how the Industrial Revolution (I.R.) started in Britain. 

Study what that early industrialization looked like and the impact it had on Britain and the countries that it spread to.

I would really focus on the social consequences of the I.R.. How did this impact society? Make sure to really focus on the growth of cities and the impact that had on the growing working class.

You can also go ahead and review the Second Industrial Revolution. How did it differ from the first I.R.? How will it lead to World War I? Most of the ‘big’ advancements of the I.R. happened during the Second I.R.. What were those?

🎸Competing Ideologies

This is mostly focused on conservatism, liberalism, and nationalism.

Have a good understanding of the core beliefs of these ideologies and how they competed against each other. 

Also, have a good understanding of where these ideologies came from. Were they new? Had they been developing for a while?

✊Reactions to Social and Political Change

There is a lot that you can focus on here. I’ll break it down below. 

Reaction to industrialization

How did governments respond to the new working class?

Reaction to liberalism

How did conservatives attempt to retain power?

In what ways did liberals push for representation?

Nationalism

How did calls for nationalism manifest?

You definitely want to review the Revolutions of 1848 and understand why they failed. 

I would also look into the following nationalist movements: 

Spanish Revolution

Greek Independence movement 

Serbian Independence movement 

Belgian Independence movement 

Industrial Revolution

Competing Ideologies

Industrial Revolution and Reform

Revolutions of 1848

19th Century Isms

6.0 Unit 6 Overview: Industrialization and Its Effects

6.1 Context of Industrialization

6.2 The First Industrial Revolution

6.3 The Second Industrial Revolution

6.4 Social Effects of Industrialization

6.5 The Concert of Europe and European Conservatism

6.6 Revolutions from 1815-1914

6.7 Intellectual Developments from 1815-1914

6.8 19th Century Social Reform Movements

6.9 Institutional Reforms of the 19th Century

6.10 Causation in the Age of Industrialization

✊ Unit 7: Unifications and Political Developments

As I mentioned in Unit 6, I like to think about Unit 7 as covering the second half of the 19th century. In this unit, there are two big pieces of content to cover: the unification of Italy and German, as well as New Imperialism. Some other pieces of content that you need to review are the rise of socialism, societal changes, scientific, and medical advancement. 

🦄Unifications

Italian Unification

Here you need to understand what the early calls for unification were. I would look at Garibaldi and the Red Shirts. 

You also need to review Cavour and why Piedmont became the driving force of unification. 

Lastly, review the early problems that Italy runs into following unification. 

German Unification

Much like Italy, have a good understanding of the early calls for unification.

The main person you want to focus on here is Bismarck. Understand what his motivations were for uniting Germany and how it represented a new type of conservatism. 

While you don’t need to know the specific details of the three wars that united Germany, understand why Bismarck felt that they needed to happen. 

Lastly, make sure to remember that once Germany was created it was the most powerful country on the content.

💰 New Imperialism

You can definitely fall down the rabbit hole here, which is not a bad thing. I would recommend, though, focusing on the differences between the Age of Exploration and New Imperialism. 

Look into the motivations and methods for New Imperialism. Why here, why now?

Lastly, look at the impacts of New Imperialism. How did this impact the world, how did it impact Europe, how did it impact Africa, and how did it impact Asia?

I would also think critically about how Europeans saw themselves in the world. Review things like Social Darwinism here.

👪Societal Changes

Review how the “family” changed by the late 19th century. 

You can also review the growth of the middle class.

Lastly, I would review the rise of political feminism and the increasing calls for women’s suffrage. 

Also, make sure to review Romanticism and how it was a direct reaction to industrialization.

👩‍🔬Scientific and Medical Advancement

You definitely want to look into Darwin, Darwinism, and Social Darwinism. 

Also, review Louis Pasteur and Florence Nightingale and the new ideas of germ theory. 

You also want to look at the development of sociology by looking at people like Freud and Nietzsche. 

Modernization and Unification 

Unification of Italy and Germany

Imperialism

Impressionism

Nationalism and Imperialism

Rise of Socialism

Romanticism and Realism

Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

7.0 Unit 7 Overview: 19th-Century Perspectives and Political Developments

7.1 Context of 19th Century Politics

7.2 Nationalism

7.3 National Unification and Diplomatic Tensions

7.4 Darwinism and Social Darwinism

7.5 Science and Intellectual Developments from 1815-1914

7.6 Imperialism

7.7 Effects of Imperialism

7.8 19th-Century Culture and Arts

💣 Unit 8: 20th Century Global Conflicts

Big takeaways: .

