AP US History - Exam Review 2024

Introduction

• Aimed for the 2024 APUSH exam.
• Tradition of sharing helpful APUSH notes.
• Emphasis on understanding depth over content memorization.
• Casual tone aimed at student understanding.

Exam Format

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ): 55 questions, 55 minutes - 40%
  • Each question linked to a stimulus with 3-4 questions per stimulus.
• Short Answer Questions (SAQ): 3 questions, 40 minutes - 20%
  • Q1: Secondary source stimulus.
  • Q2: Primary source stimulus.
  • Choose either Q3 or Q4; both have no stimulus.
• Document-Based Question (DBQ): 1 essay with 7 documents - 25%
• Long Essay Question (LEQ): 1 essay with no stimulus - 15%
  • Choose from Q1, Q2, or Q3.

Study Recommendations

• Take a full-length MCQ practice exam.
• Review notes focusing on areas of weakness.

Technical Viewing Tips

• For best diagram quality, view on desktop or Google Docs app.
• Adjust page setup for fitting notes properly.

Table of Contents

Unit 1: Pre-Colonial Americas

• Key Topics: Pre-European Americas, European Exploration, Cultural Exchange
• Key Points:
  • Spanish/Portuguese subjugation vs. French relations with Natives.
  • Differences in religious practices (polytheistic natives vs. monotheistic Europeans).

Unit 2: Colonial America

• Key Topics: European Colonization, The British Colonies, Colonial Developments, Society and Culture
• Key Points:
  • Diversity in New England vs. Middle/Southern Colonies.
  • Economic focus differences (e.g., New England on shipping, Southern on agriculture).

Unit 3: American Independence

• Key Topics: Road to Revolution, Revolutionary War, US Constitution, Early Republic
• Key Points:
  • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists.
  • Weakness of Articles of Confederation leading to the Constitution.

Unit 4: Young America

• Key Topics: Early 1800s, Market Revolution, Jacksonian Democracy, Emerging Culture, Age of Reform, Antebellum South
• Key Points:
  • Democratic-Republicans vs. Federalists.
  • Emergence of national identity vs. sectional tensions.

Unit 5: The Civil War and Reconstruction

• Key Topics: Manifest Destiny, Road to Civil War, Fighting the Civil War, Reconstruction
• Key Points:
  • Regional political differences (e.g., Republicans in North vs. Democrats in South).
  • Impact of literature on slavery views.

Unit 6: The Gilded Age

• Key Topics: Wild West, New South, Rise of Capitalism, Immigration, Culture, Government
• Key Points:
  • Transition from artisanal to industrial production.
  • Changes in immigration patterns and economic disparity.

Unit 7: America’s Rise to World Power

• Key Topics: Imperialism, Progressives, World Wars, Great Depression

Unit 8: Post-War America and the Cold War

• Key Topics: Cold War, Post-War Developments, Global Conflicts, Civil Rights Movement

Unit 9: Conservatism and the 21st Century

• Key Topics: Reagan and Conservatism, End of the Cold War, 21st Century

Key Historical Figures and Cases

• Presidents: Highlighted key presidents such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, etc.
• Court Cases:
  • Required: Dred Scott v. Sandford, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education.
  • Helpful: Marbury v. Madison, Roe v. Wade, etc.

General Exam Tips

• Focus on connections over memorizing details.
• Avoid extensive textbook reading close to the exam.
• Prioritize speed but maintain accuracy.
• Limit reads of stimuli; focus on clarity and move on if stuck.