AP U.S. History Syllabus
AP® U.S. History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman
college course. It is a two-semester survey of American history from the age of
exploration and discovery to the present. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a
willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study, are necessary to
succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing,
interpretation of original documents, and historiography
Course Overview
The Advanced Placement program was developed by the College Board to provide
college-level experiences to high school students.
The College Board publishes the following statement on the purpose of the AP U.S.
History course:
The AP program in United States History is designed to provide students with the
analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and
materials in United States history. The program prepares students for intermediate and
advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by
full-year introductory college courses. Students should learn to assess historical materials,
the relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance and to
weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. An AP United
States History course should thus develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on
the basis of an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and
persuasively in essay format.
Course Objectives
Students will:
1
Master a broad body of historical knowledge
2
Demonstrate an understanding of historical chronology
3
Use historical data to support an argument or position
4
Differentiate between various schools of historical thought
5
Interpret and apply data from original documents, including cartoons,
graphs, letters, etc.
6
Effectively use analytical skills of evaluation, cause and effect, compare and
contrast
7
Evaluate evidence for bias, accuracy, and significance
8
Appreciate the impact of the past upon the present and be able to discern the
past at work in the present
9
Master a broad body of historical knowledge
10 View U.S. history critically from multiple political, religious, ideological,
diplomatic, economic, and social perspectives
11 Prepare for and successfully pass the AP U.S. History Exam
Course Texts and Readings: **major course text
Frederick Lewis Allen. Only Yesterday
Thomas A. Bailey and David M. Kennedy. The American Spirit, (Lexington, MA: D.
C. Heath & Co., 1991)
Richard W. Cherny. A Righteous Cause: The Life of William Jennings Bryan
Frederick Douglass. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Benjamin Franklin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
**David M. Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. The American Pageant: A
History of the Republic, (Boston: McDougal Littell/Houghton Mifflin, 2002).
John F. Kennedy. Profiles in Courage
Joseph J. Ellis: Founding Brothers
Thomas Paine. "Common Sense."
Upton Sinclair. The Jungle,
Major Themes of the Course
These themes are woven throughout unit discussions, with assessments (quizzes, essays,
and exams) being structured around them:
America on a World Stage
National Identity and Citizenship
Political Change and Continuity
Pluralism and Group Identity
Free Markets and Economic Transformation
Unit 1: Colonial History to 1763
The first part of the course is handled by assigning students a series of tasks to complete
over the summer vacation, including:
1 Reading and note-taking for Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the Kenndy text as well as
reading Morgan's The Puritan Dilemma. Students are responsible for submitting
a major essay delineating the various dichotomies and paradoxes that comprise
the Puritan dilemma.
2 The first two weeks of class are devoted to a debriefing period that includes an
exam on the text summer reading, a quiz and discussion on The Puritan Dilemma.
and discussions centered on sets of documents gathered around each of four major
colonial history themes: The Salem witch trials, Puritan beliefs, differences in
colonial regional development, and the ethnic composition of colonial America.
3 Students are introduced to recognizing bias in primary and secondary sources, as
well as gleaning historical evidence from documents. Students are introduced to
the process of writing an effective DBQ using the College Board rubric. The unit
concludes with the completion of a DBQ essay.
Text Reading:
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in Kennedy
Edmund S. Morgan. The Puritan Dilemma
Ancillary Readings:
1 "Hakluyt Calls for an Empire," The American Spirit
2 "The Starving Time," John Smith
3 “The Misrule of Peter the Headstrong," The American Spirit
4
"Bacon's Rebellion and Its Aftermath," The American Spirit
5
“A Model of Christian Charity” John Winthrop
6
"The Intolerant Act of Toleration," The American Spirit
7
"Byrd visits Carolina's Lubberland," The American Spirit
8
"The Great Awakening," The American Spirit
4
9
"Crevecoeur Finds a Perfect Society," The American Spirit
DBQ:
10 1993 DBQ – Chesapeake and New England Colonies
11 2004 DBQ – In what ways did the French and Indian War alter the relations
between
England and its colonies?
Unit 2: The American Revolution (1763–1783)
Major Topics: The origins of American resistance; the British response; the decision for
independence; Patriots vs. Loyalists, the role of France, the military course of the war;
the social impact of the Revolution, and peace negotiations.