We are covering the major 20th-century conflicts that are happening on a global scale. The major events in this unit are World Wars I and II, Russian Revolution, Versailles Conference and Peace Settlement, Great Depression, fascism and totalitarianism, Europe during the interwar period, Holocaust, and 20th-Century cultural, intellectual, and artistic developments. 

🔫World War I

Understand the differences between the western and eastern front in the development of WWI

Look into the events leading into WWI (such as the Moroccan Crisis and Bosnian Crisis) and its immediate cause (assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand)

Look into the effects of the Industrial Revolution and increased militarism

Know the different types of alliances and how they formed

Look into the Schlieffen Plan

Dig deeper into how nationalism and imperialism play a role in WWI

Understand the conditions in the Treaty of Versailles and the formation of the League of Nations

⚔Russian Revolution

Understand the rise of socialism and how the Bolshevik Party formed

Look into what sparks the February/March Revolution

Understand how Bolshevik Party takes over the provisional government and Lenin enacts New Economic Policy

Look into the Civil War between the Red Army and White Army

🥖Great Depression

Look into what the Dawes Plan was and the consequences of the US stock market crash

Understand how the Great Depression led to the rise of authoritarian leaders.

Be able to explain what fascism and totalitarianism is and how these ideologies played a role in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Soviet Union

👉🏽Interwar Period

Look into how Germany remilitarized the Rhineland (between France and Germany)

Check out the Italian invasion of Ethiopia

Understand the Anschluss of Austria by Germany

Look into the appeasement of Hitler and the German annexation of the Sudetenland 

Understand the Nazi and Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Look into the economic modernization of the Soviet Union

🤺World War II

Understand the gradual and immediate causes of WWII

Recognize how the war took place in the Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Understand how the beginning of the Holocaust and its impact on Jewish people and how they were liberated.

Learn how the world changed after WWII (socially, culturally, artistically, economically, etc.) and what the Lost Generation was.

Appeasement

The Russian Revolution

World War I

World War II

Russian Revolution

Causes of WWI

Rise of Fascism

Totalitarianism

8.0 Unit 8 Overview: 20th-Century Global Conflicts

8.1 Context of 20th Century Global Conflicts

8.2 World War 1

8.3 The Russian Revolution

8.4 Versailles Conference and Peace Settlement

8.5 Global Economic Crisis: The Great Depression

8.6 Fascism and Totalitarianism

8.7 Europe During the Interwar Period

8.8 World War II

8.9 The Holocaust

8.10 20th-Century Cultural, Intellectual, and Artistic Developments

🥶 Unit 9: Cold War and Contemporary Europe

This final unit focuses on rebuilding Europe after World War II, the Cold War, the emergence of two superpowers, mass atrocities since 1945, postwar economic developments, the fall of communism, decolonization, European Union, technological developments since 1914, globalization, 20th- and 21st-Century culture, arts, and demographic trends, and continuity and change in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Understand the emergence of two superpowers- The United States and the Soviet Union.

Look into the impact of the Marshall Plan on Europe and how the Soviet Union created their own alternatives, the Molotov Plan and Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON)

Learn about the major global conflicts of the Cold War, which isn’t a war in the traditional sense.

Vietnam War

Korean Conflict

Yom Kippur War

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

Cuban Missile Crisis

Chinese Civil War

Berlin Blockade of 1948

Berlin Crisis of 1961

Look into how Berlin was split into four zones (after Yalta Conference) and then how Germany was eventually split into East and West Germany—separated by the “Iron Curtain”

Understand the rise of the west

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

United Nations replaces League of Nations

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

World Trade Organization (WTO)

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Learn about the U.S.'s goal to spread democracy throughout the world

Truman Doctrine (1947)

Containment

Domino effect

Understand how the Warsaw Pact formed and the role of puppet governments established by the USSR

Look into the construction of the Berlin War and how more people grew discontented with communism

