of content, and it can certainly get overwhelming trying to study the entire course. But don't worry, Fiveable's got your back! To help you out, we've put together review charts that cover all the important vocab, dates, and concepts you need to review to prepare for the AP exam. Make sure you also check out our teacher-led 

like the one in Fiveable rooms to maximize your efficiency when preparing for the exam!

Our amazing teachers and students who have already taken and passed the AP exam put together this free, comprehensive cram chart! Happy studying! 

AP US History

Review unit 1 in AP United States History with these resources! This unit covers the time period of 1491-1607. Notable topics in this unit include European exploration and encounters in the Americas, the Columbian Exchange, Labor, Slavery and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System, and cultural interactions between Europeans, Native Americans and Africans.

Unit 1 – Interactions North America, 1491-1607

Study for the AP United States History exam with our unit 2 resources, studying from 1607 to 1754, including important topics like European Colonization, the British Colonies, Transatlantic Trade, Slavery in the Colonies, and Colonial Society and Culture.

Unit 2 – Colonial Society, 1607-1754

Use our resources to study unit 3 in AP United States History! Learn all about 1754 - 1800 through topics such as taxation without representation, the influence of philosophical ideas and the Enlightenment, the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, and The Constitution.

Unit 3 – Conflict & American Independence, 1754-1800

Discover 1800 - 1848 with these resources for unit 4 of APUSH. Learn all about the Jeffersonian Era, America on the World Stage, The Market Revolution, the Jacksonian Era and federal power, emerging American culture, the Second Great Awakening, and the South in the Early Republic.

Unit 4 – American Expansion, 1800-1848

Study for AP United States history from 1844 - 1877 with our unit 5 resources! Notable topics in this unit include Manifest Destiny and westward expansion, the Mexican-American War, the Compromise of 1850, the election of 1860 and succession, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.

Unit 5 – Civil War & Reconstruction, 1848-1877

Learn about unit 6 of AP United States History with our resources. This unit covers the time period of 1865-1898. Notable topics in this unit include westward expansion, the "New South", industrialization and capitalism, the Gilded Age, and responses to immigration.

Unit 6 – Industrialization & the Gilded Age, 1865-1898

Review unit 7 of AP United States History with our resources. This unit covers the time period of 1890-1945. Key topics in this unit include imperialism, the Spanish-American War, the Progressiva Era, World War 1, pop culture and innovation in the 1920's, The Great Depression, The New Deal, and World War 2.

Unit 7 – Conflict in the Early 20th Century, 1890-1945

Prepare for the AP United States History exam with our unit 8 resources! Learn all about the Cold War from 1945 - 1980 with topics such as the Red Scare, the Vietnam War, youth culture in the 1960's, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Unit 8 – The Postwar Period & Cold War, 1945-1980

Wrap up APUSH with unit 9 of AP United States History with our resources that cover 1980 to the present, including topics such as Reagan and Conservatism, the end of the Cold War, Immigration, and present day America.

Unit 9 – Entering Into the 21st Century, 1980-Present

Frequently Asked Questions

Prepare for the AP United States History exam with our thematic guides. Our thematic guides provide overviews of each guiding theme from the APUSH course and give historical and contextual examples of each theme.

Thematic Guides

Interested in taking AP United States History? Check out our intro to the course! Includes study resources, study tips, and exam overviews. We also provide strategies to be used throughout the year of taking the course, along with a general overview of what to expect from the class. 

Course Introductions

Discover everything you need to know about the multiple choice question section of the AP United States History exam! Our guides overview the point breakdown of the questions, how to approach the questions, and give examples of questions. They also show how to effectively manage your time during the multiple choice section of the exam. 

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

Learn about the short answer question section of the AP United States History exam. Our guides provide practice questions/prompts and feedback to help you score your best on the short answer question of the APUSH exam!

Short Answer Questions (SAQ)

Learn everything you need to know about the long essay question on the free response question portion of the AP United States History exam! We provide resources that overview how to approach the long essay question and outline the distribution of points.

Long Essay Questions (LEQ)

Learn everything you need to know about the document based question (aka the DBQ) on the free response question portion of the AP United States History exam! We cover the breakdown of points and provide a standard outline of how to approach and effectively write the document based question.

Document Based Questions (DBQ)

Exam Reviews 2020

Review for the AP United States History exam with our resources! We provide review of units, key concepts and topics, and exam strategies to help you do your best on exam day!

