APUSH 2016 SUMMER ASSIGNEMNT
Congratulations on your decision to take AP US History; this is a very rigorous and challenging course that is
meant to be an equivalent of an introductory college course in United States History. In accordance with this,
you will be expected to complete a small amount of summer work to better prepare you for the course.
Your summer assignment is broken down into two sections, the first a series of short answer questions which
asks you to utilize important historical thinking skills. The second, a multiple choice pre-test designed to assess
your general knowledge of US history. For the written portion please type, double spaced, your answers on a
separate sheet; for the multiple choice portion you may write on the test itself.
You will not be graded on the number correct for the multiple choice portion; it is simply a means to evaluate
what you already know (no pressure). That being written, please put forth your best effort.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT
An important portion of this class is the ability to utilize historical thinking skills; there are several skills which
we will especially focus on: Causation, Comparison, Continuity & Change, Periodization, and Synthesis. This
portion of the summer assignment is intended to introduce you to, and ask you to briefly work with, each of
these skills with content that you are already familiar with. For each of the four sections below answer the
question (1-2 paragraphs) on a separate paper utilizing the skill as it is describes; more importantly analyze
WHY the action that the thinking skill describes happened. For example, if you are writing a comparison
analyze why there is a similarity, if it is causation analyze why one event caused another, etc. Also, include a
synthesis point for EACH section.
Both assignments are due on the first day of school – August 30, 2016
Causation: Is the ability to identify, analyze, and evaluate the relationship between many historical events as
both cause and effect. Being able to recognize which events have a correlation with evidence of direct
causality as opposed to coincidental relationship is important; being able to explain why an event caused, or
was caused, by another is even more important.
CAUSATION QUESTION: Analyze the cause and effects of the Age of Exploration on both European and African
populations.
Comparison: Comparison is the ability to describe, compare, contrast, and evaluate two or more historical
events. It involves the ability to cite relevant similarities and differences between differing historical events;
and study these events from multiple perspectives. More importantly, in involves the skill to analyze why
these events were similar or different.
COMPARISON QUESTION: Compare and contrast the exploration goals of Britain, France, and Spain in regards
to their interaction with the New World, during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Continuity & Change: Is the ability to recognize, analyze, and evaluate patterns over longer periods of time,
often involving numerous events. As with comparison, this skill asks you to find similarities or differences with
historical events; however here you will be looking at multiple events, often over longer stretches of time, and
trying to understand why these patterns emerge or why they change.
CONTINUITY & CHANGE QUESTION: To what extent did the ideals of the Enlightenment contribute to
maintaining continuity as well as fostering change in the cultural and political norms of 17 th century Western
society?
Periodization: Is the ability to evaluate, organize, and classify history into logical blocks or time periods.
Periods in history are often identified as starting and ending with significant turning points (such as the start or
end of a war). Being able to identify specific periods and the events that created them is an important skill,
more important though is the ability to discern and disseminate why period begin and end where they do.
PERIODIZATION QUESTION: Which of the following served as the greatest turning point in the establishment
of Britain as the most powerful European nation: The Spanish Armada, Wars of Religion, English Civil War?
Synthesis: Synthesis is the ability to fuse knowledge and methods from diverse sources and disciplines to
develop a persuasive understanding of the past; as well as working with contradictory evidence to develop a
broader interpretation of history. Synthesis is best displayed by connecting a specific historical event to
something that is unrelated (art, literature, historical events from a different time period, information from
other areas of study). An example of this might include one person writing an essay about cultural changes
brought on during the scientific revolution and then including a synthesis point relating it to cultural changes
brought on post WWI.
For this assignment you will be asked to include one synthesis point for each of your above writings.
PRE-TEST
NAME: __________________________
1) ________
Which of the following best describes the Ecomienda System?
