AP US HISTORY SUMMER READING (2014)
Mrs. Mota
Greetings soon to be AP US history students. The following will be the assigned reading list for all juniors taking the AP US
history course. It will consist of three separate assignments, so please don’t put it off till the end. You must have a copy of
both Don’t Know Much About History by Kenneth C. Davis and The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred
Years’ War over the American Dollar by H.W. Brands
Assignment
Where can I find a copy of both books
Don’t Know Much About American History by Kenneth Davis
ISBN: 970060840560
Where my I obtain a copy of this book?
a. Barnes and Noble $14.99
b. Amazon.com from as low as $11.98 plus
shipping
c. Some San Antonio Public libraries have copies
(there are time issues to consider including
checkout times and availability)
Free online copy
http://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/history/Don't%20Know%
20Much%20About%20History.pdf

The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred
Years’ War over the American Dollar by H.W. Brands
ISBN:9780393330502

Where my I obtain a copy of this book?

Barnes and Noble $13.16

Amazon.com from as low as $2.89

Some San Antonio Public libraries have copies
(there are time issues to consider including
checkout times and availability)

*please note, that you much have a physical copy of this book to use the first week of school
YOUR ASSIGNMENT (S)
1. YOU WILL ANNOTATE THE BOOK. AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH
CHAPTER, THE AUTHOR KENNETH C. DAVIS PRESENTS QUESTIONS TO
BE ADDRESSED DURING THE READING OF THAT PARTICULAR CHAPTER.
YOUR TASK IS TO ANSWER EACH OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
EX. Of what to look for and what needs to be answered
CHAPTERONE
B R AV E N E W W O R L D
Who really “discovered” America?
If he wasn’t interested in the Bahamas, what was Columbus
looking for in the first place?
Did Columbus’s men bring syphilis back to Europe?
So if Columbus didn’t really discover America, who did?
Okay, the Indians really discovered America. Who were they,
and how did they get here?
If Columbus was so important, how come we don’t live in the
United States of Columbus?
What became of Christopher Columbus?
Where were the first European settlements in the New World?
If the Spanish were here first, what was so important about
Jamestown?
What was the Northwest Passage?
What was the Lost Colony?
When and how did Jamestown get started?
Did Pocahontas really save John Smith’s life?
What was the House of Burgesses?
Who started the slave trade?
Who were the Pilgrims, and what did they want?
What was the Mayflower Compact?
Did the Pilgrims really land at Plymouth Rock?
Highlights in the Development of New England
Who started New York?
Did the Indians really sell Manhattan for $24?
How did New Amsterdam become New York?
When did the French reach the New World?
2. THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, YOU WILL BE GIVEN A MULTIPLE CHOICE
AND FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS (FRQ) EXAM OVER THIS BOOK
3. Completion of one of the three mini tasks found below. They will be due on
the Thursday the week we come back to school
a. Annotated Timeline- Choose ten events that Davis talks about in his book that
you believe to be the most important in US history. On a sheet of poster board
list in chronological order (earliest to most recent) each of these events. This
should include the date, name of the event, two to five sentences that describe
why it is important, and a picture or graphic displaying the event (*print or
drawn) OR…
b. Civil Rights Propaganda Poster- Imagine that you are in the South in the
1960’s. On a sheet of power board design a propaganda poster that show
support for the Civil Rights of African Americans. Include a caption or phrase
with this as well. Remember that propaganda is meant to persuade an individual
to think or act a particular way. OR…
c. Bill of Rights Slide Show- using a computer, create a slide show for the bill of
rights. Using either Microsoft Power point or Prezi, each slide should have an
explanation of what the amendment means and a picture that illustrated it.
These examples need to be contemporary or present day examples. The slide
should be at lease 10 slides but no more than 20. Also on the last slide include a
list of any websites that you obtained pictures or other material.
4. The Money Men Assignment due the Thursday we return to school
APUSH - Summer Reading Assignment
The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years’ War over the American Dollar By HW
Brands
Prologue – Epilogue: The Money Answer
This book not only discusses the economic roots of our country (weakest area for most students), but
tells the story of our founding and how we grew as a nation both Politically, Ideologically, Economically,
and Socially.
Chapter Review Directions (5 total chapters with Epilogue):
You are to read each chapter in The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years’ War
over the American Dollar and outline each with the use of PIES (Political, Ideological, Economic, and
Social). Not all chapters will have each category, but most will be used in each chapter. Below you will
find a working definition of each term. After each PIES break down, you are to tie them all together in 23 paragraphs of a summary of each chapter. Make sure to analyze how the Money Men dealt with the
ever changing opinion of how our financial system should work. (To analyze in AP US History means to
tell me why things happened and why they are important to the time period.)
Political: This term usually means anything involved with any level of government (person, place, thing,
or political party).
Ideological: This term refers to the belief systems that individuals or governments might have on
different issues.
Economic: You are to describe anything dealing with the economy, monetary policy (paper v. coin
money), fiscal policy (budget), etc. in the chapter.
Social: This is the catch all group for relationships among people and movements that are taking place
during the time period (i.e. …. Abolitionists).
Wow! This may seem like a lot to take in at once, but is necessary for your
success on the AP US History exam to be taken in May 2016 If you have any
question, please do not hesitate to contact me either by email at
priscella.mota@southside.k12.tx.us or 2107997661. I look forward to getting to
know each and everyone of you next year.
Thanks,
Priscilla E. Mota