Big Reviews: Finals & Exam Prep

Need extra preparation for the AP United States History exam? Our pre-recorded question and answer sessions are great way to review AP United States History content!

Q & A sessions

AP Cram Sessions 2021

Regional Guides

Exam Skills (MC, SAQ, LEQ, DBQ)

Previous Years Periods 1-5

Live Cram Sessions 2020

Summary of Events

The Spanish Take the Lead

Economic Impacts 💸

Social Impacts

Religious Impacts ⛪

Key Context for Period 1

Major People and Events

Key Timeline:

Major Trend

Study Tips

Unit 1 Overview: Early Contact with the New World (1491-1607)

Contextualization 

Period 1 (1491-1607)

Bering Land Bridge

Context: European Encounters in the Americas

Permanent Settlements

Nomadic Hunting and Gathering Tribes

Native American Societies Before European Contact

Columbus Sails Circa 1492

The Age of Exploration

Notable Explorers

European Exploration in the Americas

Columbian Exchange

Flow of Trade

Colonization 

Native vs. European Views

Practice Short Essay Set (SEQ)

Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest

The Slave Trade

Spanish Labor Systems

Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System

The Birth of a New Society

Native American Trade with Europeans 

Cultural Differences

European Encroachment

European Diseases

Spanish Policy Towards Natives

Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans

Causation Behind Early Transatlantic Voyages

Big Idea 1: Native Population Settlement and Advancement

Big Idea 2: Transatlantic Interactions Between Europe, Africa, and the Americas

Causation in Period 1

Multiple Choice Practice for Early Contact with The New World

Multiple Choice Questions

Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on Early Contact with The New World

MC Answers and Review

Moving on to 1607 - 1754: Contextualizing the Unit

Colonial Economies

Colonial Governments

Colonial Religion

Colonial Societies

Native Conflicts

Major People and Events:

Main Events

Exam Skills

Major Trends to Note

Unit 2 Overview: Colonization of North America (1607-1754)

Case Studies

British Colonization

Spanish Colonization

French Colonization

Contextualizing the Unit 

Major Trends Between 1607-1754

Unit 2 Overview: Contextualization

Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on the Colonization of North America

Jamestown

The Rise of Joint-Stock Companies 💸

John Smith 

The Powhatan 

A Successful Colony 


The French and Dutch 

European Colonization

New England Colonies

Middle Colonies

Chesapeake Colonies

Southern Colonies

The Regions of the British Colonies

Mercantilism

Triangular Trade

Transatlantic Trade

Introduction

Relations in New England

Relations in the Middle Colonies 

Relations in the Southern Colonies

Relations in the Spanish Colonies

Interactions between Native Americans and Europeans

Slavery in the Northern Colonies

Slavery in the Southern Colonies

Slaves' Response to Slavery

Slave Laws

Slavery in the British Colonies

Diversity in the Colonies

The First Great Awakening

Europe Influences Colonial Culture

Early Conflicts Between Europe and the Colonies

Colonial Society and Culture

Comparison in Period 2

Multiple Choice Practice for the Colonization of America

Overview of Period 3 (1754-1800)

Seven Years War (French and Indian War) 💣

Taxes and Protests 🌎

The Revolutionary War

New Governments

The Constitution

Hamilton's Financial Program

Foreign Affairs

Key Ideas

How to Study Unit 3

Unit 3 Overview: Conflict & American Independence (1754-1800)

The Short Story: Colonists Hate Great Britain!

The Long Story: A Tale of Three Phases

(1) The Revolutionary War

(2) New Forms of Government

(3) Political and Cultural Interactions Post-Independence

Context: The Revolutionary Period

Domestic Policies Under President George Washington

Hamilton's Financial Plan

Whiskey Rebellion

Foreign Affairs Under Washington

President John Adams

Shaping a New Republic

Demographics

Religion

Arts and Education

Technology

Developing an American Identity

European Immigrants

Native Americans and Enslaved Africans

French and Indian War

Pontiac's Rebellion

Bacon's Rebellion

Transatlantic Slave Trade

Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin

Movement in the Early Republic

Key Vocabulary

Changes 

Continuity

Conclusion

Questions for Review

Continuity and Change in Period 3

Multiple Choice Practice for Conflict and American Independence

Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on Conflict and American Independence

Download APUSH Cheat Sheet PDF Cram Chart

AP US History 🇺🇸

Get Ready for the AP US History Exam

APUSH Cheat Sheet PDF & Review Chart

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