AP® U.S. History

Essential Questions:

• How has what it means to be "American" changed over time?
• What factors lead to systems of economic exchange?
• How has the physical geography of America shaped the United States and vice versa?
• How and why did immigration and migration change the United States?
• How and why has the center of power shifted in our politics throughout history?
• How have international events shaped the United States?
• How has culture shaped government policy and the economy?
• How and why do systems of social organization develop and change?

Objectives:

• Identify and explain historical developments and processes.
• Analyze sourcing and situation of primary and secondary sources.
• Analyze arguments in primary and secondary sources.
• Analyze the context of historical events, developments, or processes. Using historical reasoning processes (comparison, causation, continuity and change), analyze patterns and connections between and among historical developments and processes.
• Develop a historically defensible argument and support it with specific examples of relevant evidence.

Week 1: Introduction to AP US History

Unit 1: Period 1: 1491-1607 (Week 2)

Week 2: Native Societies and European Exploration

• Explain the context for European encounters in the Americas from 1491 to 1607.
• Explain how and why various native populations in the period before European contact interacted with the natural environment in North America.
• Explain how and why various native populations in the period before European contact interacted with the natural environment in North America.
• Explain causes of the Columbian Exchange and effect on Europe and the Americas during the period after 1492.
• Explain how the growth of the Spanish Empire in North America shaped the development of social and economic structures over time.
• Explain how and why European and Native American perspectives of others developed and changed in the period.
• Explain the effects of the development of transatlantic voyages from 1491 to 1607.

Unit 2: Period 2: 1607- 1754 (Weeks 3-4)

Week 3: European Colonization

• Explain the context for the colonization of North America from 1607 to 1754. Explain how and why various European colonies developed and expanded from 1607 to 1754.
• Explain how and why environmental and other factors shaped the development and expansion of various British colonies that developed and expanded from 1607 to 1754.
• Explain causes and effects of transatlantic trade over time.

Week 4: Society in the Colonies

• Explain how and why interactions between various European nations and American Indians changed over time.
• Explain the causes and effects of slavery in the various British colonial regions. Explain how enslaved people responded to slavery.
• Explain how and why the movement of a variety of people and ideas across the Atlantic contributed to the development of American culture over time.
• Explain how and why the different goals and interests of European leaders and colonists affected how they viewed themselves and their relationship with Britain.
• Compare the effects of the development of colonial society in the various regions of North America.

Unit 3: Period 3: 1754-1800 (Weeks 5-7)

Week 5: Road to Revolution

• Explain the context in which America gained independence and developed a sense of national identity.
• Explain the causes and effects of the Seven Years’ War (the French and Indian War).
• Explain how British colonial policies regarding North America led to the Revolutionary War.
• Explain how and why colonial attitudes about government and the individual changed in the years leading up to the American Revolution.
• Explain how various factors contributed to the American victory in the Revolution.
• Explain the various ways the American Revolution affected society.

Week 6: New Governments

• Explain how different forms of government developed and changed as a result of the Revolutionary Period.
• Explain the differing ideological positions on the structure and function of the federal government.
• Explain the continuities and changes in the structure and functions of the government with the ratification of the Constitution.

Week 7: The Early Republic

• Explain how and why competition intensified conflicts among peoples and nations from 1754 to 1800.
• Explain how and why political ideas, institutions, and party systems developed and changed in the new republic.
• Explain the continuities and changes in American culture from 1754 to 1800. Explain how and why migration and immigration to and within North America caused competition and conflict over time.
• Explain the continuities and changes in regional attitudes about slavery as it expanded from 1754 to 1800.
• Explain how the American independence movement affected society from 1754 to 1800.

Unit 4: Period 4: 1800-1848 (Weeks 8-10)

Week 8: America on the World Stage

• Explain the context in which the republic developed from 1800 to 1848.
• Explain the causes and effects of policy debates in the early republic.
• Explain how different regional interests affected debates about the role of the federal government in the early republic.
• Explain how and why American foreign policy developed and expanded over time.

Week 9: Democracy Expands and Changes

• Explain the causes and effects of the innovations in technology, agriculture, and commerce over time.
• Explain how and why innovation in technology, agriculture, and commerce various segments of American society over time.
• Explain the causes and effects of the expansion of participatory democracy from1800 to 1848.
• Explain the causes and effects of continuing policy debates about the role of the federal government from 1800 to 1848.

Week 10: American Society and Culture

• Explain how and why a new national culture developed from 1800 to 1848. Explain the causes of the Second Great Awakening.
• Explain how and why various reform movements developed and expanded from 1800 to 1848.
• Explain the continuities and changes in the experience of African Americans from 1800 to 1848.
• Explain how geographic and environmental factors shaped the development of the South from 1800 to 1848.
• Explain the extent to which politics, economics, and foreign policy promoted the development of American identity from 1800 to 1848.

Week 11: Assessment/Review Week

Unit 5: Period 5: 1844-1877 (Weeks 12-14)

Week 12: American Expansion and Conflict

• Explain the context in which sectional conflict emerged from 1844 to 1877. Explain the causes and effects of westward expansion from 1844 to 1877. Explain the causes and effects of the Mexican–American War.
• Explain the similarities and differences in how regional attitudes affected federal policy in the period after the Mexican–American War.
• Explain the effects of immigration from various parts of the world on American culture from 1844 to 1877.
• Explain how regional differences related to slavery caused tension in the years leading up to the Civil War.
• Explain the political causes of the Civil War.

