second great awakening apush essay

AP® US History

The second great awakening: ap® us history crash course.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

Do you understand the importance of the Second Great Awakening? Well you should! By recognizing the significance of the Second Great Awakening you’ll be one step closer to a better grasp of US history and a better score for the AP® US History Exam. The Second Great Awakening lasted from 1790 to 1840. It began as a reaction to the growth in popularity of science and rationalism. The Second Great Awakening fought the perceived moral decay of society and charged Americans to lead their fellow man to salvation.

The Second Great Awakening began when Timothy Dwight was promoted to president of Yale College. At the time, Yale College was seen as a center of secular, and therefore ungodly, thought. Timothy Dwight felt it was his duty to prevent the spread of blasphemous thinking. He supported sermons that brought religious revival to Yale College’s student body and from there, it spread like a wildfire.

The Second Great Awakening preached sermons that were much softer and kinder. Rather than portraying an angry, vengeful God, the Second Great Awakening painted God as a benevolent and compassionate ruler who only wanted the salvation of every man. After the Timothy Dwight’s success in New England, it was only a matter of time until the religious revival spread throughout the rest of the nation.

The American West and Camp Meetings

Similar to religious revival that was traveling down the Atlantic Coast, the religious fervor spread west as well. The camp meeting was the main venue where the Second Great Awakening was spread. Most pioneer families at the time lived in isolation from one another and were often concerned with the year’s harvest and maintaining their own land. But when the harvest was brought in and all the preparations were made for winter, many pioneer families would come together at camp meetings. It was there that they heard the sermons that were coming from the east. Some of these camp meetings had about 25,000 attendees, coming from vast distances to hear the messages of preachers.

The importance of the camp meeting in the Second Great Awakening cannot be understated. It was during these camp meetings that you saw people “speaking in tongues” or having convulsive fits due to religious ecstasy. These physical signs and tangible examples of conversion further fueled the religious zeal that was consuming the country.

Early Feminism and Other Reform Movements

The Second Great Awakening not only renewed America’s religious intensity but it also initiated many of the reform movements that would later seize the country, and some can even still be seen today. For example, the Second Great Awakening placed women in greater roles than before. Women were seen as the moral center of the household. They were in charge of the spiritual and moral well-being of both their children and their husband. With this in mind, it makes sense that women were drawn towards the enthusiasm of the Second Great Awakening because it emphasized their own importance to the religion instead of downplaying it. In addition, because women were often relegated to the household, they had time to pursue causes that they deemed important.

Often, these causes were subjects they had heard spoken of at religious revivals. For example, many preachers during the Second Great Awakening decried slavery and alcohol. Both these messages led to the Abolitionist and Temperance Movement of which women were active participants. It is also during this time that we see the precursor to the Feminist movement. Prior to the Second Great Awakening women did not have a very important social role, but as they organized these other reform movements, they began to see the power they truly had. Soon after the Second Great Awakening,women begun their own movement towards equality.

Charles Grandison Finney

Of all the preachers that became ubiquitous during the Second Great Awakening, there were none as popular or as well-spoken as Charles Grandison Finney. Finney typified the religious revival preacher with his fierce oratory skills and intense sermons. His greatest work as a revivalist preacher was during the period of 1826 to 1831, where he made a circuit that started in Utica and ended in New York City. His remarkable power of persuasion converted tens of thousands of people. The reason for his popularity came from the different type of homily that became popular during the religious revivals that seized the nation.

Finney preached that everyone was capable of salvation and there’s not much to do other than have faith in God and perform acts of good work. Prior to Finney, the popular denomination of Calvinism claimed that all those who had the privilege of going to heaven had already been chosen. Everyone else who was not worthy of being saved would go straight to hell. Charles Grandison Finney appealed to the masses. More people could identify with his message of an attainable heaven where you were separated from eternal salvation only by the amount of work you were willing to put in. This meshed well with the self-sufficient and sovereign spirit of the growing American people.

When studying AP® US History , it is important to take note of the Second Great Awakening. The religious movement helped to form the personality and nature of the nation that we live in today. The Second Great Awakening swelled the ranks of various Christian denominations, from Baptist to Methodist. It brought the west together when families were often alone for months at a time during the year. From the Second Great Awakening, we saw the equalizing effect of religion as it evened the gap between genders. Reform movements were born in the aftermath of the revival as anti-slavery movements, women’s suffrage, and temperance rose along with the wave of piety. It also brought to the forefront the power of the individual both in the message spread by preachers like Charles Finney and the manner in which they lived their lives, self-determining and unwavering in their resolve to save everyone’s soul. To get that perfect score in AP® US History, you need to be able to identify the impact of the Second Great Awakening.

Looking for AP® US History practice?

Kickstart your AP® US History prep with Albert. Start your AP® exam prep today .

Interested in a school license?​

Popular posts.

AP® Score Calculators

Simulate how different MCQ and FRQ scores translate into AP® scores

AP® Review Guides

The ultimate review guides for AP® subjects to help you plan and structure your prep.

Core Subject Review Guides

Review the most important topics in Physics and Algebra 1 .

SAT® Score Calculator

See how scores on each section impacts your overall SAT® score

ACT® Score Calculator

See how scores on each section impacts your overall ACT® score

Grammar Review Hub

Comprehensive review of grammar skills

AP® Posters

Download updated posters summarizing the main topics and structure for each AP® exam.

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center

Second Great Awakening

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Christianity.com - The Second Great Awakening
• Teach Democracy - The Second Great Awakening and Reform in the 19th Century
• GlobalSecurity.org - 1800-1835 - Second Great Awakening
• Academia - Second Look at the Second Great Awakening
• Khan Academy - The Second Great Awakening - origins and major ideas
• NCpedia - The Second Great Awakening
• National Humanities Center - TeacherServe - Evangelicalism, Revivalism, and the Second Great Awakening
• Christian History Magazine - The Return of the Spirit: The Second Great Awakening
• Christianity Today - The Return of the Spirit: The Second Great Awakening
• American History Central - Second Great Awakening, Summary, Facts, Significance, APUSH
• UShistory.org - Religious Transformation and the Second Great Awakening

Second Great Awakening , Protestant religious revival in the United States from about 1795 to 1835. During this revival, meetings were held in small towns and large cities throughout the country, and the unique frontier institution known as the camp meeting began. Many churches experienced a great increase in membership, particularly among Methodist and Baptist churches. The Second Great Awakening made soul-winning the primary function of ministry and stimulated several moral and philanthropic reforms, including temperance and the emancipation of women. Generally considered less emotional than the Great Awakening of the early 18th century, the second wave of evangelical revivalism led to the founding of numerous colleges and seminaries and to the organization of mission societies across the country.