Prague Spring

Hungarian Revolution

😢Mass Atrocities Since 1945

Look into nationalist movements 

Ireland and England

Look into separatist movements

India and England 

Understand major forms of ethnic cleansing

Massacre of Armenians

Expulsion of ethnic Germans

Genocide of Bosnian Muslims and Albanian Muslims

🧱The Fall of Communism

Look into Khrushchev’s process of de-Stalinization of the Soviet Union after Stalin died

Understand the rise of Brezhnev, Brezhnev Stagnation, and the detente between Russia and the United States

Look into the reforms and policies that Gorbachev brought to the USSR 

Withdrawal from the Soviet-Afghan War

Limiting nuclear weapons

Ending end the Cold War

Perestroika

Learn how the fall of the Berlin Wall was a symbol of the fall of the USSR, which dissolves in 1991

🙋🏽‍♀️Decolonization

Look into President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points—self-determination

Understand the struggle for independence endured by colonized nations and which colonies gained independence from imperialism

Philippines

Cambodia and Laos

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

🌐The European Union

Understand how the EU formed and what its initial purpose was as ECSC

Look into the causes of Brexit

🌍Globalization

Understand the implications of increasing globalization

Look into sustainable development and the formation of the Green Party

Understand new trends in culture, the arts, and demographics

Existentialism

Postmodernism

Cubism, futurism, dadaism, surrealism, abstract expressionism, and pop art

More social movements—from womens’ rights to gay rights and civil rights

Neonatalism

Materialism

Understand the continuity and change in the 20th and 21st Centuries

European Integration

The Cold War

9.0 Unit 9 Overview: Cold War and Contemporary Europe

9.1 Context of the Cold War and Contemporary Europe

9.2 Rebuilding Europe After World War II

9.3 The Cold War

9.4 Two Super Powers Emerge

9.5 Mass Atrocities Since 1945

9.6 Postwar Economic Developments

9.7 The Fall of Communism

9.8 20th-Century Feminism

9.9 Decolonization

9.10 The European Union

9.11 Migrations within and to Europe Since 1945

9.12 Technological Developments Since 1914

9.13 Globalization

9.14 20th- and 21st-Century Culture, Arts, and Demographic Trends

9.15 Continuity and Change in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Check out these other amazing resources!

Thematic guides:.

Theme 1 (INT) - Interaction of Europe and the World

Theme 4 (SOP) - States and Other Institutions of Power

Theme 6 (NEI) - National and European Identity

Theme 7 (TSI) - Technological and Scientific Innovation

Exam Guides:

AP European History Free Response Help - FRQ/LEQ

AP European History Multiple Choice Help (MCQ)

2019 Exam Questions

Analyzing Primary Sources

DBQ Overview/Writing a Thesis and Contextualization

DBQ Overview/Writing a Thesis and Contextualization Slides

How to Do the DBQ

Other Resources:

How to Get a 5 in AP European History

AP European History Self-Study and Homeschool

Best Quizlet Decks for AP European History

Best AP European History Textbooks and Prep Books

Perfect Memes for AP European History

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AP European History Practice Exams

See below for a complete list of all the the online AP European History practice exams. Each of these sites has dozens of free practice questions. Start your test prep right now!

AP Euro Practice Test

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AP European History | Practice Exams | DBQ & FRQ | Notes | Videos |   Study Guides

The 2022 AP Euro Free-Response Questions

If you’d like to know what the prompts and documents were for the 2022 AP European History free-response questions, you can download them here , on The College Board’s website.

Click here to access Tom Richey’s sample responses for the Short-Answer Question (SAQ) section of the 2022 AP European History exam.

Click here to access Tom Richey’s sample response to the 2022 AP European History DBQ on the English Civil War.

Watch Tom Richey’s overview of these free-response questions here .

Based off of an excerpt from Margaret Jacob’s The Secular Enlightenment , 2019, this was Question 1 on the short answer question section of the 2022 APUSH Exam.

1. Using the excerpt, respond to parts a, b, and c.

a) Describe the main argument the author makes about the Enlightenment in the passage.

b) Explain how one piece of evidence not in the passage supports the author’s claims regarding the Enlightenment.

c) Explain how secularization as described in the passage influenced one political change in the period 1750 to 1850.