A) an organized series of contacts which helped French Fur traders increase efficiency in dealing with native tribes
B) a repressive paternalism in which Spanish men forced cultural and religious beliefs onto local natives
C) an economic policy in which all gold and silver were to be kept with the parent nation
D) a tactic of guerrilla naval warfare, best exemplified by the successes of John Paul Jones
2) ________
Early French settlers differed from most of their European counterparts in that
A) French settlers often sought to spread their religious (Catholic) beliefs while other Europeans did not
B) France was the only nation who sent many women settlers as well as men
C) both British and Spanish settlers had better relations with natives than the French
D) the French settlers looked more to trade with the Natives than to establish any permanent settlement
3) ________
Which of the following was NOT a stipulation of the Navigation Act of 1660
A) all colonial printed goods were to be stamped and taxed by Britain
B) specific goods, such as tobacco and sugar, could only be shipped to England or another English colony
C)all colonial trade was to be carried solely by British ships
D) any colonial trading vessel was required to have an English Captain
4) ________
The 1st Great Awakening was a time of religious re-birth throughout the colonies and important in that it
A) led to anti-religious protest in New England, primarily by Puritans angered at the ‘new light’ religion
B) led to pro-slavery movements throughout the south, and in response ended slavery in the north
C) represented a growth of enlightenment ideals, and a challenge to traditional authority
D) directly created economic growth in the middle colonies, due to the spread of slave education
5) ________
In what way did the French-Indian War serve as an impetus for the American Revolution?
A) French soldiers and colonists created meaningful bonds, leading the colonists to shift colonial support to France
B) colonial politicians saw realized that virtual representation was no longer existent
C) the war caused a swell in colonial patriotism so that most colonists no longer viewed themselves as British
D) it created a large economic debt for Britain, their attempts to tax colonists to pay off these debts led to conflict
6) ________
Which of the following accomplishments can be attributed to the Ordinances of 1785 and 1787?
A) both established the principle that western lands are the joint property of all the states.
B) they initiated a territorial policy that provided for the orderly creation of new states.
C) they made possible a policy of Native American relations that enabled new western areas to be settled peacefully.
D) each put land into the hands of the actual settler rather than the speculator.
7) ________
The Great Compromise (aka The Connecticut Compromise) during the Constitutional Convention called for
A) a bicameral congress with one house based on population, and another with equal representation
B) slaves in the southern colonies to count as only 3/5 a person towards the population
C) the US to preemptively declare war on France, and limit constitutional rights
D) the creation of the first ten amendments (The Bill of Rights)
8) ________
Which of the following most accurately describes the Panic of 1837?
A) Andrew Jackson was forced to contract credit lines given to cotton farmers following an economic collapse
B) an abundance of credit, and limited specie led to over speculation in cotton and eventual economic downturn
C) southern white farmers began to panic as previously removed natives returned to fight for their land
D) a limited amount of land caused agricultural prices to plummet and eventually 20% unemployment
9) ________
Which of the following incorrectly describes one of the causes of the War of 1812?
A) The Chesapeake incident- In which US naval forces attempted to search a British naval frigate
B) The Embargo Act 1807- prevented all US trading until Britain and France repealed their trading restrictions
C) The Non Intercourse Act- the US would trade with all nations except for Britain and France
D) Macon’s Bill No. 2- the US could trade with either Britain or France, whoever first lifted trade restrictions
10) ________
Which of the following most accurately depicts “The Era of Good Feelings” (1815-1824)
A) it was a period of time of unbridled economic growth, during which the US economy grew non-stop
B) this was a period of time in which many ethnic minorities saw an improvement in quality of life
C) it was a time period in which there was only one major political party, leading to political harmony
D) this was the time when the US population became unified behind the call of Manifest Destiny
11) ________
Which of the following statements about the Erie Canal is not true?
A) it created the most direct pathway for steamboats to reach the Atlantic from the Midwest
B) it reduced shipping costs between many northern cities by over 80%
C) transportation along this waterway was often dangerous and home to drinking and violence
D) it was the most successful artificial waterway in linking the eastern seaboard with western markets
12) ________
Which of the following best describes the views espoused by Alexis de Tocqueville
A) the social and economic repression of immigrants would eventually lead to a violent revolution
B) following the fall of Napoleon France should seek legal recourse to regain the Louisiana Territory
C) US actions during the Oregon Dispute were so heinous that powerful European nations should respond in like
D) American freedom, and religious norms, created a society nearly devoid of social inequality and resentment
13) ________
Which of the following does not accurately depict the American System of Manufacturing
A) it was invented by famous politician Henry Clay
B) it was one of the primary outcomes of the use of interchangeable parts
C) this system of manufacturing was used in less than half of all factories during the Industrial Revolution
D) thanks in part to this change overall productivity increased during the 1840s
14) ________
During the impeachment of Andrew Johnson the charge brought against him was that he
A) refused to carry out Lincoln’s plan for reconstruction
B) unconstitutionally vetoed the Wade-Davis Bill
C) did not adequately fun the Freedman’s Bureau
D) violated the Tenure of Office Act
15) ________
All of the following statements about the Wade-Davis Bill are true EXCEPT
A) ex-slaves were granted financial compensation
B) if ratified the bill would officially abolish slavery
C) Lincoln utilized the pocket veto to defeat it
D) it gave congress the authority to administer reconstruction
16) ________
The Civil War was altered by Grant’s Plan for Total war which called for
A) a high paced more deadly war, where Union forces destroyed southern infrastructure
B) the war to be fought more through naval forces all along the southern seaboard
C) Lincoln and Jefferson Davis to negotiate peace while the war continued on in the South
D) the south to attack Washington DC, and directly target high ranking US officials
17) ________
Which of the following was not a consequence of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?