Text Reading:
Chapters 7 and 8 in Kennedy
Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Paine, "Common Sense," February 14, 1776
Ancillary Readings:
1. The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, 1776
DBQ:
1
2005 DBQ – To what extent did the American Revolution change American
Society?
Special Activities:
1. British Newspaper Editorial: Students will write an anti-American editorial
for a British newspaper condemning colonial actions.
Unit 3: The New Republic (1783–1823)
Major Topics: The structure of the government under the Articles of Confederation;
weaknesses and accomplishments of the Articles’ government, especially in western
lands; foreign affairs in the Confederation period; the nationalist critique and the role of
Hamilton and Madison; the Constitutional Convention; and the debate over ratification,
The new government’s structure; an overview of the Constitution of 1787; Hamilton
versus Jefferson; the rise of political parties; foreign affairs with Great Britain, France,
and Spain; the “Revolution of 1800” Jefferson’s imprint; causes and results of the War
of 1812; nationalism sectionalism; the demise of the Federalists and the rise and demise
of the two-party system; the early Industrial Revolution, Clay's American System, and
the "mind" behind the Monroe Doctrine..
Text Reading:
Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12 in Kennedy
Ancillary Readings:
1 Federalist Paper #10
2 George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
3 Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address, March 4th 1801
4 Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803)
5 Monroe Doctrine, December 2, 1823
DBQ:
1
DBQ,
2
DBQ – Articles of Confederation vs. The Constitution, Preparing for the
America Past and Present, 2005
DBQ – Jefferson Presidency, Preparing for the DBQ, America Past and
Present,
2005
Special Activities:
1 Hamilton vs. Jefferson Debate. Students use primary source documents to
construct arguments in favor of Hamilton’s or Jefferson’s opinion of construction
of the constitution.
2
Sectional Editorial Newspaper Article: Students will write a newspaper article
expressing sectional concerns.
Unit 4: The Jacksonian Era (1824–1850)
Major Topics: Mass democracy; Jackson versus Calhoun; the Bank War; the Indian
removal; the rise of the working class; the Whig alternative; and the reformist
“benevolent empire.” Manifest Destiny, the lure of the West (1820–1840); Texas, The
Southwest and Oregon; Polk and war with Mexico; and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
The “peculiar institution” and its impact on the South; abolitionism, sectionalism;
Text Reading:
Chapters 13, 14, 15, and 17 in Kennedy
Frederick Douglass, The Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglass
Ancillary Readings:
1 Excerpt: Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
2 The Cult of Domesticity and Cult of True Womanhood,
www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/386/truewoman.html
3 Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, Seneca Falls Convention, 1848
4 Excerpt: Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau, 1849
5. "Daniel Webster" in John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage
DBQ:
1. DBQ - Reform Movements of the 2nd Great Awakening, Preparing for the
DBQ,
America Past and Present, 2005
2 DBQ – Manifest Destiny, Slavery, and the Breakdown of the Union, Preparing
for
the DBQ, America Past and Present, 2005
Special Activity:
1. Hands on History: The Southern View of Slavery
Unit 5: Slavery, Sectionalism, Civil War, and Reconstruction (1850–1877)
Major Topics: The Compromise of 1850, The “peculiar institution” and its impact on
Southern Society, Abolition and Fire-eater and North/South Relations, the 1850’s, Free
Soil Republicans, Lincoln/Douglass debates, the election of 1860, secession, North/South
war time advantages and disadvantages, leadership, emancipation, social impact of war,
military course of the war, Phases of Reconstruction, share cropping, the “crime” of
1876, The Compromise of 1877
Text Reading:
Chapters 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 in Kennedy
Ancillary Readings:
1. Dred Scott v. Sandford
2 Abraham Lincoln, 1st Inaugural Address, March 4th 1861
3 Abraham Lincoln, Final Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863
4 Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863
5 Abraham Lincoln, 2nd Inaugural Address, March 4th, 1865
6 Reconstruction Amendments: 13 (1865), 14 (1868), 15 (1870)
7. Richard Skoda, "Recontruction: Kenneth Stampp vs. Lloyd P. Stryker
8. John F. Kennedy, "Edmund G. Ross,"
DBQ:
1. DBQ - Slavery as a Cause for the Civil War, , Preparing for the DBQ,
America
Past and Present, 2005
Unit 6: The Gilded Age (1865-1900)
Major Topics: Settling the West: a question of exploitation; laissez-faire and social
Darwinism; the rise of the industrialists; labor’s response; urbanization; immigration and
“Machine Politics”; the “Social Gospel”; the politics of the 1890s: big government
Republicans and the Populists. Progressivism, "muckrakers,” “trustbusting”; state and
local reforms; women’s suffrage; the progressive presidents — Teddy Roosevelt, Taft,
and Wilson; the “Square Deal” and the “New Freedom.”