Question 2 of the short-answer section was based off of a painting by Thomas Benjamin Kennington called The Pinch of Poverty , 1891. Question 2 asked:

2. a) Describe the attitude toward poverty expressed in the painting.

b) Describe a broader context in which the painting was produced

c) Explain one way in which reformers during the late 1800s and early 1900s attempted to address the problems of poverty in Europe

Questions 3 and 4 of the short answer section were as follows:

3. Respond to parts a, b, and c.

a) Describe one significant cultural or intellectual change during the Renaissance.

b) Explain one cause of cultural or intellectual change during the Renaissance.

c) Describe a significant difference between the art of the Italian Renaissance and the art of the Protestant Reformation.

4.Respond to parts a, b, and c.

a) Describe one significant change in the relationship between Western Europe and other parts of the world after 1945.

b) Explain one cause for a change in the relationship between Western Europe and other parts of the world after 1945.

c) Describe one continuity in the economic relationship between Western Europe and other parts of the world in the period from the late 1800s through the late 1900s.

Section II of the AP European History free-response section comprises of a document-based question (DBQ) and one long essay question (LEQ), which you can choose to answer from three different prompts.

Question 1, the document-based question on the 2022 APUSH Exam asked test takers to:

1. Evaluate whether the English Civil War (1642-1649) was motivated primarily by religious reasons or primarily by political reasons.

For the long essay questions, students were asked to respond to one of the following prompts:

2. Evaluate the most significant similarity between the French Revolution of 1789-1799 and the Revolutions of 1848.

3. Evaluate the most significant difference between economic development in eastern Europe and economic development in western and central Europe in the 1800s.

4. Evaluate the most significant similarity between the regimes of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia in the interwar period.

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AP® European History

Frequently asked questions, welcome to ap® european history, subject organization, using standards and tags to find questions, question types, exam information, our help center is always available.

• Unit 1: Renaissance and Exploration
• Unit 2: Age of Reformation
• Unit 3: Absolutism and Constitutionalism
• Unit 4: Scientific, Philosophical, and Political Developments
• Unit 5: Conflict, Crisis, and Reaction in the Late 18th Century
• Unit 6:Industrialization and Its Effects
• Unit 7: 19th-Century Perspectives and Political Developments
• Unit 8: 20th-Century Global Conflicts
• Unit 9: Cold War and Contemporary Europe

Assessments

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AP European History FRQ-Long Essay Question: Time Period 1914 to Present

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1. Directions: In this section, you will choose between one of two long essay questions. The following questions are meant to illustrate an example of a question pairing that might appear in this section of the exam in which both questions focus on the same historical thinking skill (in this case, comparison) but apply it to different time periods and/or topics. (Note that the actual exam will feature an answer booklet, but you can practice on a piece of paper.)

Long Essay Choices

1. "Every successful revolution puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed."

Evaluate the statement above with regard to the English Civil War (1640–1660), the French Revolution (1789–1815), and the Russian Revolution (1917–1930).

2. Explain how, during the Great Depression, traditionally democratic European governments maintained their democracy while some of the newer European democracies fell under dictatorship.

Correct Answer:

Long Essay Question Sample Answers and Explanations

"Every successful revolution puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed."

Comments on Question 1

Follow "The Simple Procedures" for writing an essay.

• First, which skill is being tested? This is a change and continuity over time (CCOT) skill question. So be sure to describe the level of historical continuity (as in what did not change in Britain, France, and Russia when they had revolutions) and what did change (as in how did each set of revolutionaries gain and utilize power). Include specific examples of what changed in each country when revolutionaries took power. Explain the reasons for, and to what extent, each revolutionary became a dictator like the one he replaced.
• Second, what does the question want to know? Did the protagonists of the revolutions mentioned—Cromwell, Robespierre, Danton, Marat, Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin—become tyrants as much as the men/regimes they had previously deposed? This question allows you to review the three most important political revolutions covered in the course and compare the results of these revolutions.
• Third, what do you know about that topic? Examine the leaders who took power after the revolutions. In the case of England, that would be Cromwell. In France, the leaders covered can range from Robespierre, Danton, and Marat to Napoleon and Louis XVIII, depending upon how you want to argue the topic. The Russian Revolution should compare the Romanov reign to the rule of the Bolsheviks under Lenin and Stalin. Sophisticated essays may postulate how Trotsky could have ruled differently.
• Finally, how should you put the information into words? This essay lends itself to easy paragraphs for each of the revolutions examined. If the writer writes a thesis explaining that each revolutionary did indeed don the robes of the tyrant to some degree and then examines in the body of the essay the degree to which each revolutionary did that, the essay will be strong. It is often a good idea to contradict the proposition given on a question to distinguish your essay from those written by others. A way to do that here is to be clear about the different degrees to which each revolution did indeed become tyrannical.

