AP® US History

Course Overview

AP® US History is a full-year credit social studies course surveying the history of the United States of America. The course begins with an examination of America before Columbus. Having established an understanding of how Native Americans managed and used the land, the course turns to European conquest and colonial America, including how the stage was set for a plural, diverse, and unequal modern America. The heart of the course centers around the themes of the American Revolution; the rise of democracy, the Republic, and the Constitution; the Civil War and Reconstruction; and how territorial expansion and industrialization laid the foundation for the movements and conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries. In order to develop a broad understanding of continuity and change in American history, diverse perspectives are centered in this course. Students build a contextual understanding of the major events within each era while exploring political, social, cultural, economic, and religious trends in the United States. Through critical analysis, research, and writing, collaborative activities, creative synthesis applications, and traditional and alternative assessments, students demonstrate understanding of cultural implications and historical context and develop a chronological and thematic appreciation of American history. Students planning to prepare for the AP exam in May are offered regular pathways to practice exam style questions.