AP U.S. History

Free resources that align with your AP U.S. History Curriculum

Washington Crossing the Delaware, Painting by Emanuel Leutze

CFR Education offers a range of free resources that can supplement your AP U.S. History curriculum. Browse articles, timelines, videos, and simulations covering developments that have shaped the United States from c. 1491 to the present.

Skills students learn with CFR Education U.S. History Resources:

putting historical developments into context
making connections between and among historical processes
developing arguments through historical simulations
evaluating and analyzing primary and secondary sources

Unit 1: Period 1 1491-1607

Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
Modern History: Europe Reading	For the past seventy-five-odd years, Europe has largely been at peace.
Modern History: Sub-Saharan Africa Reading	For centuries, sub-Saharan Africa was home to prosperous empires that made groundbreaking advances in architecture, mathematics, and metalworking.

Unit 2: Period 2 1607-1754

Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
What Is the Enlightenment and How Did It Transform Politics? Reading	Explore how calls for liberty, equality, and individual rights caused revolutions around the world, from the American Revolution to the French and Haitian Revolutions.
Modern History: Europe Reading	For the past seventy-five-odd years, Europe has largely been at peace.
Modern History: Sub-Saharan Africa Reading	For centuries, sub-Saharan Africa was home to prosperous empires that made groundbreaking advances in architecture, mathematics, and metalworking.

Unit 3: Period 3 1754-1800

Essential Events Before 1900 Timeline	From the Silk Road and Christopher Columbus to the Ottoman Empire and the Revolutionary War, explore this history timeline covering major moments in global history before the twentieth century.
What Roles Do Congress and the President Play in U.S. Foreign Policy? Reading	What does the Constitution say about foreign policy? In this free resource, explore how the powers of Congress and the president protect and advance the country’s interests abroad.
Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.

Unit 4: Period 4 1800-1848

Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
What Are the Causes and Consequences of Industrialization? Reading	Learn about the Industrial Revolution and how technological innovations from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries continue to shape society today.
Sovereignty and Neutrality in 1807 Mini Simulation	Should the United States remain neutral during the war between France and England? Explore this simulation set in 1807.

Unit 5: Period 5 1844-1877

Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
What Are the Causes and Consequences of Industrialization? Reading	Learn about the Industrial Revolution and how technological innovations from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries continue to shape society today.
Essential Events Before 1900 Timeline	From the Silk Road and Christopher Columbus to the Ottoman Empire and the Revolutionary War, explore this history timeline covering major moments in global history before the twentieth century.
Oregon Boundary Dispute in 1845 Mini Simulation	How should the United States respond to British naval buildup near the Oregon Country? Explore this historical simulation.

Unit 6: Period 6 1865-1898

Essential Events Before 1900 Timeline	From the Silk Road and Christopher Columbus to the Ottoman Empire and the Revolutionary War, explore this history timeline covering major moments in global history before the twentieth century.
U.S. Foreign Policy: East Asia & The Pacific Reading	The United States, a Pacific power itself, has maintained an interest in Asia for more than a century.
Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
What Are the Causes and Consequences of Industrialization? Reading	Learn about the Industrial Revolution and how technological innovations from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries continue to shape society today.

