AP US History
This Advanced Placement course will examine the people and events significant in the history of the United States from
the European exploration of the world to the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s. The focus is not to memorize
names and dates (however this will be necessary), but to understand why the events of our history happened, what their
effects were, and how they helped shape our country as we know it today. Through discussion of historical topics and
problems, this course will help you develop your ability to assess historical materials for their relevance to interpretive
problems and reliability, and to weight the importance of evidence and interpretations in historical scholarship. While
meeting the Georgia Performance Standards for U.S. History, we will be working towards the AP exam in May where it
is possible to earn college credit! Therefore, the demands placed upon AP students are similar to those required of
students taking an introductory college course. Be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time studying and on
coursework.
In addition to the topics listed above, the course will emphasize a series of key themes throughout the year. These
themes have been determined by the College Board as essential to a comprehensive study of United States history.
These themes will include:
American and National Identity
Migration and Settlement
Politics and Power
Geography and the Environment
Work, Exchange, and Technology
America in the World
Culture and Society
The course will trace these themes throughout the year, emphasizing the ways in which they are interconnected and
examining the ways in which each helps to shape the changes over time that are so important to understanding United
States history. Additionally, several Historical Thinking Skills will be practiced and assessed throughout the year. These
skills include:
Analyzing Evidence
Contextualization
Continuity and Change over Time
Interpretation
Synthesis
Periodization
Comparison
Causation
Argumentation