History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877

Knowledge and Skills Required

Questions on the History of the United States I exam require test takers to demonstrate one or more of the following abilities.

• Identify and describe historical phenomena
• Analyze and interpret historical phenomena
• Compare and contrast historical phenomena

The subject matter of the History of the United States I exam is drawn from the following topics. The percentages next to the main topics indicate the approximate percentage of exam questions on that topic.

Topical Specifications

• 25% Political institutions, political developments, and public policy
• 25% Social developments
• 15% Economic developments
• 20% Cultural and intellectual developments
• 15% Diplomacy and transnational interactions

Chronological Specifications

• 30% 1500–1789
• 70% 1790–1877

The following themes are reflected in a comprehensive introductory survey course:

• The nature of indigenous societies in the Americas. The theme includes a small number of questions on the Americas before 1500.
• The impact of European discovery and colonization upon indigenous societies. The focus is placed on the British colonies, but this theme includes a small number of questions on Spanish, French, and Dutch colonization, and the Columbian Exchange.
• The origins and nature of slavery and resistance to it
• Immigration and the history of ethnic minorities
• The history of women, changing gender roles, and family structures
• The development and character of colonial societies
• British relations with the Atlantic colonies of North America
• The changing role of religion in American society
• The causes, events, and consequences of the American Revolution
• The content of the Constitution and its amendments, and their interpretation by the United States Supreme Court
• The development and expansion of participatory democracy
• The growth of and changes in political parties
• The changing role of government in American life
• The intellectual and political expressions of nationalism
• Major movements and individual figures in the history of American literature, art and popular culture
• Abolitionism and reform movements
• Long-term demographic trends (immigration and internal migration)
• The motivations for and character of American expansionism
• The process of economic growth and development
• The causes and consequences of conflicts with Native Americans, the Seven Years’ War, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War and Reconstruction
•  The role of the environment in United States history

Score Information

ACE Recommendation for History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877

Note: Each institution reserves the right to set its own credit-granting policy, which may differ from the American Council on Education (ACE). Contact your college to find out the score required for credit and the number of credit hours granted.