The Advanced Placement (AP) United States History course is a rigorous, college-level class offered to high school students with the aim of providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the history of the United States. This course covers the period from 1491, before European contacts, to the present, emphasizing the development of historical thinking skills as they relate to U.S. history. Students are engaged through various perspectives to understand the complex nature of historical events and their impacts. Here's a detailed overview, integrating knowledge from the AP curriculum:

Course Overview

The AP U.S. History course is structured around themes such as identity, peopling, politics and power, America in the world, environment and geography, and ideas, beliefs, and culture. These themes are explored across nine chronological periods, with a focus on developing students' abilities to think critically, analyze historical documents, and craft coherent historical arguments.

Skills Development

The course aims to develop four key historical thinking skills:

1. Chronological Reasoning: Understanding and articulating events in time, recognizing causation, and identifying patterns of continuity and change over time.

2. Comparison and Contextualization: Comparing different historical developments and processes across times and places, understanding the contexts that shaped events and movements.

3. Interpreting and Synthesizing Sources: Analyzing primary and secondary sources, assessing their reliability, and synthesizing information to present well-rounded historical narratives.

4. Creating and Supporting a Historical Argument: Developing a thesis or argument based on historical evidence and articulating this coherently in writing.

Course Content

The AP U.S. History curriculum is divided into nine periods, each highlighting significant events, figures, and movements in U.S. history:

Period 1: 1491–1607

• Focuses on pre-Columbian Native American societies and the consequences of European exploration and colonization. This unit lays the groundwork for understanding the complex interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans.

Period 2: 1607–1754

• Examines the establishment and development of the British North American colonies, and their growing economic and political independence from Europe.

Period 3: 1754–1800

• Covers the causes and effects of the American Revolution, the formulation of the Constitution, and the establishment of the United States' early governmental structure.

Period 4: 1800–1848

• Discusses the expansion of the U.S., the rise of a democratic political system, and the beginnings of the country's industrial revolution, setting the stage for regional conflicts.

Period 5: 1844–1877

• Focuses on the Manifest Destiny, the Civil War, and the Reconstruction era, addressing the profound changes in the nation's economy, society, and political institutions.

Period 6: 1865–1898

• Looks at the Gilded Age and the early Progressive Era, focusing on industrialization, urbanization, and the significant social and economic changes these forces brought.

Period 7: 1890–1945

• Covers the Progressive Era reforms, the U.S. role in World War I and World War II, and the Great Depression, highlighting America's emergence as a world power.

Period 8: 1945–1980

• Examines the Cold War, civil rights movements, and significant social and economic changes, underscoring the U.S.'s superpower status and domestic challenges.

Period 9: 1980–Present

• Focuses on recent history, including the rise of conservatism, globalization, and significant technological advancements, and their impact on society and politics.

Assessment and Exam

The AP U.S. History exam assesses students' abilities to analyze historical evidence, develop coherent arguments, and understand major themes in U.S. history. It includes multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, a document-based question (DBQ), and a long essay question (LEQ).

Conclusion

The AP U.S. History course offers students a deep dive into the events, individuals, and ideas that have shaped the United States. Through a focus on historical thinking skills and a comprehensive curriculum, students are prepared not only for the AP exam but also for further academic pursuits in history and related disciplines.