Unit 7: Period 7 1890-1945

U.S. Foreign Policy: East Asia & The Pacific Reading	The United States, a Pacific power itself, has maintained an interest in Asia for more than a century.
Influenza and War in 1918 Mini Simulation	How should the United States address a deadly pandemic during World War I? Explore this historical simulation set in 1918.
Explosion of the USS Maine in 1898 Mini Simulation	How should the United States intervene against Spanish colonial rule in Cuba? Explore this historical simulation set in 1898.
History of U.S. Immigration Policy Video	Explore how the United States has responded to migrants throughout history—from the Chinese Exclusion Act to DACA—and how immigration policy influences the society, economy, and politics of a country.
The Zimmerman Telegram in 1917 Mini Simulation	Should the United States take action against Germany? Explore this historical simulation set in 1917.
Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
Why Did World War I Happen? Reading	In this free resource on World War I, explore the causes and effects of the Great War to understand how the conflict shaped world history.
Why Did World War II Happen? Reading	In this free resource on World War II, understand the causes of World War II and why these issues drove countries back to battle just two decades after World War I.
How Do Countries Decide Whether to Go to War? Video	Learn how balances and imbalances of power contributed to World Wars I and II in this historical video.
Essential Events Between 1900 and 1945 Timeline	Learn how two world wars and other major historical developments from the Spanish-American War to World War II reshaped global affairs in the first half of the twentieth century.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Europe Reading	In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington cautioned the United States to steer clear of foreign entanglements.
Modern History: Europe Reading	For the past seventy-five-odd years, Europe has largely been at peace.

Unit 8: Period 8 1945-1980

Modern History: Europe Reading	For the past seventy-five-odd years, Europe has largely been at peace.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Middle East and North Africa Reading	Since World War II, three main interests—ensuring the free flow of oil from the Gulf, guaranteeing the survival and security of Israel, and limiting the influence of the former Soviet Union—have driven U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.
U.S. Foreign Policy: East Asia & The Pacific Reading	The United States, a Pacific power itself, has maintained an interest in Asia for more than a century.
Cuban Immigration in 1980 Mini Simulation	How should the United States respond to the massive influx of Cuban migrants? Explore this historical simulation set in 1980.
The History of Terrorism and U.S. Counterterrorism Since 1945 Timeline	From the creation of the CIA to the “War on Terror,” learn about the evolution of U.S. counterterrorism policies in this terrorism timeline.
Economic Statecraft: Foreign Assistance Mini Simulation	How should the United States employ foreign aid to help a country in crisis? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
Opposing Communism in 1947 Mini Simulation	How should the United States support Greece in its fight against communist rebels? Explore this simulation set in 1947.
What Is the UN Security Council? Reading	In this free resource, learn more about the United Nations’ most powerful body working to maintain international peace and security. Explore the security council’s failures and successes, and why the UN Security Council’s veto power is so controversial.
Strategic Ambiguity Toward Taiwan Mini Simulation	Should the United States maintain its longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan? Explore this simulation.
How Did Mass Production and Mass Consumption Take Off After World War II? Reading	Discover how consumer goods have become cheap and ubiquitous in the global era.
Korean War in 1950 (NSC) Simulation
Essential Events Since 1945 Timeline	From the Cold War and decolonization to globalization, learn how recent historical developments shaped today’s world.
What Is Soft Power? Reading	From Cold War propaganda to current day pop culture, learn how countries use soft power to influence others without coercion in this free resource.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Europe Reading	In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington cautioned the United States to steer clear of foreign entanglements.

