AP US History is a survey course taught over two years. As sophomores, Ms. Healy will guide you through the events that lead to the creation of the United States, from the arrival of Columbus through the Civil War and Reconstruction.

As juniors, Mr. Waisgerber will move at a fast pace from the period following Reconstruction through to the 21st century. In May of your junior year you will take the AP exam and possibly qualify to receive college credit for the course.

For a thorough understanding of how that works, please review the College Board handbook.

You do, if you meet these standards:1) Are you an effective and thorough reader? There is a significant amount of reading both secondary and primary sources.

2) Are you a good writer? Do you pay attention to mechanics? Do you provide supporting details?

3) Are you self -motivated? This is essential. APUSH can sometimes feel like an independent study. Procrastinators will struggle. If you struggled to meet deadlines and stay organized with remote learning, you will have to make some changes.

4) Do you pay attention to current events and are you curious about the world?

Note: #1 & 2 are skills that will be developed as a result of taking the class. Number 4 is the most important. You cannot become a critical thinker without being curious.

The AP US History course is broken up into 9 specific time periods for students to focus from Pre-Columbian Native American groups to the present day. We break it up tino two years. This year we will study the first 5 periods. Next year with Mr. Waisgerber you will

pick up at end of Reconstruction and work your way to the 21st century.

Period 1: 1491-1607 The Interaction between Native Americans and Europeans, and the settling of the West. Period 2: 1607-1754 The Fight for control of North America between the Natives and Europeans and distinctive colonial societies that were formed Period 3: 1754-1800 British attempts to reassert control over America, Colonial reaction, and attempts to create a new republic, and struggles with the new, social, political, and economic identity. Period 4: 1800-1848 The struggle of the New Country to define democratic ideals in the face of rapid economic, territorial, and demographic changes. Period 5: 1844-1877 Regional tensions, over slavery, the causes and effects of the Civil War and reconstruction and the effect on society

Find instructions for accessing the book and your summer reading assignment here.

Your summer reading assignment will take you here.

Summer ReadingWe are basically going to work backwards. Your understanding of current events will be greatly enhanced as a result.

Video #11) Briefly describe how Adam Rothman proves his thesis that slave labor was essential to the westward expansion and growth of the United States.

2) How does Rothman demonstrate the way that slave labor shaped the economies of both the North and the South.

Watch this brief introduction to Frederick Douglass and the Abolitionist movement. Video #2

1) Who was William Lloyd Garrison

2) Describe how Frederick Douglass became the most prominent voice of the abolitionist movement?

3) Describe your emotional response to watching the video