Sample Answer

These three revolutions are pivotal points in the political history of Europe and have been much studied by historians. Crane Brinton proposed a cycle of revolutions based upon all three revolutions that does indeed suggest that each of these revolutions did become tyrannical to some degree. The leaders of all three revolutions or their successors became more tyrannical than those they replaced to different degrees and in different arenas in each case.

Oliver Cromwell became the leader of the Puritans during the English Civil War of the mid-17th century. He led a revolt against King Charles I because he felt that the king was forcing religious changes upon the people and was not recognizing the legal power of Parliament. Cromwell advocated with other members for open insurrection against the king. He molded the New Model Army into an efficient fighting machine that fought in the name of the Lord and British common law. He was able to take over Parliament after using his army to defeat the king. He orchestrated a trial of the king and had him beheaded in the name of Parliament and England. Parliament became the first supreme legislature in Europe. Eventually, Cromwell became the de facto ruler of England. He controlled Parliament and eventually dismissed the members with armed force. He closed the theaters and houses of ill repute and enforced strict observation of religious practices that he favored. He also instituted taxes on the people without the consent of Parliament. In the end, Cromwell died a worse tyrant than the man he deposed.

John Locke wrote about the second English political revolution in 1689 in which England gained a Bill of Rights and began the application of scientific thought to politics. His work was built upon by the French philosophes such as Montesquieu and Condorcet, work that, along with a revolution in America, led to a revolution in France based upon Enlightenment ideals. The leaders of the French Revolution also came to a radical phase in which one, Marat, was assassinated, and another, Danton, was repudiated by the third, Robespierre, and guillotined. These leaders perpetrated the Reign of Terror upon France in which tens of thousands were killed as supposed enemies of the revolution. Eventually, the Directory took over in 1795 but for only four years. Then Napoleon took power and began his own censorship, militarism, and autocratic rule. The reign of Louis XVI had been feudal, but the revolutionaries were much more tyrannical because they did not follow their own laws. Instead, they rewrote the constitution whenever it suited the government. At least the French people knew what to expect before the tyrannical revolutionaries took power.

The Russians were perhaps the most oppressed Europeans in 1914. Serfdom still existed, and each person was in fact the personal servant of the czar if asked to serve. Czar Nicholas II and his family lived a life of luxury, while the peasants starved or eked out a living. Industrialization was slow and controlled by the nobility. The revolution, led first by common soldiers and Kerensky and then by the Bolsheviks, ended up being more brutal and tyrannical than anyone could have imagined. Lenin came to power by offering land, peace, and bread. When Stalin took over in 1924, he instituted a brutal regime that forced massive change on the nation, resulting in loss and starvation. He then "purged" the country of people perceived as classist or against the revolution, causing the deaths of tens of millions of his own fellow citizens. The Russian Revolution did indeed become more tyrannical than the regime it deposed.

In all three cases, the revolutions produced governments that, at least for a period, were more tyrannical than those they deposed. Even though they were tyrannical in different ways, with the English more concerned about religion and the Russians more concerned about class, the truth is that all three revolutions did not relieve tyranny but, instead, increased it.

Evaluate the Sample Answer

Now go back and look at the rubric. It is clear that this essay fulfills all of the requirements for a score of 6 on the rubric. This well-balanced essay answers all parts of the question thoroughly and with concrete evidence and at length. The thesis is appropriate and earns the thesis point. The essay definitely uses historical reasoning and evidence to explain how the revolutions mentioned are interrelated. It corroborates an argument that addresses the entirety of the question and utilizes specific examples, earning all evidence points. The argument clearly addresses the topic with specific and relevant examples of evidence. The essay uses that evidence to substantiate the stated thesis fully and effectively. The analysis and reasoning is strong, and it demonstrates a complex understanding of the prompt and use of evidence, gaining both points. The contextualization point is given because although the essay does describe the historical contexts of each revolution somewhat, it does not show how that context influenced the topic of the question.