Text Reading:
Chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, and 28 in Kennedy
Upton Sinclair, The Jungle
Richard W. Cherny, A Righteous Cause: The Life of William Jennings Bryan
Ancillary Readings:
1 Frederick Jackson Turner, Significance of the Frontier in American History, 1893
2 Andrew Carnegie, Gospel of Wealth, 1889
3 Walter Rauschenbusch, Social Gospel Theology, 1907
4 Walt Whitman, I hear America Singing, 1891
5 Cross of Gold Speech, William Jennings Bryan, 1896
6 Henry Littlefield Thesis and Wizard of Oz
DBQ
the
1. 2000 DBQ Form A – How Successful was labor at improving the position of
worker in the period of time between 1875 and 1900?
Special Activity:
1 Debate: Taking Sides Yes or No, Were 19th Century Entrepreneurs or Robber
Barons?
Unit 7: America as a World Power (1896-1920)
Major Topics: The imperialist arguments; war with Spain and the Philippine
insurrection; Teddy Roosevelt; the corollary and Panama; “Dollar Diplomacy”; moral
diplomacy; neutrality (1914-1917); “Over There”; “Over Here” (civil liberties curtailed);
and the Versailles treaty controversy.
Required Reading:
Chapters 27, 28, 29, and 30 in Kennedy
Ancillary Readings:
1 Alfred T. Mahn – Excerpts- Influence of Sea Power on History
DBQ:
th
19
1. 1994 DBQ –Comparing and Contrasting Early American Expansion with late
and early 20th century imperialism.
2 DBQ – WWI: 20th Century Militarism, John A. Braithwaite, 2006
Special Activity:
1. Problem Solving Group work: Causes and Consequences of Imperialism—
Students will analyze primary source documents to decide to what degree each
major country is responsible for starting WWI.
Unit 8: Inter war years - The Roaring ’20s, Great Depression and the New Deal
Major Topics: Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover: “Republican Orthodoxy”; normalcy; the
“Red Scare”; immigration legislation; the “new” Ku Klux Klan; the Harlem Renaissance;
the crash of the stock market and the onset of the Great Depression; The origins and
effects of the Great Depression; Hoover’s ""Rugged Individualism," Franklin Roosevelt
and the “Hundred Days”; relief, recovery, and reform; critics of the New Deal — the
Demagogues on the right and Long, Townsend, and Coughlin; the Supreme Court fight
and the end of the New Deal.
Required Reading:
Chapters 31, 32, and 33 in Kennedy
Frederick Lewis Allen, Only Yesterday
Ancillary Readings
1 Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1st Inaugural, March 4th, 1933
2 Townsend Plan, Dr. Francis E. Townsend
3 “Share the Wealth” Huey Long 1935
4. "Roosevelt or Ruin," Charles Coughlin 1933
5. Madison Square Rally--Charles Couglin 1935
6. "The bug-grumping Politicians," Gerald L. K. Smith 1936
7. "Grilled Millionaire," Franklin D. Roosevelt 1938
DBQ:
1 1984 DBQ—FDR and Hoover “liberal” or “conservative
2 2003 DBQ—Analyze FDR’s response to the Great Depression.
Special Activity:
1 Hands on History: Evaluating life in the 1920
2 “Life in the Great Depression” The Photographs of Dorothea Lange.”
http://www.getty.edu/education/for_teachers/curricula/dorothea_lange/.
Unit 9: WWII
Major Topics: Isolationism, pacifism, and neutrality and their ramifications for U.S.
policy in Europe, Latin America, and Asia during the 1920s and early 1930s; neutrality
legislation of the 1930s; undeclared war in Europe and the course of U.S.–Japanese
relations in the late 1930s; Pearl Harbor; halting the German blitz; turning the tide in the
Pacific and the decision to drop the A-bomb; the war on the home front; wartime
diplomacy.
Required Reading:
Chapters 34 and 35 in Kennedy
Ancillary Readings:
1 “Letter About Atomic Bombs”, Albert Einstein, August 2nd 1939
2 Atlantic Charter 1941
3 “War Message to Congress”, Franklin D. Roosevelt, December 8th, 1941
4 The Marshall Plan – June 5th 1947
5. Teamsters Union Banquet speech, Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1944
DBQ:
1. 1988 DBQ – The decision to drop the Atomic Bomb.