Unit 9: Period 9 1980-present

NATO: The World’s Largest Alliance Timeline	What is NATO? Trace NATO’s history and learn how the organization’s mission has evolved over seventy-five years, from the end of World War II to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
How Do Forces Outside Government Influence Policymaking? Reading	Learn how journalism, social media, public opinion, and lobbies are all a part of American democracy and influence U.S. foreign policy.
What Is Globalization? Video	Explore examples of globalization to understand the benefits and challenges of our increasingly interconnected world in this video.
Unilateralism Versus Multilateralism Reading	What is unilateralism? What is multilateralism? In this free resource on foreign policy, explore why leaders address some challenges independently and others as part of a team.
Drones in Pakistan in 2011 (NSC) Simulation
What Is Migration? Video	Why do people migrate? Understand why migration means different things for individuals, countries, and economies in a globalized world.
What Is Diplomacy? Reading	In this free resource on diplomacy, understand how countries advocate for their national interests through foreign policy.
How a Single Phrase Defined the War on Terror Reading	What is the 2001 AUMF and what does it have to do with 9/11? From the invasion of Afghanistan, to the Iraq War, and more, learn how the United States justified U.S. counterterrorism policy for over two decades.
What Is Monetary Policy? Video	From inflation to interest rates, understand the basics of monetary policy, currencies, and the flow of money in the global economy with this introductory video.
How Did the United States Become a Global Power? Reading	Learn how domestic expansion and three wars—the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II—transformed the United States’ standing in the world.
What Is the Relationship Between Domestic and Foreign Policy? Reading	Explore maps and charts that illustrate how climate change, terrorism, COVID-19, and internet freedom require both international and domestic solutions in an increasingly interconnected world.
Climate Change Adaptations Reading	Explore how eleven countries are adapting to the effects of climate change in this free resource.
What Are Economic Sanctions? Reading	In this free resource on sanctions, learn how countries use punitive economic measures to advance their foreign policy priorities.
Negotiating Ukrainian Security in 1993 Mini Simulation	How should the United States manage dismantling Ukraine's nuclear arsenal while safeguarding against renewed conflict in Europe? Explore this historical simulation set in 1993.
For Migrants, Labels Matter Reading	What is the difference between immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers? Explore how contested definitions of migrants have a profound effect on the rights and protections of people leaving their homes.
How Did the United States Approach the Tiananmen Square Crackdown? Video	In this educational video, learn how idealism and realism shaped U.S. foreign policy following the Chinese government’s massacre at Tiananmen Square in 1989.
The History of Terrorism and U.S. Counterterrorism Since 1945 Timeline	From the creation of the CIA to the “War on Terror,” learn about the evolution of U.S. counterterrorism policies in this terrorism timeline.
Understanding Currencies and Exchange Rates Reading	Supply and demand influence how much a currency is worth. Learn how exchange rates affect producers and consumers.
How Did Mass Production and Mass Consumption Take Off After World War II? Reading	Discover how consumer goods have become cheap and ubiquitous in the global era.
How Can AI Combat Climate Change? Reading	In this free climate change resource, learn how AI is helping countries reduce carbon emissions, but some innovations could ultimately contribute to a warming planet.
Two Hundred Years of Global Communications Timeline	From the printing press to Instagram, technological advances shape how people communicate.
What Is Soft Power? Reading	From Cold War propaganda to current day pop culture, learn how countries use soft power to influence others without coercion in this free resource.
History of U.S. Immigration Policy Video	Explore how the United States has responded to migrants throughout history—from the Chinese Exclusion Act to DACA—and how immigration policy influences the society, economy, and politics of a country.
What Tools Do Foreign Policy-Makers Have at Their Disposal? Video	In this foreign policy video, learn how leaders further their countries’ interests with political, economic, and military tools such as diplomacy, trade, and intelligence.
The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Reading	What is the NPT and how has the treaty influenced the spread of nuclear weapons?
The Global Consequences of Financial Contagion Reading	What caused the Great Recession of 2008? Learn why a financial crisis can spread around the world with our modern globalized economy.
How Did Decolonization Reshape the World? Reading	From India and the Palestinian Territories to Vietnam and Sudan, learn how former colonies sought independence—and how the shadow of colonialism still affects many regions today.