The Second Great Awakening can be divided into three phases. The first phase (1795–1810) was associated with frontier camp meetings conducted by American preachers James McGready , John McGee, and Barton W. Stone in Kentucky and Tennessee . The second and more conservative phase of the awakening (1810–25) centred in the Congregational churches of New England under the leadership of theologians Timothy Dwight , Lyman Beecher , Nathaniel W. Taylor, and Asahel Nettleton. The third and final phase (1825–35) stemmed from the activities of evangelist Charles Grandison Finney , who began his revivalism in small towns in western New York in the 1820s but eventually conducted revival meetings in the largest cities in the United States and Britain.

During the Second Great Awakening revivalistic theology in many denominations shifted from Calvinism to a practical Arminianism as preachers emphasized the ability of sinners to make an immediate decision for their salvation ; theological differences almost disappeared among evangelical churches. Moreover, under Finney’s aegis a rationale for carefully contrived revival techniques evolved. After 1835 an irregular corps of professional revival experts traveled through the towns and cities of America and Britain organizing annual revival meetings at the invitation of local pastors who wanted to reinvigorate their churches. Although many American Protestants lost interest in revivalism in the first half of the 20th century, tent revivals as well as annual revivals in churches in the South and Midwest continued to be an important feature of Protestant church life.

All Subjects

4.10 The Second Great Awakening

5 min read • june 18, 2024

The  Second Great Awakening  was a religious revival movement that occurred in the United States in the early 19th century. It began around 1790, peaked in the 1820s and 1830s, and ended in the late 1840s. The movement was characterized by a renewed interest in Christianity and an increase in church membership, particularly among Baptists and Methodists . Many new religious denominations were formed during this time, and the influence of the established churches declined.

Change in Beliefs

People began to believe that ordinary people should have a say in the government. They extended this idea into churches, and ministers now had to appeal to everyone else as their success depended on how much they appealed.

Calvinist (Puritan) teachings of original sin and predestination had been rejected by believers in more liberal and forgiving doctrines such as those of the Unitarian Church .

• Original Sin is the doctrine that holds that human nature has been morally and ethically corrupted due to the disobedience of mankind's first parents (Adam and Eve). The doctrine of original sin holds that every person born into the world is tainted by the Fall, and people are powerless to rehabilitate themselves unless rescued by God.
• Predestination is about God being in control of all that happens through history, including his choice of saving some people for himself, while allowing others to go their own way along the path of sin. Emotional religious experiences became important because the Market Revolution caused their work and economic relationships to become less personal .

Charles Grandison Finney

Charles Grandison Finney , the best-known preacher of the Second Great Awakening, taught that sin was voluntary. He rejected the traditional Calvinist doctrine of predestination and believed everyone had the power to become perfect and free of sin. This emphasis on human choice and responsibility, rather than divine predestination, helped to make Finney's preaching particularly appealing to people who were seeking greater control over their own spiritual destinies.

Finney also advocated for social reform; he spoke against slavery and for woman's rights. He also saw that women could help convert their husbands and fathers.

He sought instantaneous conversions through a variety of new and controversial methods:

• Holding protracted meetings that lasted all night or several days in a row.
• Placing an “ anxious bench ” in front of the congregation where those in the process of repentance could receive special attention
• Encouraged women to pray publicly for the souls of male relatives.
• Sometimes listeners fell to the floor in fits of excitement.

The Legacy of the Second Great Awakening

Religiously, the Second Great Awakening led to a significant increase in church membership and the formation of new religious denominations. It also led to a more emotional and individualized approach to religion, as opposed to the more formal and intellectual approach of the previous era. This emphasis on personal religious experience would continue to shape American Christianity for decades to come and would influence the development of various new religious movements, like the Pentecostal and the Holiness movement .

The Second Great Awakening also touched on  social reforms . This is how it differs from the first Great Awakening 100 years earlier, which focused on bringing people back to the church. Activist religious groups provided both the leadership and the well-organized voluntary societies that drove the reform movements of the antebellum period such as abolition, temperance, etc. Many of the leaders of these social reform movements were also religious leaders, and they used their pulpits to promote their causes.

Additionally, the Second Great Awakening led to the creation of many new colleges and universities, which helped to promote education and literacy in the United States. This led to an expansion of the middle class and helped to create a more educated and informed citizenry.

Baptists and Methodists

During the Second Great Awakening, both the Baptist and Methodist denominations experienced significant growth.

In the South on the western frontier, Baptist and Methodist  circuit preachers , such as Peter Cartwright , would travel from one location to another and attract thousands to hear their dramatic preaching at outdoor revivals or camp meetings . 

Highly emotional  camp meetings were usually organized by Baptists or Methodists. In the southern backcountry, it was difficult to sustain local churches with regular ministers. The Methodists solved the problem with circuit riders .

The growth of these two denominations during the Second Great Awakening helped to shift the religious landscape of the United States, as membership in traditional churches like the Congregationalists and the Presbyterians began to decline.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)

Joseph Smith of Palmyra, New York was the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1830, he revealed that he had received, over many years, a series of revelations that called upon him to establish Christ’s pure church on Earth. 

He published the  Book of Mormon , a scripture in which he claimed to have discovered and translated with the aid of an angel. Basically, the Book of Mormon covers the following: 

• It was the record of a community of Jews who left the Holy Land six centuries before the birth of Christ and sailed to the American continent.
• After his crucifixion and resurrection, Christ appeared to this community and proclaimed the Gospel.
• 400 years later, a civil war in the group annihilated the believing Christians but not all the descendants of the original Jewish migrants.
• One of those survivors contributed to the ancestry of the American Indians. Smith and those who converted to the faith were committed to restoring the pure religion that thrived on American soil by founding a western Zion where they could practice their faith and carry out their mission to convert Indians. 

