Hey guys, I'm thinking about taking APUSH next year, and I was wondering if any current or former students could give me an overview of the content and skills covered in the course. What sort of topics does it tackle, and how in-depth does it go into each era of American history?
Hey there! AP U.S. History (APUSH) is a great course to explore if you're interested in the development and evolution of American history. The course dives deep into various eras of American history, covering significant events, social movements, and political changes from pre-Columbian times to the present. Here's a general breakdown of the content covered in APUSH:
1. Period 1 (1491-1607): Pre-Columbian America, Native American populations, European exploration, and early colonial settlements.
2. Period 2 (1607-1754): Colonial America, European interactions with Native peoples, and early colonial rivalry among European powers.
3. Period 3 (1754-1800): The road to the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, the writing of the Constitution, and the establishment of the new government.
4. Period 4 (1800-1848): The growth of American democracy, economic changes, westward expansion, and increasing social and political tensions.
5. Period 5 (1844-1877): Manifest Destiny, sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.
6. Period 6 (1865-1898): The Gilded Age, industrialization, migration, urbanization, and the rise of big business.
7. Period 7 (1890-1945): Progressivism, World War I, the Great Depression, the New Deal, and World War II.
8. Period 8 (1945-1980): The Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and other social movements, as well as domestic and foreign policy shifts.
9. Period 9 (1980-Present): The end of the Cold War, changes in political, social, and economic life in the US, and the nation's role in a rapidly globalizing world.
In APUSH, you'll develop various skills in historical thinking and analysis. Some key skills covered include:
1. Contextualization: Place historical events and developments into a broader context to better understand their significance.
2. Comparison: Analyze similarities and differences among different historical periods, movements, and societies.
3. Causation: Identify, analyze, and evaluate various causal factors that shape historical events and outcomes.
4. Continuity and Change Over Time: Assess how historical periods, ideas, and events are connected or influenced by one another over time.
5. Argumentation: Construct evidence-based arguments to support historical analyses and defend your interpretation of historical events.
6. Primary and Secondary Source Analysis: Critically evaluate and interpret primary and secondary source material to construct well-rounded historical interpretations.
As with any AP course, the depth of content covered in APUSH will vary from school to school and instructor to instructor, but this overview should give you a good sense of the main topics and skills you can expect to encounter. Good luck, and I hope you enjoy the course if you decide to take it!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.