A) it was deemed that African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in court
B) those caught assisting escaped slaves faced stiff fines and possible prison time
C) the position of slave catcher was created, and several freed blacks were mistakenly taken
D) northern whites were shown a firsthand account of the horrors of slavery
18) ________
Which of the following best describe a primary cause of Abraham Lincoln’s victory in the election of 1860?
A) Lincoln replaced his current Vice President with Southerner Andrew Johnson to help balance the ticket
B) the abolitionist efforts of John Bell, and John Breckenridge further advanced the cause of the Republican party
C) Lincoln’s views on slavery were not well known in the south, thus making him a viable candidate
D) southern voters, and Democrats were divided amongst several third party candidates
19) ________
Anti-immigrant beliefs during the mid 19th century are best represented through the actions of what political party
A) Democrats
B) Republicans
C) Know Nothings
D) Whigs
20) ________
Irreconcilables, and Reservationists had strong feelings concerning
A. native American removal and the Dawes Act
B. the US becoming involved in WWI
C. Woodrow Wilson’s 14-Point Plan
D. the involvement of the US in Latin America
21) ________
In the Platt amendment the US government
A. forced Cuba to accept US imperialist control, and military intervention
B. ended the war with Spain and took over Puerto Rico and Guam
C. declared its intention to move into Mexico and chase down Pancho Villa
D. granted Admiral Mathew Perry permission to invade Japan
22) ________
Which of the following best summarizes the goal of the War Industries Board during WWI
A. to sell and promote the use of war bonds to finance the war effort
B. to quell the increase in labor unions and promote the policy of “Work or Fight”
C. to organize a variety of US industries to produce goods that would best support the war effort
D. to ration out foods and advertise Liberty Gardens, as a means of feeding the soldiers
23) ________
Frederick Jackson Turner’s Frontier Thesis
A. negatively portrayed the US mistreatment of Native Americans over the past decade
B. focused on the disappearance of the frontier west, and served as a call to imperialism
C. discussed how the American frontier had been destroyed by poor environmental practices from mining
D. pointed to civil rights and equal treatment of African Americans as the nation’s next social frontier
24) ________
Which of the following best summarizes the work of Jacob Coxey’s Army
A. they fought alongside US marines during the Panamanian Revolt
B. they served as a precursor to the Salvation Army by promoting social and economic improvement
C. they marched on Washington to protest Congress’s rejection of Populist economic ideals
D. they were created immediately following the Omaha Platform to spread populist propaganda
25) ________
Muckrakers furthered the causes of the Progressive movement by
A. making disparaging remarks about the Republican party during the election.
B. staging large, violent protests in support of Progressive Era goals
C. alerting the public to the social ills and corporate corruption
D. suing large companies and donating their court award to Progressive goals
26) ________
Samuel Gompers, and Mother Jones are both well noted for
A) being successful Populist politicians during the 1890s
B) their work in leading respective workers unions
C) leading the Pullman railway strikes, and helping incite the Haymarket Riot
D) being two of the most well respected Muckrakers of the Progressive Era
27) ________
The “Free Silver” campaign received most of its support from
A) gold miners, who stood to profit from the campaign’s success
B) farmers, who felt a more generous money supply would ease their debt burdens
C) bankers, who had run out of paper currency to invest
D) robber barons, who supported the idea proposed by the populists.
28) ________
Which of the following best describes Republican economic doctrine of the 1920s?