In the 1830s, Mormons established communities in Ohio and Missouri. The one in Ohio went bankrupt and then later was the target of angry mobs. Smith led his followers back across the Mississippi to Illinois where he received a charter from the state legislature. 

Smith then reported new revelations that caused hostility from neighboring people. The most controversial was the authorization of  polygamy . In 1844, Smith was killed by a mob while being held in jail. 

In 1845, Smith's successor,  Brigham Young , decided to send a party of 1500 men to assess the chance of a colony in the vicinity of the Great Salt Lake . In 1846, 12,000 Mormons took to the trail. Young arrived in Salt Lake and sent word back on the trail that he had found the promised land.

The main focus of this key topic, as outlined by the College Board Course and Description, is to understand the causes of the Second Great Awakening: "The rise of democratic and individualistic beliefs, a response to rationalism, and changes to society caused by the market revolution, along with greater social and geographical mobility, contributed to a Second Great Awakening among Protestants."

Key Terms to Review ( 24 )

© 2024 fiveable inc. all rights reserved., ap® and sat® are trademarks registered by the college board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website..

The First Great Awakening — the Beginning of a Common American Identity

18th Century

The First Great Awakening was a religious movement that took place in the American Colonies during the first part of the 18th century. It is most well-known for creating an emphasis on spiritual devotion, individualism, and freedom that contributed to the ideals of the American Revolution.

Jonathan Edwards. Image Source: New York Public Library Digital Collections .

First Great Awakening Summary

The First Great Awakening was the most significant religious movement of the Colonial Era, sparking an increase in Protestant denominations, including Methodists and Baptists, as well as the establishment of educational institutions like Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, and Rutgers. It also fueled the ideology of the American Revolution by emphasizing the power of the individual over the power of the clergymen or monarchs.

The First Great Awakening unfolded in the American colonies during the 18th century, from the 1730s through the 1760s, although some historians feel it continued into the 1770s. It grew out of the Enlightenment’s emphasis on rationalism, scientific investigation, and thought, which challenged the old authoritarian ideologies of the Puritans and Anglicans.

The movement was led by influential men like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. It challenged the old ideas that monarchs and clergy were the ones responsible for interpreting God’s will and passing it along to the people. Instead, the First Great Awakening focused on an individual’s ability to have a personal connection with God, allowing them the freedom to interpret the Bible.

The First Great Awakening led to a division in religious denominations as “New Lights” embraced new ideas about religion, and broke away from the “Old Lights.” However, it also created a sense of shared identity among denominations that bridged divisions and encouraged a shared experience of faith where the people were in control. As a result, they believed they had the right to dictate to their leaders — the clergy and politicians — what they wanted and what was best for them.

Despite the rise in the number of Protestant denominations and the spread of religious freedom, there was still fear and distrust of Catholicism. Americans considered the French Catholics living in Canada to be their enemies, and that idea continued through the French and Indian War. It was heightened when Parliament passed the Quebec Act , which is often considered part of the Intolerable Acts .

However, by the time of the American Revolutionary War, American sentiment shifted and the First Continental Congress and Second Continental Congress attempted — and failed — to convince Quebec to become the 14th Colony.

Facts About the First Great Awakening

1. The First Great Awakening was a Protestant religious revival that occurred in the American Colonies during the 18th century. It was the first movement that was shared in all the colonies, helping transform colonial society and establishing a common “American” identity.

2. It was a response to the growing influence of the Enlightenment and the emphasis on reason and rationalism, which led to the idea that a person’s destiny was not pre-ordained by God — Predestination — or controlled by churches and monarchs.

3. The movement went away from traditional Calvinist ideas that God only provided salvation to an “elected” group, such as the Puritans, and challenged the idea that the Pope or the King of England stood between the individual and God.

4. The movement brought about a renewed interest in Christianity, resulting in increased church attendance and conversions.

5. Prominent leaders of the First Great Awakening included George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. 

6. Whitefield was an Anglican minister from Britain who traveled throughout the American Colonies, attracting people with his passionate sermons. Whitefield went on speaking tours from the late 1730s until he died in 1770. It is estimated that Whitefield drew as many as 30,000 people at the height of his popularity. Whitefield was inspired by John Wesley, a Methodist evangelist who traveled through Europe, speaking outdoors to large groups of people.

7. Edwards emphasized human sinfulness and divine judgment in his sermons, including “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” as he encouraged people to repent and ask God to save them.

8. The Great Awakening led to the formation of “New Lights” (embracing revivalist ideas) and “Old Lights” (adhering to traditional practices) within religious communities.

9. The First Great Awakening had a significant impact on the growth of religious denominations, including Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, leading to a decrease in the popularity and power of the New England Congregationalists (Puritans), Quakers, and Anglicans.

10. The movement contributed to the founding of several educational institutions, such as Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, and Rutgers universities.

11. The printing press made the ideology of the First Great Awakening more accessible to the common people, which allowed it to spread and gain acceptance.

12. The term “Great Awakening” was not used until the 1830s, during the so-called “ Second Great Awakening .”

Causes of the First Great Awakening

The First Great Awakening was influenced by several factors that grew out of the Enlightenment, including advances in navigation tools, the printing press, and vaccination against diseases. The scientific work of Sir Isaac Newton, along with the writing of John Locke, also played an important role in explaining how the world worked.

These advancements and changes challenged traditional beliefs, which were perpetuated by the clergymen and monarchs. The Enlightenment contributed to a growing dissatisfaction with the rigid requirements of the Puritans and the Anglican Church, leading to a decline in church attendance and overall interest in religion.

Leaders of the Great Awakening

Key figures in the First Great Awakening included Jonathan Edwards, whose powerful sermons emphasized human sinfulness and the need for repentance, and George Whitefield, an Anglican minister known for his charismatic preaching style and ability to draw large crowds.

Solomon Stoddard, a Puritan Congregational minister from Northampton, Massachusetts, and Theodore Frelinghuysen, a German Reformist minister from New Jersey , also held revivals that helped start the movement. Gilbert Tennent was another leader. He was a Presbyterian who was close to both Frelinghuysen and Whitefield.