A Global Semiconductor Shortage Reading	Expensive cars? Phone order delays? Learn how today’s globalized supply chain can affect our daily lives by exploring the global semiconductor shortage.
Big in China: The Global Market for Hollywood Movies Reading	Hollywood’s relationship with the Chinese market—and its gatekeepers, Chinese government censors—is changing the way movies are made and promoted.
What Is Nation-Building? Video	In this free resource on nation-building, learn why developing political, economic, security, and social institutions across borders is a complex business.
Internally Displaced Persons: Migrants Who Do Not Cross a National Border Reading	Who are IDPs and how are they different from refugees? Understand what happens to people who are forced from their homes but remain inside their own country through country case studies.
How Do Countries Select Their Foreign Policy Tools? Video	In this educational video on foreign policy, explore how U.S. relations with Japan have changed over the past century, from Pearl Harbor to a peaceful alliance.
What Is Nuclear Proliferation? Video	In this video on nuclear proliferation, learn why countries develop nuclear weapons—and what is being done to prevent the spread of these weapons and the possibility of nuclear war.
The Global Role of the U.S. Dollar Video	Why is the U.S. dollar the world's most popular currency and how does it help the U.S. economy? Watch this video on the history of U.S. currency.
How Did the Cold War Stay Cold? Video	Learn how the world’s superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR), avoided nuclear war.
Cuban Immigration in 1980 Mini Simulation	How should the United States respond to the massive influx of Cuban migrants? Explore this historical simulation set in 1980.
What Is Climate Change? Video	In this educational video, learn why the climate is changing, how it affects us, and what we can do about it.
What Is Economic Statecraft? Reading	Learn why China lends billions of dollars abroad each year through its Belt and Road Initiative and the implications of that free resource for recipient countries.
The Origins of the Internet Timeline	The internet evolved from a niche government tool to a nearly universal platform for communications and entertainment.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Europe Reading	In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington cautioned the United States to steer clear of foreign entanglements.
South Africa: Why Countries Acquire and Abandon Nuclear Bombs Reading	Why did South Africa give up its nuclear weapons? In this historical case study, learn about the only country in the world to have developed and then dismantled its nuclear program.
The Suez Canal Crisis Video	Explore a historical case study on the Suez Canal to understand how monetary policy can also be used as a tool of foreign policy.
Essential Events Since 1945 Timeline	From the Cold War and decolonization to globalization, learn how recent historical developments shaped today’s world.
Russia and NATO in the Baltics in 2016 (NSC) Simulation
Trains, Planes, and Shipping Containers Reading	Three innovations shaped how people and goods move around the world today.
What Is Intelligence? Reading	From Cold War double agents to Chinese spy balloons, explore how lying and spying inform policymaking in this resource on intelligence.
The Internet by the Numbers Reading	In a world where internet access is increasing, digital divides remain.
Modern History: Europe Reading	For the past seventy-five-odd years, Europe has largely been at peace.
How Do Countries Create Nuclear Weapons? Reading	What is nuclear power and how can the same process that generates nuclear energy create a nuclear bomb?
What Is a Central Bank and What Does It Do for You? Reading	What is the Federal Reserve? Learn how central banks conduct monetary policy by influencing the rate of inflation, money supply, and interest rates.
Social Media: Revolutionizing Communication Reading	Social media has connected people at lightning speeds and upended long-held monopolies on information. But like past innovations, it has also created major societal challenges.
Economic Statecraft: Foreign Assistance Mini Simulation	How should the United States employ foreign aid to help a country in crisis? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
Climate Change and the Coffee Industry Video	In this educational video, learn how climate change's effects on agriculture can have serious economic consequences for the world.
What Is Deterrence? Reading	In this free resource, explore examples of deterrence from the Cold War to present day to learn how countries dissuade bad behavior with the threat of significant punishment.
Should the Internet Respect National Borders? Video	The United States supports internet freedom. China, a proponent of cyber sovereignty, disagrees.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Middle East and North Africa Reading	Since World War II, three main interests—ensuring the free flow of oil from the Gulf, guaranteeing the survival and security of Israel, and limiting the influence of the former Soviet Union—have driven U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.
The Nuclear World Reading	Where are the world’s nuclear weapons today and whom do they protect? Explore maps, charts, and graphs to learn about current and future nuclear weapons states.
