5 Steps to a 5 AP U. S. History, 2010-2011 Edition »

Stephen Armstrong is an AP History teacher,

supervisor of social studies at Hall

High School in West Hartford,

and an adjunct professor of history

at Central Connecticut State

University.

A Perfect Plan for the Perfect Score

We want you to succeed on your AP* exam. That's why we've created this 5-step plan to help you study more effectively, use your preparation time wisely, and get your best score. This easy-to-follow guide offers you a complete review of your AP course, strategies to give you the edge on test day, and plenty of practice with AP-style test questions. You'll sharpen your subject knowledge, strengthen your thinking skills, and build your test-taking confidence with

• Full-length practice exams modeled on the real test
• All the terms and concepts you need to know to get your best score
• Your choice of three customized study schedules—so you can pick the one that meets your needs

The 5-Step Plan helps you get the most out of your study time:

Step 1: Set Up Your Study Program

Step 2: Determine Your Readiness

Step 3: Develop the Strategies

Step 4: Review the Knowledge

Step 5: Build Your Confidence

Topics include: The Settling of the Western Hemisphere and Colonial America (1450-1650); The British Empire in America: Growth and Conflict (1650-1750); Resistance, Rebellion, and Revolution (1750-1775); The American Revolution and the New Nation (1775-1787); The Establishment of the New Political Systems (1787-1800); The Jeffersonian Revolution (1800-1820); The Rise of Manufacturing and the Age of Jackson (1820-1845); The Union Expanded and Challenged (1835-1860); The Union Divided: The Civil War (1861-1865); The Era of Reconstruction (1865-1877); Western Expansion and Its Impact on the American Character (1860-1895); America Transformed into the Industrial Giant of the World (1870-1910); The Rise of American Imperialism (1890-1913); The Progressive Era (1895-1914); The United States and World War I; America in the 1920s: The Beginning of Modern America; The Great Depression and the New Deal; World War II; The Origins of the Cold War; The 1950s: Prosperity and Anxiety; America in an Era of Turmoil (1960-1975); America from 1968-1988: Decline and Rebirth; America from 1988 to 2000: Prosperity and a New World Order; America from 2001 to 2006: The Threat of Terrorism and the Increase of Presidential Power; and Contemporary America: Evaluating the "Big Themes" of American History

Also includes: Practice tests

*AP, Advanced Placement Program, and College Board are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

STEP 1: Set Up Your Study Program
1. What You Need to Know About the AP U.S. History Exam
2. How to Plan Your Time
STEP 2: Determine Your Test Readiness
3. Take a Diagnostic Exam
STEP 3: Develop Strategies for Success
4. Section I of the Exam: How to Approach the Multiple-Choice Questions
5. Section II of the Exam: How to Approach the Free-Response Essay
STEP 4: Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High
6. The Settling of the Western Hemisphere and Colonial America (1450-1650)
7. The British Empire in America: Growth and Conflict (1650-1750)
8. Resistance, Rebellion, and Revolution (1750-1775)
9. The American Revolution and the New Nation (1775-1787)
10. The Establishment of the New Political Systems (1787-1800)
11. The Jeffersonian Revolution (1800-1820)
12. The Rise of Manufacturing and the Age of Jackson (1820-1845)
13. The Union Expanded and Challenged (1835-1860)
14. The Union Divided: The Civil War (1861-1865)
15. The Era of Reconstruction (1865-1877)
16. Western Expansion and Its Impact on the American Character (1860-1895)
17. America Transformed into the Industrial Giant of the World (1870-1910)
18. The Rise of American Imperialism (1890-1913)
19. The Progressive Era (1895-1914)
20. The United States and World War I
21. America in the 1920s: The Beginning of Modern America
22. The Great Depression and the New Deal
23. World War II
24. The Origins of the Cold War
25. The 1950s: Prosperity and Anxiety
26. America in an Era of Turmoil (1960-1975)
27. America from 1968-1988: Decline and Rebirth
28. America from 1988 to 2000: Prosperity and a New World Order
29. America from 2001 to 2006: The Threat of Terrorism and the Increase of Presidential Power
30. Contemporary America: Evaluating the "Big Themes" of American History
STEP 5: Build Your Test-Taking Confidence
Practice Test 1
Practice Test 2

Stephen Armstrong is an AP History teacher,

supervisor of social studies at Hall

High School in West Hartford,

and an adjunct professor of history

at Central Connecticut State

University.