Sermons and Revivals

Notable events included Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” which vividly portrayed the consequences of sin, and George Whitefield’s extensive preaching tours that attracted thousands of listeners. 

Large-scale revivals and conversions were common, as well as the establishment of new colleges focusing on the principles of the First Great Awakening. 

Because sermons and meetings were held outside, they were mobile. They were held in large cities, like Philadelphia, but also in the rural areas throughout the countryside.

Theology of the Great Awakening

The theology of the First Great Awakening centered around the belief in personal salvation through repentance and faith in Christ. It emphasized the concept of spiritual rebirth and the idea that all individuals, regardless of social status, could have a direct and emotional connection with God. 

The movement rejected formalism and encouraged a more intimate and heartfelt religious experience between the individual and God. It also rejected the idea of “predestination,” which was a cornerstone of the Puritan theology.

For many Americans — farmers, merchants, and craftsmen — many who had made their own way in the world, the new theology confirmed what they already believed — they controlled their own destiny.

The Great Awakening Spreads Through the Colonies

The movement initially began in the Middle Colonies, particularly New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where Presbyterian leaders sought to revitalize religious devotion. It then spread to New England and the Southern colonies through itinerant preachers like Whitefield, who traveled extensively, delivering passionate sermons that resonated with diverse audiences.

Impact of the First Great Awakening

Social, cultural, and political impact.

The First Great Awakening fostered a sense of unity among colonists, as people from different colonies and social backgrounds shared a common religious experience. It also challenged existing hierarchies and contributed to the democratization of religion by emphasizing individual spiritual experiences. The revival’s emphasis on self-determination and personal transformation also had lasting impacts on political and cultural attitudes.

Changes to the Religious Landscape in Colonial America

The First Great Awakening marked a departure from the religious complacency of the time. It brought about a surge in religious enthusiasm, prompting individuals to seek personal connections with God beyond the confines of established churches. This led to increased church attendance, conversions, and the rise of new denominations.

New Religious Denominations 

The movement led to the growth of new religious denominations, such as Methodism and Baptism, which prioritized individual spiritual experiences and rejected rigid institutionalism. Existing denominations also experienced revitalization and growth as a result of increased conversions and renewed interest in religious matters.

Ideology of the American Revolution

The First Great Awakening encouraged individuals to think independently and challenged the traditional authority of established religious institutions. This newfound sense of personal agency extended to political and social matters, laying the groundwork for the revolutionary spirit. The emphasis on spiritual equality and individual connection with God also contributed to evolving notions of democracy and individual rights.

Timeline of the First Great Awakening

Early 18th Century — Colonial America sees a decline in religious dedication as the Enlightenment challenges traditional beliefs, and churches become more formalized and institutionalized.

1720s —  Presbyterian leaders in New Jersey and Pennsylvania initiate efforts to revitalize religious devotion, leading to the establishment of the “log college,” which later becomes Princeton University.

1730s–1740s — The First Great Awakening sweeps through the American Colonies, emphasizing personal salvation, an emotional connection with God, and the rejection of formalism.

1739–1740 — George Whitefield arrives in Georgia and embarks on a preaching tour along the Atlantic Coast, attracting large crowds with his charismatic and theatrical sermons.

1741 — Jonathan Edwards delivers his famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” vividly depicting the consequences of sin and urging repentance by the members of his congregation.

Mid-18th Century —  The First Great Awakening fosters unity among colonists, challenges social hierarchies, and democratizes religion by emphasizing individual spiritual experiences.

1750s — The fervor of the First Great Awakening begins to wane by the mid-18th century, as other cultural and intellectual shifts take hold.

Late 18th Century — The First Great Awakening’s emphasis on personal transformation, individual agency, and emotional spirituality leaves a lasting impact on American religious identity and culture.

Why was the First Great Awakening Significant?

The First Great Awakening is important to United States history because it transformed the religious landscape in the 13 Original Colonies. It spurred the establishment of new denominations while emphasizing the ability of individuals to have a say in their destiny, establishing the concept of self-government among Americans.

First Great Awakening APUSH Notes and Study Guide

Use the following links and videos to study the Colonial Era, the New England Colonies , the Middle Colonies , and the Southern Colonies for the AP US History Exam. Also, be sure to look at our Guide to the AP US History Exam .

First Great Awakening APUSH Definition

The First Great Awakening was a period of religious revival that took place in the American Colonies in the 18th century. The movement, which was characterized by emotional preaching and conversions, had a significant impact on the religious landscape of the colonies and played a role in the development of Protestant denominations in the United States and a common American identity. It was led by ministers such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, who were known for their powerful and emotional sermons.

First Great Awakening Video for APUSH Notes

Religion in America — Related Terms and Definitions for APUSH Study

The following Terms and Definitions are related to the First Great Awakening and will help provide a deeper understanding of the subject for AP US History studies.

Act of Toleration — The Act of Toleration was a law passed in Maryland in 1649 that granted religious freedom to all Christians living in the colony. The act was a response to the religious conflict that had arisen in the colony, which was originally founded as a haven for Catholics. The act stated that all Christians, including Catholics, Protestants, and Quakers, were allowed to worship freely and were exempt from persecution. The Act of Toleration was one of the first laws in the English colonies to grant religious freedom and was an important precedent for the development of religious toleration in the United States.

Roger Williams — Roger Williams was a Puritan minister and founder of the colony of Rhode Island . He was a strong advocate for religious freedom and believed that the Church of England, which was the official church in the colonies, had no right to impose its beliefs on others. Williams was expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635 for his beliefs and founded the settlement of Providence, which later became the colony of Rhode Island. Williams also played a key role in the establishment of the Baptist Church in America.

Rhode Island — Rhode Island is a state located in the northeastern United States. It was founded in the early 17th century by Roger Williams, a Puritan minister who believed in religious freedom. The colony, which was initially called Providence, was established as a haven for people of all religious beliefs and became known for its religious tolerance and diversity. Rhode Island was one of the original 13 colonies and played a key role in the development of the United States.