A. A refocus of government economic support to mining, farming and other rural industries.
B. Increased federal income taxes, increased tariffs, less government spending
C. Lower income taxes, less government regulation on business, increased support of consumerism
D. Lower income taxes, and more government regulation of business to decrease consumerism.
29) ________
‘The Great Migration’ of the late 1910s effected 1920s culture in that
A. it led to increased Mexican immigration during the mid1920s in the American Southwest
B. it created large African American communities in northern urban centers, and later the Harlem Renaissance
C. the flapper movement of this period was created as northern and southern cultures combined
D. much of the Republican economic policy that dominated the 1920s was created during this event
30) ________
The writings of author John Steinbeck best depict the lives of which of the following groups?
A. flappers and other women of the 1920s
B. African American artists of the Harlem Renaissance
C. ‘Okies’ and those who were hit hardest by the depression
D. wealthy businessmen and stock traders of the 1930s
31) ________
Which of the following scenarios best describe how the dustbowl of the 1930s was created
A. an increase in farming output, combined with a decrease in demand led to deflation of crop prices
B. large clouds of dust and dirt ruined farms in the Midwest, forcing many farmers to move to California
C. unpaid farming debts for loans on new equipment, combined with the failures of the stock market
D. poor farming techniques, combined with several years of drought to create poor farming conditions
32) ________
US Mobilization for WWII is best represented in which of the following
A. The Revenue Act of 1941 called for an increased reliance on war bonds to finance the war
B. no new GM model cars were made as the War Productions Board took over most US Industries
C. The Lend Lease Act which increased the size of the US military as well as stimulated the economy
D. the actions of Rosie the Riveter, who helped increase the usage of Victory Gardens during WWII
33) ________
Which of the following best explains why the Kellogg-Briand pact failed?
A. many Americans supported the racist policies brought about by executive order 9066
B. the pact contained no provisions for punishing a nation that declared war on another nation
C. though the US publicly denounce imperialism, they still imperialized throughout Latin America
D. the US never ratified the Kellogg-Briand pact, thus it never had any true authority globally
34) ________
The Berlin Airlift was globally seen as a public relations victory for the US in the Cold War, why?
A. the US military was able to assist a trapped people while directly avoiding conflict
B. the United States was able to convince the USSR and East Germany to tear down the Berlin Wall
C. USSR forces killed hundreds of West Berliners which by default led to the US looking good
D. the US soundly defeated the Soviets and East German on the field of battle
35) ________
During The Korean War, US forces continued on the offensive until
A. reaching the Yalu River at the Chinese Korean border, where thousands of Chinese forced them back south
B. President Eisenhower called for a ceasefire effectively ending the war
C. reaching the 38th parallel and restoring the Korean border to its pre-war standing
D. North Korean forces regrouped and launched a second offensive costing Mac Arthur his job
36) ________
The Peace Corps and the Space Race were both examples of what?
A. military programs that came about during Ronald Reagan’s presidency
B. Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society plan which utilized government programs to better society
C. President Kennedy’s trying to win the Cold War by showing American kindness and superiority
D. the successes brought along by Ping Pong politics, and other dealings with China
37) ________
Tragedies at Kent State and Jackson State (1970) epitomized which of the following statements
A. only young Americans (18-25) protested the war in Vietnam, as they were the ones being drafted
B. Cold War interactions between the US and China were strongly protested, yet ultimately a success
C. the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was unconstitutional and led to a number of tragedies in the US
D. many young Americans vehemently protested the war in Vietnam, which often led to violence
38) ________
The Equal Rights Amendment of the 1970s was
A. denounced by the National Organization of Women
B. ratified by congress but not by the states
C. called for in the book The Feminine Mystique
D. ratified by congress but vetoed by the president
39) ________
The ideals of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal were once again rekindled in
A. Ronald Reagan’s Reaganomics, which called for a more streamlined government
B. Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine, which called for increased foreign aid
C. Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, which created government funded social programs
D. John Kennedy’s New Frontier, which challenged people to help out abroad
40) ________
The biggest controversy during Reagan administration was the
A. Iran-Contra Affair: in which Reagan was accused of secretly selling weapons to fund illegal military activity
B. Iran-Contra Affair: in which Reagan negotiated the release of US hostages being held in Iran
C. Lewinsky Scandal: in which Reagan was accused of lying to congress about an affair he had with an intern
D. Contract With America: in which congress shut down for a three week period