AP US History (APUSH) Summer Assignment, Mr. Brophy
brophyd@edmonds.wednet.edu
Welcome to Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH)…this is your summer
requirement that is to be completed before school starts this September. Most of you haven’t
taken US History since 8th grade, so you need a refresher before our course begins. All of you
are expected to take the AP exam in May, so your preparation for the exam begins with the
movies that you’re going to watch. Movies for many in education translate into, “wasting
class time,” “the teacher is letting the TV entertain us,” etc. The movies selected are to
show how the US has changed politically, economically, socially, physically, conceptually,
and technologically since the settling of the North American continent. These movies were
chosen because the producers/directors wanted to as accurately as possible portray certain
people and events in our nation’s history.
The objective of this assignment is to expand your knowledge of various historical periods
through the analysis of related films. It is an opportunity to experience a richer encounter
with history than can be provided by a textbook. I am not asking any of you to watch an
uncut R rated movie, though a lot of history in general has been incredibly violent and
accompanied by some coarse language. Each of these movies has been shown on network
television and it shouldn’t take too much creativity to locate a milder version of any movie
that your parents or you would object to. If your parents don’t want you to watch a particular
movie, email me and I’ll give you a substitute.
Please use a composition book and hand write the following: basically take notes!!!
1-Title, Year released; 2-Main characters (not the actors); 3-Time Period in which the movie
takes place; 4-Summary (4-5 sentence paragraph); 5-Historical Significance-why you think I
picked this movie?; 6-Technology advances from previous movie; 7-Groups covered in US
History during the movie
Movies: The Crucible (1996), Last of the Mohicans (1992), The Patriot (2000),
The Alamo (2004), Glory (1989), Dances With Wolves (1990), Far & Away (1992),
Inherit the Wind (1960), Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Majestic (2001), Mississippi
Burning (1988), Thirteen Days (2000), Platoon (1986), All the President’s Men (1976)
Please watch them in order, as listed. The reviews are due the first day of class in
September, and we will have a quiz over these movies on the second day back.
If it was easy…everyone would do it. If you pass the exam you waive two college
courses…the key to the exam is preparation, and it will be extensive. This is part of your
education so please take it seriously and don’t expect others to do it for you.
____________________________________________
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Student Name-Movie Watcher
Parent Signature-Movie Approval
*this sheet should be stapled in your comp book when you turn it in