America’s History, For the AP* Course

by James A. Henretta, Eric Hinderaker, Rebecca Edwards

America’s History offers a thematic approach and skills-oriented pedagogy that helps students succeed in the redesigned AP U.S. History course. Known for its attention to AP themes and content, the new edition features a new nine part structure closely aligned with the chronology of the new AP U.S. History course, an expanded documents program, LearningCurve—an online adaptive learning tool that reinforces students’ reading—and a wealth of supporting resources and digital options that give teachers and students the tools they need to master the course and the new exam.

Genres: Nonfiction, Read For School, School, History

1216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2014

About the author

James A. Henretta is an American historian. He is a Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Maryland, College Park. Henretta is a Fulbright Scholar, and has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
He graduated from Swarthmore College and Harvard University.

Reviews

[Saskia]

I mean. It was a textbook. I spent forever looking at its beige papers and wanting to scratch my eyes out with a fork but I learned stuff and it's more useful than Flanigan so it's worth something.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this entire textbook for AP U.S. History, and I do believe it was great. It was extremely informative and well written. It was a bit confusing at times, but you can always ask a teacher for elaboration. After all, it is college/AP level! It's light on European history, which I think is a bit unfortunate, as Euro is very important to American history at times (but that's why you should take AP Euro Hist!). With this textbook (and a lot of hard work), I've maintained an A+ in my APUSH course the entire year. I would definitely recommend this textbook... If you're willing to take on the challenge of AP U.S. History, that is!

[Camille]

The time has come. Tomorrow, 05/10/19, I shall take my APUSH test, and see how much I actually learned from this thing.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I READ THIS TEXTBOOK FOR ALMOST 10 MONTHS STRAIGHT. AND YES, EVEN THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE FINISHED IT A WHILE AGO, I READ EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER. THIS BOOK HAS ACCOMPANIED ME TO MANY A PLACE AND BEEN MY CONSTANT COMPANION THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR. (it also weighs 5.5 pounds, if you were wondering. my back has felt that all year 😴)
I DID SKIP ALMOST ALL OF THE NON-MAINSTREAM TEXT (like America compared, thinking like a historian sections), BUT I READ THE ENTIRE TEXTBOOK FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES. ITS MORE THAN A THOUSAND PAGES LONG, AND I READ ALL OF IT. THIS IS THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT OF MY LIFE THUS FAR.

[Nola]

APUSH exam is going to be 45 minutes long, just an open response on everything up to 1945. Fun times.

[Katherine Hede · Rating 2 out of 5]

This textbook is the bane of my existence. Some good information though

[abigail zodl · Rating 2 out of 5]

i’m finally free from apush

[vivian paris · Rating 1 out of 5]

i would like to thank the hundreds of blue and green pages i did not read

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it is a pretty well written textbook. We will see how much it taught me when I get my exam results back! 😭🫠

[Ken · Rating 2 out of 5]

This suffered from the usual problems plagued by history textbooks—too lengthy. Although admittedly content heavy, the APUSH doesn't need the level of detail this textbook presents, and especially not in this convoluted manner. As a book of a general history of the US, it is good. But as a book that is supposed to be oriented towards preparation for the APUSH exam? Definitely not.
The unnecessarily high level of complexity and length is not as bad as the AP world book i'm reading rn, but it can still be cut down to perhaps 2/3 of what it is now while having more than enough detail. Textbooks that are too detailed and scholarly are not conducive to actual effective learning, especially for high school age students.

[Sienna Erway · Rating 2 out of 5]

HOLY MOLY IT’S OVER YAYY idk why I decided to do every single outline but this took months off my life. Too much useless information but the highlighted terms were good so it’s getting 2 stars. Now I still have to study for the AP test but oh well 🤷‍♀️ spoiler alert GEORGE WASHINGTON DIES whoa mwahaha im so evil. I’m actually going insane so I’m really glad it’s over.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I basically read this whole thing through our the school year so I'm going to count it as a book. It wasn't extremely boring so it's 4 stars and hopefully it gets me at least 4 on the exam.

[Judi · Rating 1 out of 5]

had to read it cover to cover for class. very long. sometimes boring, sometimes interesting. gets only one star bc its homework and made it so i couldnt sleep. -24601/10, would not recommend

[Aiden Alexander · Rating 2 out of 5]

educational, but traumatic

[marissa mandola · Rating 5 out of 5]

rating this whatever i get on the ap exam

edit: upholding my promise

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so admittedly I didn't read Chapters 26 and 31, but I think this counts anyway. It was pretty good, for a textbook. Note the caveat there.

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Class APUSH text, although some important information is left out.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

idk i passed the apush exam so

[Adeline Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's finally over...

[Isabella Milojevic]

now that I have taken the APUSH exam, I am finally done with this book 🫡🫡🫡
🇺🇸🦅

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

as sansoe often remarks “it’s a fine textbook.”

[julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

blood, sweat, and tears fr😔✊

[ChickenBro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough and comprehensive textbook, which was actually quite a joy to read despite my disdain for the related assignments.

[ashley b · Rating 3 out of 5]

guys wish me luck on the exam on Friday 🙏🙏🙏 (I’m gonna need it) AND I WISH EVERYONE ELSE WHO SEES THIS GOOD LUCK ON THEIR APUSH EXAM 🫶🫶

[Jahnvi]

my main ho

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will change my rating when AP scores come out

[Elly · Rating 1 out of 5]

-100000000000000000000000000/10

[booksandbark · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE APUSH.