APUSH Study Guides
Explore all 9 historical periods covered on the AP US History exam. Each period includes key events, themes, and connections to help you master the content.
Period 1: 1491-1607
Years: 1491-1607
Key Themes:
- Native American societies before European contact
- European exploration and colonization
- Columbian Exchange and its effects
- Spanish, French, and English colonization patterns
Major Events:
- 1492: Christopher Columbus arrives in the Americas
- 1519-1521: Cortés conquers the Aztec Empire
- 1588: Spanish Armada defeated
- 1607: Jamestown founded (first permanent English settlement)
Key Concepts:
This period focuses on the interactions between Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans. The Columbian Exchange transformed both the Old and New Worlds through the exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and ideas.
Period 2: 1607-1754
Years: 1607-1754
Key Themes:
- Development of British colonies in North America
- Regional differences (New England, Middle, Southern colonies)
- Slavery and indentured servitude
- Religious diversity and conflicts
Major Events:
- 1620: Mayflower Compact and Plymouth Colony
- 1692: Salem Witch Trials
- 1730s-1740s: First Great Awakening
- 1754: Beginning of French and Indian War
Key Concepts:
This period saw the establishment of distinct colonial regions with different economic systems, social structures, and political institutions. The colonies developed a unique American identity while maintaining ties to Britain.
Period 3: 1754-1800
Years: 1754-1800
Key Themes:
- Road to Revolution
- American Revolution and independence
- Articles of Confederation
- Constitution and early republic
Major Events:
- 1754-1763: French and Indian War
- 1776: Declaration of Independence
- 1787: Constitutional Convention
- 1789: George Washington becomes first president
- 1791: Bill of Rights ratified
Key Concepts:
This period covers the American Revolution, the creation of the United States, and the establishment of the federal government. Debates over federalism, republicanism, and individual rights shaped the new nation.
Period 4: 1800-1848
Years: 1800-1848
Key Themes:
- Expansion and territorial growth
- Market Revolution
- Reform movements
- Sectionalism and slavery debates
Major Events:
- 1803: Louisiana Purchase
- 1812-1815: War of 1812
- 1820: Missouri Compromise
- 1823: Monroe Doctrine
- 1830s: Trail of Tears
- 1848: Seneca Falls Convention
Key Concepts:
This period saw rapid territorial expansion, economic transformation through the Market Revolution, and growing sectional tensions over slavery. Reform movements addressed social issues while democracy expanded.
Period 5: 1844-1877
Years: 1844-1877
Key Themes:
- Manifest Destiny and westward expansion
- Sectional conflict and Civil War
- Reconstruction
- Emancipation and African American rights
Major Events:
- 1846-1848: Mexican-American War
- 1850: Compromise of 1850
- 1861-1865: Civil War
- 1863: Emancipation Proclamation
- 1865-1877: Reconstruction
- 1877: Compromise of 1877 ends Reconstruction
Key Concepts:
This period covers the Civil War era, the most transformative period in American history. The war ended slavery, preserved the Union, and fundamentally changed the relationship between the federal government and states.
Period 6: 1865-1898
Years: 1865-1898
Key Themes:
- Industrialization and Gilded Age
- Westward expansion and Native American conflicts
- Immigration and urbanization
- Populist and labor movements
Major Events:
- 1869: Transcontinental Railroad completed
- 1877: Great Railroad Strike
- 1890: Wounded Knee Massacre
- 1896: Plessy v. Ferguson
- 1898: Spanish-American War
Key Concepts:
This period saw rapid industrialization, massive immigration, and the closing of the frontier. The Gilded Age featured economic growth alongside social inequality and political corruption.
Period 7: 1890-1945
Years: 1890-1945
Key Themes:
- Progressive Era reforms
- World War I and its aftermath
- 1920s prosperity and culture
- Great Depression and New Deal
- World War II
Major Events:
- 1914-1918: World War I
- 1920: 19th Amendment (women's suffrage)
- 1929: Stock Market Crash
- 1933-1939: New Deal
- 1941: Pearl Harbor and U.S. entry into WWII
- 1945: End of World War II
Key Concepts:
This period covers America's emergence as a world power, the Progressive Era, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and World War II. The federal government's role expanded significantly.
Period 8: 1945-1980
Years: 1945-1980
Key Themes:
- Cold War and containment
- Civil Rights Movement
- Vietnam War
- Social and cultural changes
- Economic prosperity and challenges
Major Events:
- 1947: Truman Doctrine and beginning of Cold War
- 1954: Brown v. Board of Education
- 1964: Civil Rights Act
- 1965-1973: Vietnam War
- 1974: Watergate and Nixon's resignation
Key Concepts:
This period features the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and significant social and cultural changes. America grappled with its role as a superpower while addressing domestic inequalities.
Period 9: 1980-Present
Years: 1980-Present
Key Themes:
- Conservative resurgence (Reagan Revolution)
- End of Cold War
- Globalization and technology
- War on Terror
- Contemporary social and political issues
Major Events:
- 1981-1989: Reagan presidency
- 1989: Fall of Berlin Wall
- 1991: End of Cold War
- 2001: 9/11 attacks
- 2008: Great Recession
- 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
Key Concepts:
This period covers the conservative shift in American politics, the end of the Cold War, the rise of globalization, and contemporary challenges. Technology and globalization transformed American society and the economy.