Cotton Mather — Cotton Mather was a Puritan minister and scholar who played a significant role in the early history of the English colonies in North America. Mather was a prolific writer and was known for his work on theology, science, and history. He was also involved in the Salem Witch Trials and was a strong advocate for the use of smallpox inoculation to prevent the spread of the disease.

Anne Hutchinson — Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan religious leader who is best known for her role in the Antinomian Controversy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Hutchinson was a strong advocate for religious freedom and believed that individuals should be free to interpret the Bible for themselves. She also believed that salvation was a matter of faith, not good works, which was at odds with the beliefs of the Puritan leaders in Massachusetts. Hutchinson was eventually excommunicated from the church and was forced to leave the colony.

Antinomianism — Antinomianism is a belief that Christians are not bound by moral laws or rules, but are saved by faith alone. The belief was held by some members of the Puritan community in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, including Anne Hutchinson, who was excommunicated for her antinomian beliefs. The belief was seen as a threat to the authority of the church and the social order in the colony, and those who held these beliefs were often ostracized or punished.

Halfway Covenant — The Halfway Covenant was a policy adopted by the Puritan church in the late 17th century in response to the decline in religious piety among its members. The policy allowed people who were not fully converted, or “halfway saints,” to participate in certain church functions, such as baptism, but not in others, such as communion. The Halfway Covenant was seen as a way to encourage more people to become fully converted, but it was also controversial because it allowed people who were not fully committed to the church to participate in its rituals.

Quakers — Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, is a Christian denomination founded in the 17th century by George Fox. Quakers believe in the “inner light,” or the presence of God within each individual, and place a strong emphasis on social justice and equality. They are known for their commitment to nonviolence and their refusal to take oaths. Quakers played a significant role in the abolition of slavery and were instrumental in the development of the American prison system.

William Penn — William Penn was an English Quaker and the founder of the Province of Pennsylvania , which later became the state of Pennsylvania. Penn was granted a charter by King Charles II in 1681 to establish a colony in the New World as a haven for Quakers and other religious minorities. Penn also played a key role in the development of the concept of religious freedom in the colonies and was instrumental in the passage of the Charter of Liberties, which granted religious freedom to all inhabitants of the colony.

Holy Experiment — The Holy Experiment was a term used to describe the founding of the Province of Pennsylvania by William Penn in the late 17th century. Penn established the colony as a haven for Quakers and other religious minorities and implemented a policy of religious tolerance and freedom. The colony became known as the “Holy Experiment” because it was seen as a test of the idea that a society based on religious freedom and tolerance could succeed.

Charter of Liberties (1701) — The Charter of Liberties, also known as the Charter of Privileges, was a document issued by William Penn in 1701 that outlined the rights and privileges of the inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania. The charter granted religious freedom to all inhabitants of the colony, regardless of their faith, and established a system of representative government. The Charter of Liberties was one of the first documents in the English colonies to guarantee religious freedom and was an important precedent for the development of religious toleration in the United States.

Religious Toleration — Religious toleration is the principle that individuals should be free to practice their own religion without interference from the state or from other individuals. The concept of religious toleration developed in the early modern period as a response to religious conflicts and persecution. It became more widely accepted in the English colonies in the late 17th and early 18th centuries and played a significant role in the development of religious freedom in the United States.

Established Church — An established church is a state-supported church that has a privileged legal status and is recognized as the official church of a particular state or region. In the English colonies, the established church was typically the Church of England, although other denominations, such as the Congregational Church in New England, also had established status in some areas. The concept of an established church was controversial, as it gave the state a role in religious matters and often led to persecution of minority religious groups.

Jonathan Edwards — Jonathan Edwards was a Puritan minister and theologian who played a key role in the First Great Awakening. Edwards was known for his powerful and emotional preaching, which was focused on the idea of the depravity of human nature and the need for conversion. He was also a leading figure in the development of the Calvinist theology that was dominant in the early American colonies.

George Whitefield — George Whitefield was an Anglican minister who played a key role in the First Great Awakening. Whitefield was known for his powerful and emotional preaching style and was one of the first ministers to use the new medium of the printed sermon to spread his message. He traveled extensively throughout the colonies, preaching to large crowds and helping to spark the revival known as the First Great Awakening.

Sectarian — Sectarian refers to a narrow or exclusive focus on the beliefs and practices of a particular religious sect or denomination. Sectarianism is often characterized by a lack of tolerance or acceptance of other religious beliefs and practices and can lead to conflicts and divisions within a society.

Non-sectarian — Non-sectarian refers to an approach or organization that is not affiliated with or limited to any particular religious sect or denomination. Non-sectarian institutions, such as schools or hospitals, are open to people of all religious beliefs and do not promote or prioritize any one particular faith. Non-sectarianism is often associated with a commitment to inclusivity and diversity and is often contrasted with sectarianism, which is characterized by a narrow or exclusive focus on the beliefs and practices of a particular religious sect or denomination.

• Written by Randal Rust

• Get Started

Learning Lab Collections

• Collections
• Assignments

My Learning Lab:

Forgot my password.

Please provide your account's email address and we will e-mail you instructions to reset your password. For assistance changing the password for a child account, please contact us

You are about to leave Smithsonian Learning Lab.

Your browser is not compatible with site. do you still want to continue.

Visit the new and improved Hamilton Education Program website

• AP US History Study Guide
• History U: Courses for High School Students
• History School: Summer Enrichment
• Lesson Plans
• Classroom Resources
• Spotlights on Primary Sources
• Professional Development (Academic Year)
• Professional Development (Summer)
• Book Breaks
• Inside the Vault
• Self-Paced Courses
• Browse All Resources
• Search by Issue
• Search by Essay
• Become a Member (Free)
• Monthly Offer (Free for Members)
• Program Information
• Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Applying and Enrolling
• Eligibility (In-Person)
• EduHam Online
• Hamilton Cast Read Alongs
• Official Website
• Press Coverage
• Veterans Legacy Program
• The Declaration at 250
• Black Lives in the Founding Era
• Celebrating American Historical Holidays
• Browse All Programs
• Donate Items to the Collection
• Search Our Catalog
• Research Guides
• Rights and Reproductions
• See Our Documents on Display
• Bring an Exhibition to Your Organization
• Interactive Exhibitions Online
• About the Transcription Program
• Civil War Letters
• Founding Era Newspapers
• College Fellowships in American History
• Scholarly Fellowship Program
• Richard Gilder History Prize
• David McCullough Essay Prize
• Affiliate School Scholarships
• Nominate a Teacher
• State Winners
• National Winners
• Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize
• Gilder Lehrman Military History Prize
• George Washington Prize
• Frederick Douglass Book Prize
• Our Mission and History
• Annual Report
• Contact Information
• Student Advisory Council
• Teacher Advisory Council
• Board of Trustees
• Remembering Richard Gilder
• President's Council
• Scholarly Advisory Board
• Internships
• Our Partners
• Press Releases

Period 4: 1800–1848 (AP US History)

Period 4: 1800-1848.

