#AP US History Study Guide: 1890-1945 🚀

Hey there! Let's get you prepped and confident for your AP US History exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource for the period between 1890 and 1945, focusing on the key themes and trends you need to know. Let's dive in!

#1. Economic Transformation 💰

#1.1. Rise of the US Economy

- **GDP Growth:** The US became a major global importer and exporter. - **Post-WWI Boom:** US economic dominance peaked post-WWII due to war production. - **Urbanization:** More people moved to cities, driving industrial growth and changing social structures. - **Industrialization:** Factories boomed, leading to mass production and a consumer culture.

#1.2. Challenges and Responses

• Progressive Era: Reformers tried to fix the problems caused by industrialization.
• The Great Depression: A major economic downturn that challenged the US and led to new government solutions.

#2. Technological and Cultural Shifts 🚗📻

#2.1. Technological Advancements

- **Consumer Culture:** The US shifted towards mass consumption, with more goods being bought than made at home. - **Automobiles:** The car revolutionized transportation and led to suburban growth. - **Radios:** Created a shared national culture through mass communication.

The Ford Model T, a symbol of early 20th-century mass production.

#2.2. Migration Patterns

• Suburbanization: People moved from cities to suburbs, facilitated by cars.
• Westward and Southward Migration: Internal migration within the US, especially towards the West Coast.
• Immigration: Increased immigration from China, Japan, and Eastern Europe.

#3. Foreign Policy Evolution 🌍

#3.1. From Isolationism to Global Power

- **Early Isolationism:** Initially, the US was mostly uninvolved in global events, focusing on trade. - **Colonialism:** The US became more involved in overseas territories, especially in the Pacific and Latin America. - **Fear of Socialism/Communism:** Led to distrust of foreigners and increased interventionist policies.

The Spanish-American War marked the beginning of American imperialism.

#3.2. World Wars and Global Engagement

• WWI & WWII: US involvement in both wars raised questions about its role in world affairs.
• Post-WWII: The US became heavily involved in global affairs, seeing it as crucial for national security and global stability.

#4. Social Movements and Change ✊

#4.1. Women's Rights

• Suffrage Movement: Women actively campaigned for the right to vote.
• Feminist Activism: Many feminists were involved in broader reform movements.
• Temperance: The movement to ban alcohol was a significant issue.

#4.2. African American Civil Rights

• Post-War Mobilization: African Americans, especially veterans, demanded equal rights and opportunities.
• Community Organizing: They mobilized their communities to fight for equality.

#5. Timeline of Key Events 🗓️

• 1898: Spanish-American War begins American imperialism.
• 1917: US enters World War I; Wilson’s Fourteen Points.
• 1918: WWI ends.
• 1919: First Red Scare; Red Summer; Prohibition.
• 1920: 19th Amendment (women's suffrage); Treaty of Versailles not ratified.
• 1929: Stock Market Crash; start of the Great Depression.
• 1933: FDR inaugurated; New Deal begins.
• 1941: Pearl Harbor; US enters WWII; Great Depression ends.

#6. Major Trends (1890-1945) 📈

• Urbanization: The US became more urban than rural in the 1920s.
• Industrialization: The US economy shifted from agriculture to industry, boosted by WWI & WWII.

- **Imperialism:** The Spanish-American War marked the beginning of American imperialism. - **Progressive Reforms:** Movements aimed to address social and political issues. - **New Deal:** FDR's programs addressed the Great Depression through government intervention. - **Westward Migration:** Americans moved westward, especially to the West Coast. - **Civil Rights:** Women and people of color made significant gains, especially through WWII service.

#7. Final Exam Focus 🎯

#7.1. High-Priority Topics

• Economic Transformation: Understand the causes and effects of industrialization and the Great Depression.
• Foreign Policy: Know the shift from isolationism to global engagement, especially regarding WWI and WWII.
• Social Movements: Be familiar with the women's suffrage and civil rights movements.
• Key Legislation: Understand the impact of the New Deal programs.

#7.2. Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice: Focus on cause-and-effect relationships and the impact of specific events.
• Short Answer Questions (SAQs): Practice concise explanations of key concepts and events.
• Free Response Questions (FRQs): Focus on analyzing historical trends and providing evidence-based arguments.

#8. Practice Questions

Practice Question

#8.1. Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the Progressive movement? (A) To promote laissez-faire economics (B) To expand overseas territories (C) To address social and political problems caused by industrialization (D) To limit immigration to the United States

2. The New Deal programs of the 1930s were primarily a response to which of the following conditions? (A) The rise of communism in Europe (B) The economic hardship of the Great Depression (C) The growing threat of fascism (D) The need to expand American influence overseas

3. The shift in American foreign policy from isolationism to interventionism was most directly influenced by which of the following events? (A) The Spanish-American War and World War I (B) The Great Depression and the New Deal (C) The Civil War and Reconstruction (D) The Cold War and the Space Race

#8.2. Free Response Question (FRQ)

Question: Analyze the ways in which the United States changed economically, politically, and socially between 1890 and 1945. Point Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the changes in the US between 1890 and 1945. - Economic Changes (2 points):

  • Discuss the rise of industrialization and its impact on the economy.
  • Describe the effects of the Great Depression and the New Deal.

• Political Changes (2 points):

  • Explain the shift from isolationism to interventionism in foreign policy.
  • Discuss the expansion of government power during the New Deal.

• Social Changes (2 points):

  • Analyze the impact of urbanization and migration.
  • Discuss the women's suffrage and civil rights movements.

• Synthesis (1 point): Connect the changes in the US between 1890 and 1945 to a broader historical context, such as the impact of industrialization on other nations or the long-term effects of the New Deal on American society.

Remember, you've got this! Stay calm, trust your preparation, and tackle each question with confidence. Good luck! 🌟