Rater's Comments on the Sample Answer

6—Highly Qualified

This essay clearly and completely answers the question. There are some details, such as the Rump Parliament or the Long Parliament missing, but the essay is strong, clear, and comprehensive. The structure makes it clear to the reader that the writer knows the events of the three revolutions and the major players in each.

The details about the closure of theaters in England were great. However, the omission of censorship and the absence of an examination of how Cromwell took power take away from this essay. The examination of the French Revolution provides enough support to make the point but could build much more upon the importance of the tyranny of both Robespierre and Napoleon. The examination of Stalin as more tyrannical than the most tyrannical absolutist power was a powerful contrast. More detail on Stalin could have been given as support. The only problem with this essay is a lack of the analysis of the causation for continuity and change, just evidence to support that it occurred is presented. The causation must be clearly explained.

Explain how, during the Great Depression, traditionally democratic European governments maintained their democracy while some of the newer European democracies fell under dictatorship.

Comments on Question 2

• First, which skill is being tested? This is a change and continuity over time (CCOT) skill question. So be sure to describe the level of historical continuity (as in what did not change in England, France, and other nations that retained democracy) and change (as in how did totalitarian regimes gain and utilize power). Include specific examples of what changed in each totalitarian regime from the U.S.S.R. to Spain to Germany when each totalitarian took power, and cite reasons for either the continuity or the change. Remember to analyze why the nations that had newer democracies fell to totalitarian rule while older democracies, such as Great Britain and the Netherlands, did not.
• Second, what does the question want to know? You must offer the reasons for and detail why democracy survived in some European nations and failed in others.
• Third, what do you know about that topic? In Britain, the Netherlands, and France, the institutions and impulses of democracy prevailed over the crisis. In Britain, a coalition reformed the economic system. In France, the socialist French New Deal matched Roosevelt's policies in the United States. In Germany, the weak Weimar Republic crumbled with the election of a plurality of Nazis. In Spain, the Republican government, lacking popular support, was crushed by Franco's Falange. In Italy, Mussolini's Fascists completed the corporate state in response to the depression.
• Finally, how should you put the information into words? This essay lends itself to writing a paragraph for each of the nations examined. If you write a thesis explaining that totalitarianism gained in nations with less experience with democracy, you can then arrange the essay according to nation. Be sure to explain why democracy prevailed or failed in each nation.

The economic disaster of the Great Depression shattered international trade, resulted in unemployment rates as high as 30 percent in the capitalist world, and tested the political systems of the traditional democracies and those created after the First World War. Britain, the Netherlands, and France relied on their "habits" of democratic problem solving to deal with the crisis. Germany, the Soviet Union, Spain, and to some degree, Italy fell under the yoke of dictatorship during the depression.

Britain's well-established parliamentary system came to the fore during the Depression, when a coalition of the Labour and Conservative Parties developed a program to regulate commerce and industry and to extend the social welfare system that had its foundations in the pre–First World War period. A responsiveness to the electorate had been achieved gradually through the course of British history, and it prevailed over the extremist promises of the right and left. The same could be said of the Dutch.

The strong Socialist segment in France's political life came through with a French New Deal patterned after the programs of America's Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Labor legislation and farm subsidies, put through the assembly by a coalition led by the Socialists, offered hope to the electorate. Although the program was largely unsuccessful, rather than falling under the sway of the growing Communist Party or French Fascists, the people returned the government to conservative factions. The hard-won republican democracy of the French seemed to have ingrained a sense of moderation and mistrust of extremism. Additionally, the social movements in France led to the art deco movement that preceded the functional modernism that would come from the German experience at the time.

In the new Soviet Union when the Constituent Assembly was dismissed by the navy under orders of Lenin, it became clear that democracy would not be attempted after the second revolution as it had been after the first. The increasing power and tyranny of the state—including forced collectivization resulting in the deaths of millions, horrific purges, the use of secret police, and the gulags—led to a dictatorship worse than that of any czar. A short-lived democracy in Russia failed as the Bolsheviks eliminated all opposition due in no small part to the Russians' very short experience of less than 13 years of any democracy and only six months of democracy for most.

