AP US History Summer Assignment 2012-2013

AP US History Summer Assignment 2012-2013

Mr. Krumel (robert.krumel@cmcss.net)

Montgomery Central High School

            Welcome to Advanced Placement United States History.  You are about to begin a rigorous and challenging study of the history of our great country.  You can expect to read and write extensively this year.  Because our time together in class is limited and extremely valuable, you will be required to go ahead and begin your study this summer.

            You will be assigned our textbook The American Pageant: Thirteenth Edition and its related Guidebook: A Manual for Students (think workbook) before you leave school this May.  The workbook is yours to write in.  You will need to see Mrs. Watson in Bookkeeping to pick up your these materials.  To be successful this year in class and on the AP test in May 2013 you will need to become very familiar with both books.

            Good luck on your assignments.  If you have any questions or need guidance, please send me an email.  I will be checking it frequently this summer.

Assignment #1: Outline Chapters 1-4

            It is vital that college-bound students practice the skills of identifying key information in a given text and the ability to organize that information effectively.  The AP US History test is very thorough and you must have a clear understanding of all historical themes covered in your textbook.  To that end, your first assignment is to create detailed outlines of Chapters 1-4 from The American Pageant.  These outlines must be done by the first full day of school.  You may outline in any format that is comfortable to you, but you need to be thorough.

Assignment #2: Multiple-Choice Review of Chapters 1-4

            A major portion of the AP US History test consists of multiple choice questions designed to assess your knowledge of American history.  To practice this task your second assignment is to answer the multiple choice questions in the Guidebook (workbook) for Chapters 1-4.  You will have 15 questions to answer per chapter for a total of 60.  These need to be answered correctly by the first day of school.  At some point during the first week of school you will be taking a test that I will create by selecting questions from each chapter.

Assignment #3: Memorize our Presidents

            A common method of organizing information in American history is the use of the American presidents as “compartments” into which we can classify events and themes.  As such, it is vital that you learn the correct order in which our presidents have served.  Your third assignment is to memorize all 44 of our presidents in the correct order.  Note: Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms so he counts twice.  You will have a test over this list early in the first week of school.

Assignment #4: Learn US Geography

            Much of the United States’ history has been determined by its geography.  To fully understand the themes and events we will cover this year it is critical for you to know the locations of major geographical features.  Your fourth assignment is to memorize the correct locations of the following geographical features.  You will be tested over this information early in the first week of school.

·      all 50 states

·      Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

·      Gulf of Mexico

·      the Great Lakes

Assignment #5: Flash Cards

            You must first know your history in order to effectively write about history and writing makes up about half of your AP test next May.  To be successful on that test you will need to draw on your knowledge of thousands of different people, places, and events.  A constant review of this information is vital to keeping things organized in your head.  A common method of review is the flashcard.  Your fifth assignment is to make flashcards for the items below.  Write the term on one side and a thorough identification on the other.  The information can be found in Chapters 1-4 of your textbook.  You must present these flashcards on the first full day of school for a grade.

1. land bridge
2. Mound Builders
3. Hiawatha
4. caravel
5. Ferdinand and Isabella
6. Christopher Columbus
7. Columbian Exchange
8. conquistadores
9. Francisco Pizarro
10. encomienda
11. Hernán Cortes
12. mestizos
13. Father Junipero Serra
14. Jamestown
15. Roanoke Colony
16. Elizabeth I
17. Virginia Company
18. Powhatan
19. Lord De La Warr
20. John Rolfe
21. House of Burgesses
22. Lord Baltimore
23. Barbados slave code
24. James Oglethorpe
25. Iroquois Confederacy
26. Martin Luther
27. John Calvin
28. predestination
29. Puritans
30. Anglicans
31. Separatists
32. Mayflower Compact
33. William Bradford
34. Great English Migration
35. Massachusetts Bay Colony
36. Anne Hutchinson
37. Roger Williams
38. Wampanoag Indians
39. Pequot War
40. King Philip’s War
41. Charles II
42. Dominion of New England
43. Sir Edmund Andros
44. Glorious Revolution
45. salutary neglect
46. New Netherland
47. New Amsterdam
48. Peter Stuyvesant
49. Quakers
50. William Penn
51. tobacco
52. indentured servants
53. Bacon’s Rebellion
54. middle passage
55. slave codes
56. Gullah
57. Stono Rebellion
58. FFVs
59. midwifery
60. Harvard College
61. Half-Way Covenant
62. Salem Witch Trials

Assignment #6: Ft. Defiance Visit and Clarksville’s Civil War Experience

            History has left behind many reminders of its role in shaping the communities around us.  For your sixth assignment you will be required to visit one such site in Clarksville, Ft. Defiance.  Your first task is to tour the grounds and interpretive center at Fr. Defiance.  As you tour the site read over all of the information that is presented to you.  You may want to take notes as well as you have an assignment to complete about your visit. 

            In a short handwritten essay (around 2 pages) briefly describe how the Civil War affected Clarksville.  Focus on the war’s effects on the people of our town.  The exhibits in the interpretive center will be especially helpful for this assignment.  As proof of your visit to Ft. Defiance, you will be required to pick up a brochure about the site from the front desk in the interpretive center.  Have the museum attendant sign and date the front of your brochure.  Just tell them your teacher needs a signature as proof of your visit.

            Your short essay and brochure is due on the first full day of school.  See http://www.fortdefianceclarksville.com/index.html for more information about Ft. Defiance including directions and operating hours.

Final Reminders and Comments

1.     Due on the first full day of school: outlines, multiple choice questions, flash cards, Ft. Defiance brochure, Clarksville Civil War essay.

2.     Tests to prepare for: Multiple-choice questions from Chapters 1-4, US presidents, and major geographical features.

3.     Watch the news and keep up with national / international events.  History is being made every single day and what happens in the present is almost always connected to something that happened in the past.

4.     A great way to connect yourself (literally) to history is to do research on your genealogy.  It is very likely that you have ancestors who participated in the events we will be studying this year.  Ask your older relatives what life was like when they were your age.  Trust me, they will love to talk about it and you can learn a lot simply by listening.

5.     Taking a trip this summer?  A great way to learn about history is to trace its footsteps across our country.  Read the historical markers that you pass and try to appreciate the roles these sites played in creating our great nation.

6.     Feel free to read past Chapter 4 if you would like.  You will be reading the entire book eventually anyways, so why not get a head start?

7.     Do not procrastinate!  I know it is tempting, but we both know you will regret it in the end, so go ahead and get started now.

8.     If you need assistance or guidance with your summer assignments, please email me and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

9.     Enjoy your summer!  Next year is going to be demanding, so take some time this summer to relax and visit with friends and family.