AP U.S. History
Summer Vocabulary Builder
Mr. Barker
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Summer Skill Builder: AP U.S. History Vocabulary
Hello future AP U.S. History (or APUSH for short) students! As we look ahead to the new school year, one of the main areas
that it makes sense for us to focus upon is building your subject specific vocabulary, which is to say words that appear in the
Advanced Placement examination, ones with you should work to become familiar with. The more of these words that you
know and the better that you know them; the more you will improve your chances of succeeding on the exam and in the class
in general.
Below is a list of 200+ words, taken directly from the texts of five different Advanced Placement United States History
Examinations. You should have a working knowledge of the definition of all of these words, what they mean, how they are
used in an historical context. Sometime in the first week of the new school year, you will have a 20-40 point quiz on these
terms and how they are used, something to get you off on the right foot. My suggestion would be to work through about 25 of
these words a week, and then review during that first week of class. Essentially, just about a half hour of your time per week
during the long summer to keep your brains running like a well-oiled academic machine.
abolish
abomination
acquisition
adherence
administrative
advisability
advocacy
agrarian
alleviate
ameliorate
analyze
Anglo-Saxon
annex
antebellum
appropriate
appropriations
arbitrate
aristocratic
articulated
artisan
assimilate
assure
atrocities
attained
autonomy
averting
backlash
banished
bellicosity
belligerents
benchmark
benefitted/benefit
betterment
bicameral
capitalism
ceded
coalition
commandeering
communal
compensation
conciliatory
condoned
conformity
congregations
consensus
consolidation
consummated
continuity
contraction
convictions
covert
cult of domesticity
cultivation
cumulative
decisive
deficit
deflationary
degradation
democrat(ic)
democratization
demographic
denominations
denounced
denunciation
deplored
deploy
depreciated
detrimental
diplomacy
discontent
discrepancy
disdain
disenfranchise
disillusionment
dispel
distinguishing
diversified
divisive
doctrine
domestic policy
emancipation
embargo
emergence
encroachment
entanglement
entrepreneurs
epidemic
evaluate
evangelical
excerpt
existentialism
exodus
expenditures
expulsion
facets
family planning
federalism
fervor
fledgling
forestalled
franchise
fundamentalism
gentry
glorification
graven
habeas corpus
hereditary
ideological
implementing
implied
imposition
imprudence
inadequate
incarcerated
indemnity
indomitable
influx
infringement
initiate
integration
internal improvements
internment
intervene
invigorated
itinerant
levy
magistrates
manumission
market economy
mechanized
mercantile
monetary
monied
monopolization
municipal
nascent
nationalization
nativism
natural increase
nullify
oration
outsource
parliamentary
patronage
peopling
perpetual
picturesque
precipitating
predestination
prenatal
primacy
progressive
prohibition
prominent
proportionate
proprietors
prosecute
protectorate
provisions
quota
radicalism
ratification
rationale
reconciliation
redemption
relinquish
relish
republican
rural
sanitary
sanitation
scarcity
scope
scrip
solidarity
sovereignty
speculation
squatters
status quo
stifling
stigma
stringent
subordinate
subscribe
subsidized
subversive
sufficient
suffrage
surge
synthesis
tangible
tariff
tenements
tenets
textile
theology
toleration
transcendentalism
transient
ultimatum
undermine
unicameral
unilaterally
unsubstantiated
urban
utopian
valor
venerate
viability
vigilantes
virtuous
waning
wretched
yearning
yeoman
zeal
My suggestion to you would be to have a spreadsheet where you have the words in one column and your definitions in the
second column, which would allow you to track your progress. I have posted a template at the link below. I would also be
happy to field any questions you may have at cbarker@livoniapublicschools.org.
You also have a pair of reading assignments (one with response questions) which can be found at:
http://goo.gl/bbwcwn
Have a great summer. Be careful, be safe, be smart, and remember that only you can prevent forest fires.
Mr. Barker
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