Advanced Placement US History Course Description

Welcome to AP US History (APUSH). APUSH is a college level course. As such, the emphasis on a critical approach to history will be stressed. A major focus is historiography, or the differing viewpoints of major historians over similar historical issues. By knowing the facts of US History, by critically thinking about the issues in US History, and by being able to write comprehensive persuasive essays (with or without primary sources), you will be successful and achieve what I hope is the goal of everyone in this class: to earn a score of 5 on the AP exam in May. If you have any doubt about your commitment to achieving this goal, do not waste any more of your time.

The primary text for the class is America, Sixth Edition by George Tindall and David Shi. Along with the Tindall/Shi book, you will also be doing outside readings in For the Record, A Documentary Reader (abbreviated FTR). Other pertinent readings will also be provided. Reading is assigned in blocks; therefore, you must be motivated and responsible. While discussions, in class readings and writings, and outside projects will be assigned, they are never to take the place of your daily reading in the Tindall/Shi book.

General Information on APUSH Requirements

Attendance—Attendance is mandatory. Significant absences can (and should) affect your grade. Daily work—reading quizzes, document readings, timed writing (free response questions or FRQ’s and document based questions or DBQ’s), peer editing, discussion, notes, in class assignments/activities, research days in the library, presentations, time lines, reviews, short term projects, and unit tests. Grade information—B’s and C’s are common nine weeks grades in an AP class. Shoot for the A always but remember you are dealing with a heavier workload. Eventually the class will seem easier but only because you have gotten better.

Units of study

Part One—Colonial America, 900-1776, Chapters 1-5

Part Two—American Revolution, government building, War of 1812, nationalism, 1776-1828, Chapters 6-9

Part Three—Jacksonian Era, Manifest Destiny, 1828-1848, Chapters 10-14

Part Four—Old South, Civil War, Reconstruction, 1846-77, Chapters 15-18

Part Five—The Frontier, urbanization, big business, agrarianism, gilded age, 1876-1900, chapters 19-22

Part Six—American imperialism, progressivism, WW One, Roaring 20s, New Deal, WW Two, 1900-45, chapters 23-30

Part Seven—Fair Deal, Cold War, New Frontier, Civil Rights, Watergate, compassionate conservatism, 1945-99, Chapters 31-37

General Information on the AP US History exam

Topic areas

Colonial period—100 years prior to the American Revolution
Revolution—political/economic/governmental structures
Age of Jackson—economic/political/social
Civil War/Reconstruction—cause and effect
Populism/Progressivism/New Deal/Great Society
Post 1945—domestic policy/foreign policy/social

35% of the exam focuses on social history.

Breakdown of objective questions

1/6 up to 1789 or 10 questions (Tindall/Shi chapters 1-3)
½ on 1790-1914 or 40 questions (Tindall/Shi chapters 4-23)
1/3 on 1915-1980 or 26 questions (Tindall/Shi chapters 24-33)
post 1980=4 questions (Tindall/Shi chapters 34-37)

Breakdown of essay topics

30% Public institutions; political institutions and policy
40% social and economic history
30% diplomacy, international relations, cultural and intellectual history

AP examination scoring

Objective, multiple choice is worth 50%
DBQ is worth 27%--one question, no choice
Two FRQ’s worth 23%--two sets of two questions, student picks one from each set

The APUSH exam date is Friday, May 9, 2008. Your exam begins at 8 a.m.

2001 APUSH results 2002 APUSH results 2003 APUSH results

5—9 5—1 5--6

4—1 4—2 4--6

3—1 3—4 3--2

2—2 2—3 2--2

1—0 1—1 1—0

2004 APUSH results 2005 APUSH results 2006 results

5—0 5—0 5—5

4—12 4—5 4—11

3—7 3—13 3—14

2—5 2—20 2—16

1—2 1—8 1—10

2007 results

5--1

4--2

3--1

12--10

1--4