AP U.S History Book 2: The Rise of the Great Nation

AP U.S History Book 2: The Rise of the Great Nation

The AP U.S. History Orange Module, “The Rise of the Great Nation,” thoroughly explores the foundational years that shaped the United States. Covering key historical periods and significant figures, it traces the roots of American exceptionalism from the colonial era, examining settler motivations, interactions with indigenous peoples, and the American Revolution’s ideological origins.

Beginning with the colonial era, the module investigates the roots of American exceptionalism, examining the diverse motivations of settlers, the interactions between European colonizers and indigenous peoples, and the emergence of distinct regional identities. The journey through the American Revolution unfolds, highlighting the ideological underpinnings of independence, the challenges faced by the fledgling nation, and the establishment of the United States Constitution.

The module scrutinizes the early republic, analyzing the presidencies of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, as well as the tensions between federalists and anti-federalists. It also explores the transformative Market Revolution, including industrialization’s rise and its social and economic impacts.

The antebellum era is a central focus, investigating slavery, sectionalism, and the compromises that attempted to maintain the balance between slave and free states. This leads to the Civil War, and the module examines its consequences, including Reconstruction efforts and the struggle for civil rights.

Throughout, students engage with primary sources, develop critical thinking skills, and draw connections between historical events and contemporary issues. By the module’s end, students will have a profound understanding of the forces that propelled the United States from an experiment in self-governance to a global power.