Period 1: 1491 - 1607

Native American Societies Before European Contact

Land bridge Connecting Asia & North America

Early Civilizations

Indigenous Peoples of North America

European Exploration in the Americas

Christopher Columbus & the Cause of Exploration

Early Spanish & Portuguese Explorers

Early English, French, & Dutch Explorers

Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration and Conquest

Columbian Exchange

Spanish Exploration & Conquest

Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System

The Caste & Encomienda Systems

Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans

Diverging World Views

Encroachment of Europeans

Religious, Cultural, and Racial Interactions

Period 2: 1607-1754

European Colonization

Colonization of the "New World"

The Regions of British Colonies

Early English Colonies

Life in Chesapeake & North Carolina Colonies

Life in the Middle Colonies

Transatlantic Trade

Triangle Trade & Social Change

Interactions Between American Indians & Europeans

Different European Reactions towards Indigenous Peoples

Slavery in the British Colonies

Reasons for Slavery and Attitude Towards Enslavement

Period 3: 1754-1800

The Seven Years’ War (The French and Indian War)

Causes and Effects of the Seven Years' War

Taxation Without Representation

Parliament Imposes Taxes & Laws on Colonists

Moving Toward Independence

Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

Changing Attitudes Toward Independence

The American Revolution

How did the Patriots Win the American Revolutionary War?

The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals

Domestic Impact of the American Revolution

Global Impact of the American Revolution

The Articles of Confederation

State Governments

The Articles of Confederation

The Constitutional Convention & Debates over Ratification

Background

Hot Topics

The Constitution

Governmental Structure

Shaping a New Republic

Politics in the New Nation

Domestic Issues

Foreign Affairs

Developing an American Identity

An American Identity

Movement in the Early Republic

Effects of Migration and Immigration

Regional Attitudes

Period 4: 1800-1848

The Rise of Political Parties & the Era of Jefferson

The Rise of Political Parties

The Louisiana Purchase

The Supreme Court Strengthens Federal Powers

The War of 1812

Politics and Regional Interests

Regional v National Interests

Statehood of Missouri

America on the World Stage

Expansion of U.S. & Foreign Policy

Market Revolution: Industrialization

Development of Industry in the US

Market Revolution: Society & Culture

Social Changes of the Market Revolution in the US

Cultural Changes of the Market Revolution

Expanding Democracy

Change in Voting & Strife Within Political Party

Jackson & Federal Power

Emergence of Two New Political Parties

Movement to Resettle Native Americans

The Development of an American Culture

Elements of a New American Culture

The Second Great Awakening

Rise of Democratic Beliefs and Individualism

An Age of Reform

Religious and Social Reforms

African Americans in the Early Republic

African Americans Seek Freedom

The Society of the South in the Early Republic

Enslavement Becomes Imbedded in the Southern Culture

Period 5: 1844-1877

Manifest Destiny

Westward Movement

New Territory Settled

The Mexican–American War

Fight with Mexico for New Territory

The Compromise of 1850

Slavery in New Territories and Attempts at Compromise

Sectional Conflict: Regional Differences

Continued Growth Through Immigation & The Anti-Catholic Movement

Resistance By Aboliitionists

Failure of Compromise

Legislation and Supreme Court Unable to Find Compromise

Election of 1860 & Secession

Election of 1860 and South Reacts to 1860 Results

Military Conflict in the Civil War

War Divides the United States

Government Policies During the Civil War

Ending Slavery in the South & Unifying the Nation

Reconstruction

Opposing Plans for Reconstruction

Failure of Reconstruction

Treatment of Newly Freed African Americans

Period 6: 1865-1898

Westward Expansion: Economic Development

Agricutural Changes Grow Farming

Railroads Contribute to the Growth of the Nation

Westward Expansion: Social & Cultural Development

Migration Westward

Relocation of Native Americans

End of the West

The "New South"

Economy of the "New South"

Jim Crow in the "New South"

Technological Innovation

Technology in the Gilded Age

The Rise of Industrial Capitalism

The Wealthy of the Gilded Age

Lack of Government Intervention in Industry & Welfare

Labor in the Gilded Age

Labor Organizes

Immigration & Migration in the Gilded Age

Americans on the Move

Responses to Immigration in the Gilded Age

Public Debate For & Against Immigration

Development of the Middle Class

The Growth of the Middle Class

Reform in the Gilded Age

Rise of Social Reform

Controversies over the Role of Government in the Gilded Age

Control of Railroads & Overseas Markets

Politics in the Gilded Age

Political Corruption during the Gilded Age

Period 7: 1890-1945

Imperialism: Debates

Pros and Cons of Imperialism

The Spanish–American War

Annexation of New Lands

The Progressives

Progressive Causes

World War I: Military & Diplomacy

Who's Who of World War I

World War I: Home Front

Americans Prepare for War

1920s: Innovations in Communication & Technology

Rise of Consumer Products

1920s: Cultural & Political Controversies

Cultural Changes

The Great Depression

An Era of Great Hardship

The New Deal

Relief from the Great Depression

Interwar Foreign Policy

Rise of Fascism

World War II: Mobilization

Total War Comes to the United States

World War II: Military

Battles of World War II

Postwar Diplomacy

The Aftermath of World War II

Period 8: 1945-1980

The Cold War from 1945 to 1980

Background

U.S. Foreign Policies

The Red Scare

Causes & Effects of the Second Red Scare

Economy after 1945

Causes of Economic Growth

Causes & Effects of Migration

Culture after 1945

Maintaining & Challenging Mass Culture

Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement (1940s and 1950s)

Civil Rights in the 1940s-1950s

America as a World Power

U.S. Response to Decolonization

Global Arms Race

The Vietnam War

Causes & Effects of the Vietnam War

The Great Society

Liberalism & the Federal Government

Immigration

The African American Civil Rights Movement (1960s)

Fight for the Ending of Segregation

The Civil Rights Movement Expands

Minorities Seek Equality

Youth Culture of the 1960s

Youth Question Social Norms

The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980

Alternatives to Fossil Fuels

Society in Transition

Rise of the Modern Conservative Movement

Period 9: 1980-Present

Reagan and Conservatism

Economics Under Ronald Reagan

The End of the Cold War

The Fall of the Soviet Union

A Changing Economy

Technology Leads to Global Sharing

Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000s

The Expanding Population of the United States

Challenges of the 21st Century

Global Challenges

Study tools

• College Board AP® US History · Exam Questions
• College Board AP® US History · Past Papers

Related links

• AP® History · Revision Notes
• AP® History · Exam Questions
• AP® History · Past Papers
• AP® History · Glossary