The new republic struggled to define and extend democratic ideals in the face of rapid economic, territorial, and demographic changes. Topics may include:

The Rise of Political Parties

American foreign policy, innovations in technology, agriculture, and business, debates about federal power, the second great awakening, reform movements, the experience of african americans.

Image Source : A detail from The Times , a lithograph by Edward Williams Clay and Henry R. Robinson, printed in New York, 1837. (Library of Congress)

10–17% Exam Weighting

Resources by Period:

• Period 1: 1491–1607
• Period 2: 1607–1754
• Period 3: 1754–1800
• Period 4: 1800–1848
• Period 5: 1844–1877
• Period 6: 1865–1898
• Period 7: 1890–1945
• Period 8: 1945–1980
• Period 9: 1980–Present

Key Concepts

4.1 : The United States began to develop a modern democracy and celebrated a new national culture, while Americans sought to define the nation’s democratic ideals and change their society and institutions to match them.

4.2 : Innovations in technology, agriculture, and commerce powerfully accelerated the American economy, precipitating profound changes to U.S. society and to national and regional identities.

4.3 : The U.S. interest in increasing foreign trade and expanding its national borders shaped the nation’s foreign policy and spurred government and private initiatives.

The Presidential Election of 1800

By joanne b. freeman.

Read about the drama and legacies of the tied presidential election of 1800.

Adams v. Jackson: The Election of 1824

By edward g. lengel.

Learn about the contest between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson and the "corrupt bargain."

The Rise and Fall of the Whig Party

By michael f. holt.

Watch a discussion of the American Whig Party.

Andrew Jackson’s Shifting Legacy

By daniel feller.

Explore the ever-changing legacy of Andrew Jackson.

The Battle of the Thames

Woodcut depicting different stages of the battle in a single view

• Primary Source

Jefferson on British aggression

Jefferson defends American nationalism after the War of 1812

The Monroe Doctrine

Monroe declaring the Western Hemisphere closed to European encroachment

A map of the Louisiana Territory

Map depicting Lewis and Clark's trek across western North America

A plea to defend the Alamo

Letter to Texans from the Alamo stating that "I shall never surrender nor retreat"

Texas Declaration of Independence

Formal declaration written from Washington-on-the-Brazos

Photography in Nineteenth-Century America

By martha a. sandweiss.

Learn about the arrival of photography from France in 1839.

Medical Advances in Nineteenth-Century America

By bert hansen.

Read about the "birthday" of modern medicine in America.

Technology of the 1800s

By brent d. glass.

Read about the links between expansion and invention in an emerging democracy.

Lowell Mill Girls and the factory system

Opposing views of the life of factory workers in Lowell, Massachusetts

The US Banking System

By richard sylla.

Read about the emergence of the banking industry in the United States.

The Rise of an American Institution: The Stock Market

By brian murphy.

Read about the historical context of the emergence of the stock market.

The New Nation, 1783–1815

By alan taylor .

Timeline of the New Nation (1783–1815) and essay explaining the early development of the US.

Thomas Jefferson’s opposition to the Federalists

A letter to David Howell discussing Jefferson's opposition to the Federalist Party

Indian Removal

By theda perdue.

Read about Native American responses to political pressures and their subsequent removal.

Andrew Jackson and the Constitution

By matthew warshauer.

Gain an understanding of Jackson as "a most law-defying, law-obeying citizen."

Davy Crockett on the removal of the Cherokees

Davy Crockett opposing the removal of Cherokee from their lands

Andrew Jackson to the Cherokee Tribe

Jackson's circular supporting removal of the Cherokee westward

Richard Allen and Jarena Lee

By margaret washington.

Read about the role of religion in the lives of early nineteenth-century African Americans.

Transcendentalism and Social Reform

By philip f. gura.

Learn about Transcendentalism's roots in American Christian communities.

Sylvester Graham and Antebellum Diet Reform

By cindi lobel.

Learn about the connection between diet reform and the religious revivals in the United States.

National Expansion and Reform, 1815–1860

By joyce appleby.

Learn about the political, cultural, and social circumstances surrounding the Second Great Awakening in the young republic.

A Mirror for the Intemperate

Broadside reflecting the temperance movement’s crusade against alcohol consumption

Women and the Early Industrial Revolution

By thomas dublin.

Learn about the impact of the early Industrial Revolution on women's lives and their place in the American story.

Abolition and Antebellum Reform

By ronald g. walters.

Learn about abolitionism in relation to Higginson’s Sisterhood of Reforms.

The Seneca Falls Convention

By judith wellman.

Learn about origins of the national stage for women’s suffrage.

Lydia Maria Child on women’s rights

Editorial and commentaries on women’s rights

The First Age of Reform

Learn about reform movements from roughly 1815 through the Civil War.

Black Women and the Abolition of Slavery

Learn how gender shaped the African American struggle for emancipation.

John Quincy Adams and the Amistad case

Letter from John Quincy Adams agreeing to represent the Amistad captives' petition for freedom before the Supreme Court

The Importance of Frederick Douglass

By david blight.

Learn about Frederick Douglass's emergence as abilitionist, orator, and statesman.

The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family.

By annette gordon-reed.

Examine the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

The Haitian Revolution: A New Vision of Freedom in the Atlantic World

By laurent dubois.

