ap.gilderlehrman.orgAP US History Study Guide | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

★ ★ ★ MA in American History : Apply now and enroll in graduate courses with top historians this summer! ★ ★ ★ User menu Shop Self-Paced Courses Subscriptions Traveling Exhibitions Classroom-Ready PD Gift Shop Donate Search Log In The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Menu Education Open submenu Students Open submenu AP US History Study Guide History U: Courses for High School Students History School: Summer Enrichment Teachers Open submenu Lesson Plans Classroom Resources Spotlights on Primary Sources Professional Development (Academic Year) Professional Development (Summer) All Audiences Open submenu Book Breaks Inside the Vault Self-Paced Courses Browse All Resources History Now: The Journal Open submenu About Search by Issue Search by Essay Subscribe Programs Open submenu Affiliate Schools Open submenu About Become a Member (Free) Monthly Offer (Free for Members) Master’s Degree in American History Open submenu Program Information Courses Scholarships and Financial Aid Applying and Enrolling Hamilton Education Program Open submenu About Eligibility (In-Person) EduHam Online Hamilton Cast Read Alongs Official Website Press Coverage Special Initiatives Open submenu Veterans Legacy Program The Declaration at 250 Black Lives in the Founding Era Celebrating American Historical Holidays Browse All Programs Historical Documents Open submenu The Gilder Lehrman Collection Open submenu About Donate Items to the Collection Research Open submenu Search Our Catalog Research Guides Rights and Reproductions Exhibitions Open submenu See Our Documents on Display Bring an Exhibition to Your Organization Interactive Exhibitions Online Transcribe Our Documents Open submenu About the Transcription Program Black Lives in the Founding Era Civil War Letters Founding Era Newspapers Recognizing Excellence Open submenu Research Fellowships Open submenu College Fellowships in American History Scholarly Fellowship Program Student Awards Open submenu Richard Gilder History Prize David McCullough Essay Prize Affiliate School Scholarships History Teacher of the Year Open submenu About Nominate a Teacher Eligibility State Winners National Winners Book Prizes Open submenu Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize Gilder Lehrman Military History Prize George Washington Prize Frederick Douglass Book Prize About Open submenu About Open submenu Our Mission and History Annual Report Contact Information Staff Boards and Councils Open submenu Student Advisory Council Teacher Advisory Council Board of Trustees Remembering Richard Gilder President’s Council Scholarly Advisory Board Work with Us Open submenu Careers Internships Our Partners News Open submenu Our News Newsletter Press Releases AP US History Study Guide AP US History Study Guide Begin your journey through US history by exploring primary sources, essays, and videos, organized by time period. Exam Date : Friday, May 10, 2024 Image Source : World War II recruiting poster created by the US Office of War Information: Americans Will Always Fight for Liberty , Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1943. (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC09520.37) AP US History Study Guide History U: AP US History Review the content featured in the nine AP test periods and practice multiple-choice quizzes and sample essay questions. Image Source: United Press International, New York ,” 1964 (The Gilder Lehrman Institute, GLC09733.03) Course Details About History U Free High School Students Self-Paced Online AP US History Study Guide History U: Foundations of American Government Examine the why” and the how” of American government through in-depth discussion of its history and workings. Image Source: United Press International, New York ,” 1964 (The Gilder Lehrman Institute, GLC09733.03) Course Details About History U Free High School Students Self-Paced Online AP US History Study Guide History School: Summer 2024 Master teachers lead students through six-week curricula in July and August to help students prep for AP exams. Image: Photograph of Rosa Parks, n.d. (The Gilder Lehrman Institute, GLC09778.02) View Courses Free High School Students 3 AP Courses Pause Resources by Period: Period 1: 1491–1607 Period 2: 1607–1754 Period 3: 1754–1800 Period 4: 1800–1848 Period 5: 1844–1877 Period 6: 1865–1898 Period 7: 1890–1945 Period 8: 1945–1980 Period 9: 1980–Present AP US History Study Guide Test Details The AP US History exam covers United States history from 1491 to the present, divided into nine time periods. The exam is scored on a scale from 1 to 5, with a score of 3 or higher often earning college credit (depending on the particular university). Sections of the test include 55 Source-Based Multiple Choice Questions (55 minutes) 3 Short-Answer Questions (40 minutes) 1 Document-Based Essay Question (60 minutes including a 15-minute reading period) 1 Long Essay Question (40 minutes) US History Periods Period 1: 1491–1607 On a North American continent controlled by American Indians, contact among the peoples of Europe, the Americas, and West Africa created a new world. 4–6% Exam Weighting Period 2: 1607–1754 Europeans and American Indians maneuvered and fought for dominance, control, and security in North America, and distinctive colonial and native societies emerged. 6–8% Exam Weighting Period 3: 1754–1800 British imperial attempts to reassert control over its colonies and the colonial reaction to these attempts produced a new American republic, along with struggles over the new nation’s social, political, and economic identity. 10–17% Exam Weighting Period 4: 1800–1848 The new republic struggled to define and extend democratic ideals in the face of rapid economic, territorial, and demographic changes. 10–17% Exam Weighting Period 5: 1848–1877 As the nation expanded and its population grew, regional tensions, especially over slavery, led to a civil war—the course and aftermath of which transformed American society. 10–17% Exam Weighting Period 6: 1865–1898 The transformation of the United States from an agricultural to an increasingly industrialized and urbanized society brought about significant economic, political, diplomatic, social, environmental, and cultural changes. 10–17% Exam Weighting Period 7: 1890–1945 An increasingly pluralistic United States faced profound domestic and global challenges, debated the proper degree of government activism, and sought to define its international role. 10–17% Exam Weighting Period 8: 1945–1980 After World War II, the United States grappled with prosperity and unfamiliar international responsibilities while struggling to live up to its ideals. 10–17% Exam Weighting Period 9: 1980–Present As the United States transitioned to a new century filled with challenges and possibilities, it experienced renewed ideological and cultural debates, sought to redefine its foreign policy, and adapted to economic globalization and revolutionary changes in science and technology. 4–6% Exam Weighting AP Exam Test-taking Skills and Strategies How to MCQ Learn test-taking strategies to answer Multiple-Choice Questions. Video How to DBQ Learn how to respond to the Document-Based Essay Question. Video How to LEQ Learn how to respond to the Long Essay Question. Video How to SAQ Part I Learn how to respond to the Short-Answer Questions about secondary and text-based primary sources. Video How to SAQ Part II Learn how to respond to the Short-Answer Questions about image-based primary sources and questions without a stimulus. Video See All Resources The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Stay up to date, and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter. Learn how the Institute impacts history education through our work guiding teachers, energizing students, and supporting research. 49 W. 45th Street 2nd Floor New York, NY 10036 Email : info@gilderlehrman.org Phone : (646) 366-9666 Footer Menu Educational Resources History Now Programs Our Collection Technical Support Privacy Policy About Careers News ©...