Studying for the AP US History Exam? We’ve compiled list of study guides for every unit so you can focus on studying and not waste any time looking for resources!
The APUSH course covers the entirety of US History: from the early days of Cahokia to the Revolutionary War, to the Gilded Age, World Wars, and beyond! Now I know what you’re thinking…that’s a lot of information, but that’s where this list comes in! Below you’ll find a collection of study guides and quick tips that puts everything you need to know all in one place.
These guides were produced by our team of teachers and students who have passed the exam. They include all that you need to get a 5 on the exam, keep reading for more!
Please note! Due to the COVID outbreak, the 2020 exam only covers units 1-7. Find the 2020 exam schedule, learn tips & tricks, and get your frequently asked questions answered onFiveable's Guide to the 2020 AP Exam Updates.-----
Period 1: 1491-1607
🔥Quick Tip: Don’t stress too much about this unit as it only makes up a small percentage of the exam, but do make sure to have a strong understanding of Native interactions with Europeans and how European exploration impacted the Americas.
1.0Overview of Unit 1
1.1European Encounters in the Americas
1.2Native American Societies Before European Contact
1.3European Exploration in the Americas
1.4Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration,and Conquest
1.5Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System
1.6Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans
1.7Causation in Period 1
Period 2: 1607-1754
2.0Overview of Unit 2
2.1Contextualizing Period 2
2.2European Colonization
2.3The Regions of British Colonies
🔥Quick Tip: Pay attention to regional differences and similarities, these will shape the development of the colonies and their different points of view later on in the course.
2.4Transatlantic Trade
2.5Interactions Between American Indians and Europeans
2.6Slavery in the British Colonies
2.7Colonial Society and Culture
2.8Comparison in Period 2
Period 3: 1754-1800
3.0Overview of Unit 3
3.1Contextualizing Period 3
3.2The Seven Years’ War (The French and Indian War)
3.3Taxation Without Representation
3.4Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution
3.5The American Revolution
3.6The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals
3.7The Articles of Confederation
3.8The Constitutional Convention and Debates over Ratification
3.9The Constitution
3.10Shaping a New Republic
3.11Developing an American Identity
🔥Quick Tip: Note the development of an American Identity as it will be a major continuity throughout the course. This is a turning point because previously, colonists adhered to distinctly British culture, but here we see Americans begin to form a culture of their own that will greatly influence society and politics late on.
3.12Movement in the Early Republic
3.13Continuity and Change in Period 3
Period 4: 1800-1848
4.0Overview of Unit 4
4.1Contextualizing Period 4
4.2The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson
4.3Politics and Regional Interests
4.4America on the World Stage
4.5Market Revolution: Industrialization
4.6Market Revolution: Society and Culture
4.7Expanding Democracy
4.8Jackson and Federal Power
4.9The Development of an American Culture
4.10The Second Great Awakening
4.11An Age of Reform
4.12African Americans in the Early Republic
4.13The Society of the South in the Early Republic
4.14Causation in Period 4
🔥Quick Tip: This period contains A LOT of developments socially, politically, and economically. Make sure you know all of these and can compare/contrast them to each other and show continuities and changes over time!
Period 5: 1844-1877
5.0Overview of Unit 5
5.1Contextualizing Period 5
5.2Manifest Destiny
5.3The Mexican–American War
5.4The Compromise of 1850
5.5Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences
🔥Quick Tip: Sectionalism is HUGE! Be sure to note the sectional differences between the North and South, the causes behind them, and how they impacted debates on slavery.
5.6Failure of Compromise
5.7Election of 1860 and Secession
5.8Military Conflict in the Civil War
5.9Government Policies During the Civil War
5.10Reconstruction
5.11Failure of Reconstruction
5.12 Comparison in Period 5Check out this live stream replay🎥:Period 5 Review
Period 6: 1865-1898
6.0Overview of Unit 6
6.1Contextualizing Period 6
6.2Westward Expansion: Economic Development
6.3Westward Expansion: Social and Cultural Development
6.4The “New South”
6.5Technological Innovation
6.6 The Rise of Industrial Capitalism
6.7 Labor in the Gilded Age
6.8Immigration and Migration in the Gilded Age
6.9Responses to Immigration in the Gilded Age
🔥Quick Tip: There are many developments and conflicts associated with labor, immigration, and migration in the Gilded Age. Make sure you know these, how they all relate to each other, and the impacts each had on the American society, government, and economy.
6.10Development of the Middle Class
6.11Reform in the Gilded Age
6.12Controversies over the Role of Government in the Gilded Age
Period 7: 1890-1945
7.0Overview of Unit 7
7.1Contextualizing Period 7
7.2Imperialism: Debates
7.3The Spanish-American War
7.4The Progressives
7.5World War I: Military and Diplomacy
7.6World War I: The Home front
7.71920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology
7.81920s: Cultural and Political Controversies
7.9The Great Depression
7.10The New Deal
7.11Interwar Foreign Policy
7.12World War II: Mobilization
7.13World War II: Military
7.14Postwar Diplomacy
7.15Comparison in Period 7🔥Quick Tip: A good bit of America’s activity is on the world stage in this period. Study how America interacts with other countries through War and Diplomacy. This Period also sees extreme economic highs and lows. Familiarize yourself with economics in this period from the Great Depression to Post War economic developments.
Period 8: 1945-1980
8.0Overview of Unit 8
8.1Contextualizing Period 8
8.2The Cold War from 1945 to 1980
8.3The Red Scare
8.4The Economy After 1945
8.5Culture After 1945
8.6Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement (1940s and 1950s)
8.7America as a World Power
8.8The Vietnam War
8.9The Great Society
8.10The African American Civil Rights Movement (1960s)
8.11The Civil Rights Movement Expands
8.12Youth Culture in the 1960s
8.13The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980
8.14Society in Transition
8.15Continuity and Change in Period 8
🔥Quick Tip: The biggest events/ideas to know in this period are the start of the Cold War, the Eisenhower Era, political and social changes in the 1960s, and stagnation in the 1970s!
Period 9: 1980-present
9.0Overview of Unit 9
9.1Contextualizing Period 9
9.2Reagan and Conservatism
9.3The End of the Cold War
9.4A Changing Economy
9.5Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000s
9.6Challenges of the 21st Century
9.7Causation in Period 9🔥 And that’s all! If you want additional exam prep or more in-depth review, check out free live stream replays onapp.fiveable.me.