Special Activity:
1. Hands on History WWII Conferences—Students will foreign policy decision
made
at the various WWII Conferences as they relate to military decisions during
WWII.
2. American Memories - Japanese American Internment—Students will read
primary
source accounts of internment and write an editorial account for a
major
newspaper.
3. Debate: Should President Truman have ordered the use of the atomic
bomb(s) on
their argument.
Japan — Students will use primary source documents to construct
Unit 10: The Cold War at Home and Abroad (1945-1963)
Major Topics: Cold War in Europe; the beginning of atomic diplomacy; containment
(Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO); crisis in Berlin; the Cold War expands: the
loss of China and the Korean War; the Cold War at home: McCarthyism; Ike, "Age of
Conformity," "The Great Postponement," Dulles and Brinkmanship, and the Cold War in
Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America; JFK and “flexible response”: the Second
Berlin Crisis; the Cuban missile crisis. The postwar economic boom and the rise of the
suburbs; did the 1950s represent the true “good life”; cracks in the consensus
Required Reading:
Chapter 36 in Kennedy
Ancillary Readings
1. "The Blood of Our Workers," John L. Lewis , 1947
2. "Old Soldiers Never Die," Douglas MacArthur, 1951
3. "Checkers Speech," Richard Nixon, 1952
4. Army-McCarthy Hearings, Joseph McCarthy and Joseph Welch
DBQ/FRQ:
1. 2000 DBQ: What were the cold war fears of the American people in the
aftermath of WWII? How successfully did the administration of President Dwight
D. Eisenhower address those fears?flourish between 1950 and 1955?
Unit 11: America on the World Stage (1950-1980)
Major Topics: The postwar economic boom and the rise of the suburbs; did the 1950s
represent the true “good life”; cracks in the consensus civil rights struggle; the New
Frontier; the Warren court; and the Great Society’s War on Poverty. Involvement and
escalation in Vietnam; Vietnam dilemma and stalemate; the student revolt; Black Power
and Women’s Lib; the election of 1968; Nixon, Kissinger — ending the Vietnam War;
the election of 1972; Watergate and Ford, OPEC and the oil shock; inflation and the new
economy; the start of affirmative action; setbacks and gains for women; the election of
1976; Carter; Sadat; Khomeini; America Held Hostage, and disillusionment and the
renewed Cold War.
Required Reading:
Chapters 37, 38 and 39 in Kennedy
Ancillary Readings:
1 “I Have A Dream”, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1963
2 “God's Judgement on White America”, Malcolm X
3. Inaugural Speech, George C. Wallace, 1963
4 Betty Friedan, excerpts from: TheFeminine Mystique,1963
5 Camp David Accords, September 17th 1978
6. "A Time for Choosing," Ronald Reagan, 1964
7. "Extremism is No Vice," Barry Goldwater, 1964
DBQ/FRQ:
1 DBQ - Martin and Malcolm, Charles Brady, 2000
2 DBQ – The Credibility Gap in the Vietnam War, Preparing for the DBQ,
America
Past and Present, 2005
3 DBQ – Women’s Rights, Preparing for the DBQ, America Past and Present,
2005
Unit 12: A New Domestic and World Order 1980-Today
Major Topics: The New Right and the conservative social agenda, Moral Majority,
Deregulation, Energy and inflation, Camp David Accords, Iranian hostage crisis, Reagan,
Tax cuts and budget deficits, Defense buildup, Perestroika, Glasnost, the Teflon
Presidency, New disarmament treaties, Foreign crises: the Persian Gulf and Central
America, Society, Old and new urban problems, Asian and Hispanic immigrants,
Resurgent fundamentalism, Minorities and the "Majority," The Clinton Presidency,
Required Reading:
Chapter 30 and 31 in Henretta or Chapters 40 and 41 in Kennedy
Ancillary Readings:
1. The Carter-Reagan Presidential Debate October 28th 1980
2. First Inaugural Address, Ronald Reagan, January 20th, 1981
3 “Evil Empire”, Ronald Reagan, March 3rd 1983
4 “Tear Down this Wall”, Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1987
5 “New World Order”, George Bush, September 11th 1990
6 First Inaugural, William J. Clinton, January 20th 1993of the United States