Sample AP US History Questions
Q1: The Missouri Compromise of 1820 primarily addressed which issue?
A. Tariff rates on British goods
B. The balance of free and slave states ✓
C. Native American land rights
D. Federal vs. state banking authority
Q2: Which constitutional amendment granted women the right to vote?
A. 15th Amendment
B. 17th Amendment
C. 19th Amendment ✓
D. 21st Amendment
Q3: The Marshall Plan (1948) was primarily designed to:
A. Create NATO
B. Rebuild war-torn European economies ✓
C. Establish the United Nations
D. Contain Soviet nuclear expansion
📖 Study Tips for AP US History
1
Learn major periodization: Colonial, Revolutionary, Antebellum, Civil War/Reconstruction, Progressive Era, and post-WWII.
2
Practice Document-Based Questions (DBQs) by grouping documents by theme, point of view, and historical context.
3
Understand cause-and-effect chains — examiners reward essays that explain *why* events happened, not just *what* happened.
4
Memorize key turning-point events (1776, 1803, 1865, 1920, 1945, 1964) and be able to explain their significance.
❓ AP US History FAQ
What is the format of the AP US History exam?
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The exam is 3 hours 15 minutes. Section I has 55 multiple-choice questions and 3 short-answer questions. Section II has one DBQ and one long essay.
How far back does AP US History go?
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The course begins with pre-Columbian Native American societies (before 1491) and covers through the present day, with emphasis on the period 1607–1980.
What primary sources should I know for the exam?
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Key documents include the Declaration of Independence, Federalist No. 51, the Emancipation Proclamation, the 14th Amendment, and major 20th-century speeches and legislation.
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