Examine the widely divergent notions of freedom that developed in Haiti and the United States

The horrors of slavery

Broadside and interactive explaining the horrors of enslavement

A Founding Father on the Missouri Compromise

Rufus King's speeches on limiting the expansion of slavery

A northerner’s view of southern slavery

A transplanted Connecticut woman extols life in the South

Nat Turner’s Rebellion

Nelson Allyn's letter about retaliation against African Americans in the context of Turner's rebellion.

Liberian Independence and Black Self-Government

By claude a. clegg iii.

Read about a Black American settler class that sought to rule over a territory primarily populated by indigenous Africans.

American Colonization Society

American Colonization Society's efforts to send America’s free Black population to Africa

The Slave Narratives: A Genre and a Source

Learn about the memoirs of formerly enslaved people.

The Bondwoman's Narrative

By henry louis gates.

Examine one of the first novels written by a formerly enslaved woman.

American History Timeline: 1800-1848

Image citations.

Listed in order of appearance in the sections above

• Marshall, John. Letter to Charles Pinckney, November 22, 1800. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC04996.
• Detroit Publishing Co. John Quincy Adams. Detroit, 1900-1912. Photograph of a painting by John Singleton Copley. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. 
• Bingham, George Caleb. Stump Speaking. New York: Goupil & Co., 1856. Hand-colored engraving. The Gilder Lehrman Institute Institute of American History, GLC04075.
• Lee, Henry. A Vindication of the Character and Public Services of Andrew Jackson. Boston, 1828. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC08500.01.
• Bowen, A. A View of Col. Johnson's Engagement with the Savages (Commanded by Tecumseh) near the Moravian Town, October 5th, 1812 [i.e., 1813]. In Henry Trumbull, History of the Discovery of America ... and Their Most Remarkable Engagements with the Indians. Boston, 1828. Hand-colored woodcut. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC03798.
• Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to James Maury, June 16, 1815. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC09077.
• Everett, Edward. "The Monroe Doctrine." Loyal Publication Society 34. New York, ca. 1863. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01265.12.
• Lewis, Samuel, and Aaron Arrowsmith. Louisiana. s.l, [1805]. Map. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.
• Travis, William B. To the Citizens of Texas. February 28, 1836. San Felipe de Austin, TX. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC03230.02.
• Texas. Unanimous Declaration of Independence by the Delegates of the People of Texas in General Convention, March 2, 1836. San Felipe de Austin: Baker and Bordens, 1836. Broadside. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of America nHistory, GLC02559.
• Plumbe, John. President's House (i.e., White House). Washington DC, ca. 1846. Daguerreotype. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Hinckley, Robert. The First Operation Under Ether. 1882-1893. Oil painting. Boston Medical Library. Image from Center for the History of Medicine, Harvard Countway Library.
• Madison, James, Edmund Pendleton, and US Patent Office. Patent for Matthias Baldwin's combination of the steam whistle and the boiler. May 28, 1846. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00063.
• American Bank Note Company. "Lowell Girls" vignette. ca. 1859-1893. Engraving. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library.
• Miranda. "New York City -- the New York Clearing House." Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 21, 1875. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library.
• Detroit Publishing Co. New York Stock Exchange. New York, 1900-1905. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Green, Valentine, engraver. General Washington. London, 1781. Mezzotint based on a painting by John Trumbull. Library of Congres Prints and Photographs Division.
• Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to David Howell, December 15, 1810. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01027.
• Bethune, John, Surveyor General. A map of that part of Georgia occupied by the Cherokee Indians, taken from an actual survey made during the present year , in pursuance of an act of the general assembly of the state: this interesting tract of country contains four millions three hundred & sixty six thousand five hundred & fifty four acres, many rich gold mines & many delightful situations & though in some parts mountainous, some of the richest land belonging to the state. Milledgeville, Ga.: John Bethune, 1831. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2004633028/.
• King Andrew the First. [New York], 1833. Lithograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• Crockett, David. Letter to Charles Schultz, December 25, 1834. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01162.
• Jackson, Andrew. To the Cherokee Tribe of Indians East of the Mississippi. March 16, 1835. Washington DC. Circular. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC07377.
• Huffy, A., artist, and P. S. Duval. "Mrs. Jarena Lee." In Religious Experience and Journal of Mrs. Jarena Lee. Philadelphia, 1849. Engraving. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. 
• Bridport, Hugh, lithographer, and Alexander Rider, artist. Camp-meeting. ca. 1829. Kennedy & Lucas Lithography. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• National Biscuit Company. "Keeping Quality in the Pantry." In American Cookery 20, no. 1 (June-July 1915). Advertisement. Internet Archive.
• Burbank, J. Maze. Religious Camp Meeting. 1839. Watercolor. Old Dartmouth Historical Society-New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Gift of William F. Havemeyer (187).
• Bowen, Henry. A Mirror for the Intemperate. Boston, 1830. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC08600.
• Highsmith, Carol M, photographer. Looms inside the old Boott Cotton Mill No. 6 in Lowell, Massachusetts. United States Lowell Massachusetts, None. [Between 1980 and 2006] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2011631938/.
• "Principles and Measures: Declaration of the Convention of 'Radical Political Abolitionists,' at Syracuse, June 26th, 27th, and 28th, 1855." Abolition Documents. Number One. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC04717.22.
• Schamer. L. Representative Women. Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1870. Lithograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.  
• Child, Lydia Maria Francis. Letters from New York: Second Series. New York and Boston, 1845. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC06218.
• Whipple, John Adams. Ralph W. Emerson. Boston, ca. 1860. Carte de visite. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC05141.
• Unknown photographer. Sojourner Truth. s.l., 1864. Photograph. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC06391.20.
• Adams, John Quincy. Letter to Roger S. Baldwin, November 11, 1840. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00582.
• My bondage and my freedom. Part I : Life as a slave. Part II : Life as a freeman. By Frederick Douglass with an introduction. By James McCune Smith. Published by Miller, Orton & Mulligan. Includes an engraving of a young Douglass by J. C. Buttre from a daguerreotype. Signed on front free yellow endpaper by Maggie R. Marriott 1 June 1861. My bondage and my freedom. Part I : Life as a slave. Part II : Life as a freeman. By Frederick Douglass with an introduction. By James McCune Smith. The Gilder Lehrman Institute Institute of American History, GLC05820
• The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. "Late residence of Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, Va." New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-258e-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
• Le 1er. Juillet , Toussaint-L'Ouverture, chargés des pouvoirs du peuple d'Haïty et auspices du Tout-puissante, proclame la Gouverneur général, assisté des mandataires légalement convoqués, en présenceet sous les Constitution de la république d'Haïty / lith. de Villain, r. de Sèvres No. 11. Haiti, 1801. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2004669332/.
• Wood, Samuel. Injured Humanity; Being A Representation of What the Unhappy Children of Africa Endure from Those Who Call Themselves Christians. New York, 1805. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC05113.
• King, Rufus. Substance of Two Speeches, Delivered in the Senate of the United States on the Subject of the Missouri Bill. New York, 1819. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02384.
• Hale, Aurelia. Letter to Sarah Hale, June 11, 1821. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC08934.020.
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. "Discovery of Nat Turner" New York Public Library Digital Collections. 
• Griffin, Robert K., 1836?-, Artist. Liberian senate / drawn by Robert K. Griffin, Monrovia. Liberia, ca. 1856. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/96521350/.
• Madison, James, R. R. Gurley, and American Colonization Society. Membership certificate, signed blank. December 1, 1833. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC04675.02.
• Walker, Jonathan. A Picture of Slavery, for Youth. Boston, [184-] . Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
• American Anti-Slavery Almanac. Illustrations of the American anti-slavery almanac for . New York, New York. United States New York, 1840. New York. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2007680126/ .