The Marshall Plan Video	Understand how the Marshall Plan, one of the first large foreign aid programs, helped Europe rebuild after World War II, but also served the foreign policy interests of the United States.
What Is Water Scarcity? Reading	Is there a global water crisis? In this free resource, learn how climate change is causing water scarcity to worsen worldwide.
Preparing for and Managing the Next Pandemic Mini Simulation	What should the United States do to secure global health preparedness before the next pandemic? Explore this simulation.
The Paris Agreement Reading	What is the Paris Agreement? In this free resource, learn what actions countries are taking to address the global threat of climate change.
What Is Arms Control? Reading	In this free resource on arms control agreements, learn how countries try to regulate the world’s most powerful weapons through foreign policy.
How Companies and Governments Do (and Don’t) Protect Your Data Reading	The spread of the internet has far outpaced domestic and international privacy laws, making global coordination difficult and leaving personal data vulnerable.
Why Does U.S. Foreign Policy Matter? Video	In this educational video on U.S. foreign policy, learn how the United States has shaped the world with its military and economic might.
How Globalization Affects What’s for Brunch Video	Globalization’s effects can appear where you least expect them—including on your plate.
The Terrorist Money Trail Reading	How do terrorists get funding? Learn about the challenges of targeting the finances of terrorist groups in this free resource on terrorism.
Radicalization and Right-Wing Extremism Reading	Learn how QAnon, white supremacists, and Silicon Valley have contributed to an evolving domestic terror threat.
Response to 9/11 Mini Simulation	Should the United States strike al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in response to 9/11? Explore this historical simulation set in 2001.
Tools of Counterterrorism Video	What is counterterrorism? Learn how governments try to prevent terrorist attacks in this video on terrorism.
What Is Peacekeeping? Reading	In this free resource on the successes and failures of peacekeeping, learn about the UN missions tasked with transitioning countries out of war.
Global Terrorism Trends Reading	Explore terrorism trends through five data charts that help show the threat of terrorism around the world and how it has changed over time.
How Does Cyberspace Work? Reading	Learn about the many places information is transferred across the internet—including under the ocean, up in space, and in your pocket.
How Do Treaties Get Made? Video	In this U.S. foreign policy video, understand the challenges of negotiating treaties and dive into two international climate agreements.
It Takes a Village to Make Your Medicine Reading	Follow the global supply chain across borders and into your pill bottle.
Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
What Is Cryptocurrency? Reading	Explore digital currency's uses and abuses in society.
Strategic Ambiguity Toward Taiwan Mini Simulation	Should the United States maintain its longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan? Explore this simulation.
The History of Nuclear Proliferation Timeline	What are the most significant attempts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and have they succeeded? Explore this timeline, from the first atomic bomb to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
What Is Armed Force? Reading	In this free resource on military action, learn how countries use violence, or armed force, to influence foreign policy.
What Is Terrorism? Video	Learn how terrorists have sought to achieve their goals all over the world with this video on terrorism.
What are Cyberspace and Cybersecurity? Video	Explore the origins of the internet and the challenges that will define its future.
What Is the National Security Council? Reading	Learn how the president’s advisors protect U.S. national security and help with foreign policy decision-making and coordination across the executive branch.
Tools of Nonproliferation Video	How do world leaders try to prevent nuclear war? From diplomacy to military force, learn what policy options are most effective in this video.
What Is the Liberal World Order? Video	Explore the organizations and agreements that have promoted global peace and prosperity since the end of World War II, as well as the challenges that the liberal world order now faces in this video.
Idealism Versus Realism Reading	What is idealism? What is realism? In this free resource, explore two schools of thought on a country’s foreign policy priorities.
NATO Enlargement in 1994 (NSC) Simulation
Migration Today Reading	Understand where migrants come from, where they go, and why migration is increasing through maps, charts, and data.
What Is Trade Policy? Reading	In this free resource on trade policy, explore how countries leverage their economic power to advance their foreign policy interests.
Terrorism and the Media Video	How do terrorists use the media? From Osama bin Laden to the Islamic State, learn how terrorists use internet and media coverage to shape their goals.
The Growing Threat of Cyberattacks Video	The Stuxnet worm is only the beginning.