Week 13: The Civil War Describe the effects of Lincoln’s election.

Explain the various factors that contributed to the Union victory in the Civil War. Explain how Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War impacted American ideals over the course of the war.

Week 14: Reconstruction and it's Failure

• Explain the effects of government policy during Reconstruction on society from 1865 to 1877.
• Explain how and why Reconstruction resulted in continuity and change in regional and national understandings of what it meant to be American.
• Compare the relative significance of the effects of the Civil War on American values.

Unit 6: Period 6: 1865-1898 (Weeks 15-18)

Week 15: Westward Expansion and the New South

• Explain the historical context for the rise of industrial capitalism in the United States.
• Explain the causes and effects of the settlement of the West from 1877 to 1898.
• Explain how various factors contributed to continuity and change in the “New South” from 1877 to 1898.

Week 16: Technology, Capitalism, and Labor

• Explain the effects of technological advances in the development of the United States over time.
• Explain the socioeconomic continuities and changes associated with the growth of industrial capitalism from 1865 to 1898.

Week 17: The Gilded Age Pt 1

• Explain how cultural and economic factors affected migration patterns over time.
• Explain the various responses to immigration in the period over time.
• Explain the causes of increased economic opportunity and its effects on society.

Week 18: The Gilded Age Pt 2

• Explain how different reform movements responded to the rise of industrial capitalism in the Gilded Age.
• Explain continuities and changes in the role of the government in the U.S. economy.
• Explain the similarities and differences between the political parties during the Gilded Age.
• Explain the extent to which industrialization brought change from 1865 to 1898.

Week 19: Assessment/Review Week

Unit 7: Period 7: 1890-1945 (Weeks 20-23)

Week 20: Imperialism and The Progressives

• Explain the context in which America grew into its role as a world power. Explain the similarities and differences in attitudes about the nation’s proper role in the world.
• Explain the effects of the Spanish–American War.
• Compare the goals and effects of the Progressive reform movement.

Week 21: WWI and the 1920s

• Explain the causes and consequences of U.S. involvement in World War I. Explain the causes and effects of international and internal migration patterns over time.
• Explain the causes and effects of the innovations in communication and technology in the United States over time.
• Explain the causes and effects of developments in popular culture in the United States over time.

Week 22: The Great Depression and the New Deal

• Explain the causes of the Great Depression and its effects on the economy. Explain how the Great Depression and the New Deal impacted American political, social, and economic life over time.
• Explain the similarities and differences in attitudes about the nation’s proper role in the world.

Week 23: WWII and its aftermath

• Explain how and why U.S. participation in World War II transformed American society.
• Explain the causes and effects of the victory of the United States and its allies over the Axis powers.
• Explain the consequences of U.S. involvement in World War II.
• Compare the relative significance of the major events of the first half of the 20th century in shaping American identity.

Unit 8: Period 8: 1945-1980 (Weeks 24-28)

Week 24: Cold War and Economy and Culture after 1945

• Explain the context for societal change from 1945 to 1980.
• Explain the continuities and changes in Cold War policies from 1945 to 1980. Explain the causes and effects of the Red Scare after World War II.
• Explain the causes of economic growth in the years after World War II.
• Explain the causes and effects of the migration of various groups of Americans after 1945.
• Explain how mass culture has been maintained or challenged over time.

Week 25: Civil Rights Movement

• Explain how and why the civil rights movements developed and expanded from 1945 to 1960.
• Explain how and why various groups responded to calls for the expansion of civil rights from 1960 to 1980.
• Explain the various ways in which the federal government responded to the calls for the expansion of civil rights.
• Explain how and why various groups responded to calls for the expansion of civil rights from 1960 to 1980.

Week 26: Vietnam War the Great Society

• Explain the various military and diplomatic responses to international developments over time.
• Explain the causes and effects of the Vietnam War.
• Explain the causes and effects of continuing policy debates about the role of the federal government over time.

Week 27: Society in Transition

• Explain how and why opposition to existing policies and values developed and changed over the course of the 20th century.
• Explain how and why policies related to the environment developed and changed from 1968 to 1980.
• Explain the causes and effects of continuing policy debates about the role of the federal government over time.
• Explain the effects of the growth of religious movements over the course of the 20th century.
• Explain the extent to which the events of the period from 1945 to1980 reshaped national identity.

Week 28: Assessment/Review Week

Unit 9: Period 9: 1980-Present (Weeks 29-30)

Week 29: 1980-Present

• Explain the context in which the United States faced international and domestic challenges after 1980.
• Explain the causes and effects of continuing policy debates about the role of the federal government over time.
• Explain the causes and effects of the end of the Cold War and its legacy. Explain the causes and effects of economic and technological change over time.

Week 30: 1980-Present

• Explain the causes and effects of the domestic and international challenges the United States has faced in the 21st century.
• Explain the relative significance of the effects of change in the period after 1980 on American national identity.
• Explain the causes and effects of domestic and international migration over time.

Final Unit: AP Exam Practice, Review and Reflections (Weeks 31-33)

Week 31: AP Exam Review Part 1

• Review content from the year.
• Complete a full-length practice exam.

Week 32: AP Exam Review Part 2

• Reflect on AP Practice Exam performance.
• Identify areas of confusion and resources for review.

Week 33: Final Thoughts and Goodbyes

• Reflect on course experience.
• Share final thoughts with classmates