The Weimar Republic was a creation of the peace conferences at the end of the First World War. Resented by the conservatives for its part in accepting the harsh Treaty of Versailles and mistrusted by the masses for its haphazard responses to the runaway inflation of the mid-1920s and to the hardships of the depression, the Weimar Republic was destroyed from within. When his Nazis won a plurality of Reichstag seats in 1932, Hitler was appointed chancellor. In less than two years, he laid the foundations for one of the world's most terrible totalitarian regimes. Democracy was imposed on the Germans by their enemies; their history did not develop democratic institutions. The monarchies of the separate states, the despotism of Bismarck's new empire, and the virtual absolutism of Kaiser Wilhelm II's aggressive fatherland were only the prelude to the messy and inefficient coalition governments of the Weimar Republic. Hard times nurtured extremists, like the Nazis, who promised simplistic solutions. The Nazis were elected by the very democracy they then destroyed.

Since its unification in the late-15th century, Spain has been the bulwark of Catholic, monarchical conservatism. When a republic was set up in 1931 after the king was ousted, leftists tried to diminish the influence of the Roman Catholic Church by secularizing the schools, seizing church lands, and abolishing the Jesuits. This attempt, along with their land redistribution program, alienated the conservative faction (the military, the church, and the monarchists). The Spanish Fascists organized a government. When the popular election in 1936 put a coalition of leftists back in power, General Francisco Franco started a civil war against the republican government. Backed by a sizable segment of the populace and by the arms and men of the Italian Fascists and the German Nazis (the Republicans were backed by the Soviet Communists), Franco won the bloody and costly civil war and seized power in 1939. He ruled Spain as the world's longest-reigning Fascist dictator until his death in 1975.

Mussolini used the Great Depression as an excuse to impose his plan for the corporate state on Italy. He and his party had been in power since 1922, and he completed his restructuring of the government by about 1934. In essence, labor unions managed industries and set the national political agenda. The unions were unrepresentative of the workers' real needs, however, and they were dominated by the Fascists.

The failure of democracy during the Great Depression in Germany, Italy, and Spain resulted from the lack of adaptable democratic institutions and from the peoples' general mistrust of an unaccustomed form of government. Its success in Britain, the Netherlands, France, and the United States came from their well-established constitutional systems.

Now go back and look at the rubric. It is clear that this essay fulfills all of the requirements for a score 6 on the rubric. This well-balanced essay answers all parts of the question thoroughly with concrete evidence and at length. The thesis is appropriate and earns the thesis point. The essay clearly uses historical reasoning and evidence to explain the relationships between the successful and failed democracies after the First World War. It also corroborates the argument with strong evidence, gaining both evidence points and both analysis and reasoning points. The argument certainly addresses the topic of the question with specific examples of relevant evidence. It goes on to utilize those examples to substantiate this strong thesis fully and effectively. The artistic analysis of France and Germany further shows the historical reasoning skills of the author. The essay explains multiple contexts of the threats to democracy in multiple nations and explains how the context of each country affected the stability of democracy in each nation. This is particularly true of the part about Italy.

6—Extremely Well Qualified

The essay more than fulfills the requirements of the question. It offers the two most important examples of European democracy's resilience during the depression and three of the most important instances of its failure. The essay is supported by accurate information, although its tone is generalized. Specific mention might have been made of the personalities and parties that led the British and French governments during this crisis: Labourite Ramsey MacDonald, Conservative Stanley Baldwin, and Conservative Neville Chamberlain for Britain; and rightist Raymond Poincaré, Socialist Leon Blum, conservative Edouard Daladier, the Fascist-type party, Action Francaise, and the pro-republican coalition Popular Front, for France. The Fascist movements in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Asia could also have been mentioned, including Ioannis Metaxas in Greece, the Arrow Cross in Hungary, the Green Shirts in Ireland, Brazil's Vargas, Hideko Tojo and his Imperial Way faction in Japan, Novo and Ante Paveli? of Croatia, the Iron Guard of Romania, and/or the Slovak People's Party in Slovakia.