APUSH Resources

I think you’re going to have to study the material in your own time, which sucks. My advice would be to find a study book or series and use that to teach the rest of the material to yourself. If you’re crunched on time, make sure to study the general concepts and most important details. 

According to AP Central, “Historical thinking involves the ability to arrive at meaningful and persuasive understandings of the past by applying all the other historical thinking skills, by drawing appropriately on ideas from different fields of inquiry or disciplines and by creatively fusing disparate, relevant (and perhaps contradictory) evidence from primary sources and secondary works. Additionally, synthesis may involve applying insights about the past to other historical contexts or circumstances, including the present.” So, basically, synthesis is relating the topic at hand to another similar topic. 

Personally, I found it easiest and most effective to incorporate synthesis into my essays in the conclusion. I would write something like “Ultimately, this helped blah blah understand blah blah” OR “This affected this future event blah” (Sorry. I was pretty useless at writing DBQ’s.)

Links to more helpful stuff: 

Here’s a video on synthesis by the amazing Tom Richey.

A link to a question about APUSH synthesis on Reddit, if you’re interested. 

A Quizlet set listing various synthesis points you can use. 

I don’t know if this was very helpful…I do apologize if it wasn’t, haha.

What is the format of the test like? Is it similar to the AP-style test? If so, try to find out where your strengths and weaknesses are, ie. multiple choice, FRQ, DBQ, short-answer questions. If you can identify those, you can focus more on improving in those individual sections, which will boost your score overall. 

For FRQ, DBQ, and short answer help, I’ll link you to this post. You can also find official prompts from College Board here.

As for multiple choice help, try going through our APUSH Resources daily question tag and answering the questions. If you get a question wrong, make sure to look at the explanation provided and completely understand the material before you move on. 

For overall test practice, here’s an official practice test from College Board. 

Ultimately, if you’re doing well in class and on homework, I think you probably have a solid knowledge of the material, but maybe need just a little more practice in implementing that knowledge during tests, which can be a more stressful and time-limited environment. Take as many practice tests as you can. You’ll learn how to most effectively manage your time during tests and get a feel for how to best answer questions. 

Hope this helps. Good luck! :)

XYZ Affair

date: 1797

who: John Adams, Charles Talleyrand, Agents X, Y, & Z, France, United States

aftermath: Quasi-War

During 1797, problems were arising between the Republic of France and the United States. In an attempt to avoid further conflict and possibly war, President John Adams sent three American diplomats to France to participate in formal negotiations with the French. However, when the American diplomats arrived in France, they were informally approached by agents of the French Foreign Minister, Charles Talleyrand, who demanded bribes and the like. While these “shady” forms of diplomacy were somewhat common in Europe, they were improper according to American diplomacy etiquette, and so the American diplomats were greatly offended and left France immediately without ever making it to the formal French negotiations. The American people were generally offended, and the Federalist party took advantage of this opportunity to increase the U.S. military power. This ultimately led to the undeclared Quasi-War (1798-1800), fought between France and the United States. 

Hope this helped a bit :)

here’s a bit, hope it will suffice :)

- Madison 

Alexander Hamilton 

Founding Father

first Secretary of the U.S. Treasury

wrote the Federalist Papers

funded the national debt caused by the Revolutionary War

(1804) killed by Aaron Burr in duel 

against the Articles of Confederation; supported a new Constitution

established U.S. Mint

date: 1755-1804

most famous for: creating a national bank

political party: Federalists

political rival: Thomas Jefferson

Which of the following was not a result of the end of the Second Bank of the United States? 

A) Creation of state “pet” banks 

B) A bank panic 

C) Creation of the Whig Party 

D) The Specie Circular 

E) Philadelphia becoming the center of American banking

Answer...

The Tariff of Abominations of 1828 was opposed mainly because 

A) it mainly benefited western states 

B) it hurt northern manufacturers’ long-term growth 

C) it hurt the sale of southern cotton 

D) it restricted the sale of slaves 

E) it benefited British imports

Answer...

Which of the following inventions did not help fuel the agricultural boom in the first half of the 19th century? 

A) The cotton gin 

B) The steel plow 

C) The mechanical reaper 

D) The steamboat 

E) The cigarette-rolling machine

Answer...

Which of the following is not part of the economic theory referred to as the American System? 

A) High tariffs 

B) Road building 

C) Encouragement of new enterprises 

D) The national bank 

E) Cheap sale of public lands

Answer...

Industrialism emerged in the northern states prior to the Civil War as a result of the following conditions except 

A) availability of water power from streams and rivers 

B) availability of capital 

C) a shortage of labor 

D) poor agricultural conditions 

E) access to developed ports and railroads

Answer...

Which of the following was a direct result of the Missouri Compromise? 

A) The state of Maine was created. 

B) Slavery was allowed only in states south of Missouri’s northern border. 

C) Kentucky outlawed slavery. 

D) The balance of free and slave states ended. 

E) California was admitted into the Union as a free state

Answer...

Which of the following was not a provision of the initial Monroe Doctrine? 

A) The Western Hemisphere was closed to colonization. 

B) The Americas were politically different from the nations of Europe. 

C) European intervention in the Western Hemisphere would be regarded as a threat to U.S. security. 

D) The United States would not intervene in European wars and conflicts. 

E) The United States would use military intervention in the Western Hemisphere if needed.

Answer...

Which of the following statements about the Treaty of Ghent is not true? 

A) It ended the War of 1812. 

B) It settled the border disputes involving the Louisiana Territory. 

C) It failed to address British impressments. 

D) It did not address the idea of freedom of the seas. 

E) It was signed by Britain and the United States.

Answer...

The main purpose of passing the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution was to 

A) correct irregularities in presidential elections 

B) prevent individuals in one state from suing another state in federal courts 

C) allow the federal government to purchase new lands from foreign powers 

D) end the importation of slaves from outside of the nation 

E) outlaw forced labor and involuntary servitude

Answer...