Changes

Several students have informed me that they will be taking the CLEP American History exam in order to earn college credit.  Congratulations to those students already for showing initiative, and hopefully others will consider attempting to earn college credit also.

Several students have informed me that they will be taking the CLEP American History exam in order to earn college credit.  Congratulations to those students already for showing initiative, and hopefully others will consider attempting to earn college credit also.

Because several students are taking the CLEP exam, and because it is the best of the College Board exams, we will follow its format.  The CLEP exam divides American history into two periods.  The first CLEP American history exam covers through Reconstruction, just like our midterm exam.  Our midterm exam will follow the CLEP's subject matter breakdown for questions:

Because several students are taking the CLEP exam, and because it is the best of the College Board exams, we will follow its format.  The CLEP exam divides American history into two periods.  The first CLEP American history exam covers through Reconstruction, just like our midterm exam.  Our midterm exam will follow the CLEP's subject matter breakdown for questions:

In terms of the time period, only 30% of the first CLEP exam (through Reconstruction) is devoted to the beginning of time to 1789.  So do not start with that period and burn out before you study the period of 1790 to 1877, where 70% of the questions are from.  Do not waste too much time studying exploration, settlement and colonial America!  Perhaps only 10% of the CLEP exam (and our exam) will cover that period.  Students often make a big mistake in preparation by not allocating their study time properly.

In terms of the time period, only 30% of the first CLEP exam (through Reconstruction) is devoted to the beginning of time to 1789.  So do not start with that period and burn out before you study the period of 1790 to 1877, where 70% of the questions are from.  Do not waste too much time studying exploration, settlement and colonial America!  Perhaps only 10% of the CLEP exam (and our exam) will cover that period.  Students often make a big mistake in preparation by not allocating their study time properly.

"Time is money" is a famous, and true, saying.  The time you spend not making money could have been better spent making money.  Wasted time is lost opportunity to make money, or do something else useful, such as charity or prayer.  Also, wasted time is often less enjoyable than time spent working on something you believe in.

"Time is money" is a famous, and true, saying.  The time you spend not making money could have been better spent making money.  Wasted time is lost opportunity to make money, or do something else useful, such as charity or prayer.  Also, wasted time is often less enjoyable than time spent working on something you believe in.

'''Above all, understand a question before trying to answer it!'''

'''Above all, understand a question before trying to answer it!'''

We have covered a great deal of material spanning hundreds of years.  We need to try to organize all these facts in our mind somehow.  Develop a frame of reference to do this.  You can choose whatever frame of reference you like.  For me, my frame of reference in remembering each president is to think about how conservative he was.  Every few decades we have a conservative president:

We have covered a great deal of material spanning hundreds of years.  We need to try to organize all these facts in our mind somehow.  Develop a frame of reference to do this.  You can choose whatever frame of reference you like.  For me, my frame of reference in remembering each president is to think about how conservative he was.  Every few decades we have a conservative president:

Then I fill in the other presidents in between, with reasons why they were not so conservative.

Then I fill in the other presidents in between, with reasons why they were not so conservative.

For example, Thomas Jefferson was not particularly conservative because he was personally opposed to religion in government, unsuccessfully fought the Tripoli War, continued some of Alexander Hamilton's big government programs (like a national bank), and imposed the Embargo Act against trade with Europe.  You may find this approach helpful in organizing and remembering all of American History since George Washington.  Or perhaps you have your own approach for keeping the presidents straight, and organizing historical events.  The point is to find something that ''works for you'', and then use it to master the material.

For example, Thomas Jefferson was not particularly conservative because he was personally opposed to religion in government, unsuccessfully fought the Tripoli War, continued some of Alexander Hamilton's big government programs (like a national bank), and imposed the Embargo Act against trade with Europe.  You may find this approach helpful in organizing and remembering all of American History since George Washington.  Or perhaps you have your own approach foreeping the presidents straight, and organizing historical events.  The point is to find something that ''works for you'', and then use it to master the material.

== Key Terms Through Reconstruction ==

== Key Terms Through Reconstruction ==