Stay up to date, and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.

Learn how the Institute impacts history education through our work guiding teachers, energizing students, and supporting research.

AP United States History

Learn all about the course and exam. Already enrolled? Join your class in My AP.

Not a Student?

Go to AP Central for resources for teachers, administrators, and coordinators.

About the Course

How did the United States become THE United States? What happened to the American economy when factories went from being powered by water to powered by coal? Or how have definitions of who is, and who is not, a U.S. citizen changed over time? In AP United States History, you’ll explore and try to answer questions like these, while discussing the ways in which Americans have debated their values, practices, and traditions since even before the country’s founding.

Skills You'll Learn

Evaluating primary and secondary sources

Analyzing the claims, evidence, and reasoning you find in sources

Putting historical developments in context and making connections between them

Coming up with a claim or thesis and explaining and supporting it in writing

Equivalency and Prerequisites

College course equivalent.

A two-semester introductory college course in U.S. history

Recommended Prerequisites

Fri, May 9, 2025

AP U.S. History Exam

This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP United States History Exam.

About the Units

The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.

Course Content

Unit 1: period 1: 1491–1607.

You’ll learn about Native American societies as well as how and why Europeans first explored, and then began to colonize, the Americas.

Topics may include:

• Native American societies before European contact
• European exploration in the New World
• The Columbian Exchange
• Labor, slavery, and caste in the Spanish colonial system
• Cultural interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans

On The Exam

4%–6% of score

Unit 2: Period 2: 1607–1754

You'll study the colonies established in the New World by the Spanish, French, Dutch, and British.

• How different European colonies developed and expanded
• Transatlantic trade
• Interactions between American Indians and Europeans
• Slavery in the British colonies
• Colonial society and culture

6%–8% of score

Unit 3: Period 3: 1754–1800

You'll explore the events that led to the American Revolution and the formation of the United States and examine the early years of the republic.

• The Seven Years’ War
• The American Revolution
• The Articles of Confederation
• The creation and ratification of the Constitution
• Developing an American identity
• Immigration to and migration within America

10%–17% of score

Unit 4: Period 4: 1800–1848

You’ll examine how the young nation developed politically, culturally, and economically in this period.

• The rise of political parties
• American foreign policy
• Innovations in technology, agriculture, and business
• Debates about federal power
• The Second Great Awakening
• Reform movements
• The experience of African Americans

Unit 5: Period 5: 1844–1877

You’ll learn how the nation expanded and you’ll explore the events that led to the secession of Southern states and the Civil War.

• Manifest Destiny
• The Mexican–American War
• Attempts to resolve conflicts over the spread of slavery
• The election of 1860 and Southern secession
• The Civil War
• Reconstruction

Unit 6: Period 6: 1865–1898

You’ll examine the nation’s economic and demographic shifts in this period and their links to cultural and political changes.

• The settlement of the West
• The "New South"
• The rise of industrial capitalism
• Immigration and migration
• Debates about the role of government

Unit 7: Period 7: 1890–1945

You’ll examine America’s changing society and culture and the causes and effects of the global wars and economic meltdown of this period.

• Debates over imperialism
• The Progressive movement
• World War I
• Innovations in communications and technology in the 1920s
• The Great Depression and the New Deal
• World War II
• Postwar diplomacy

Unit 8: Period 8: 1945–1980

You’ll learn about the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States, the growth of various civil rights movements, and the economic, cultural, and political transformations of this period.

• The Cold War and the Red Scare
• America as a world power
• The Vietnam War
• The Great Society
• The African American civil rights movement
• Youth culture of the 1960s

Unit 9: Period 9: 1980–Present

You’ll learn about the advance of political conservatism, developments in science and technology, and demographic shifts that had major cultural and political consequences in this period.

• Reagan and conservatism
• The end of the Cold War
• Shifts in the economy
• Migration and immigration
• Challenges of the 21st century

Credit and Placement

Search AP Credit Policies

Find colleges that grant credit and/or placement for AP Exam scores in this and other AP courses.

Course Resources

Ap classroom resources.

Once you join your AP class section online, you’ll be able to access AP Daily videos, any assignments from your teacher, and your assignment results in AP Classroom. Sign in to access them.

• Go to AP Classroom

United States History Reading Study Skills

Review these tips to help you better understand and analyze the material you’ll read in this course.

United States History Writing Study Skills

Read these suggestions for writing a good essay, such as one you’d write as a response to a document-based question or other free-response question on the exam.

AP U.S. History Course and Exam Description

This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and the AP Program in general.

See Where AP Can Take You

AP United States History can lead to a wide range of careers and college majors

Additional Information