Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > History

APUSH trivia: test your AP US History knowledge

Quick, free AP US History quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Grete KimbleUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration showing quiz cards, US flag, history icons, compass and quill pen on teal background

This AP US History quiz helps you check what you remember across key eras and figures. Answer quick questions, see instant feedback, and spot gaps before the exam. For more practice, try our US history quiz, explore a broader United States history quiz, or review detailed history questions with answers.

Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson was chosen by the Continental Congress to draft the Declaration because of his eloquence and reputation. He wrote the first draft in June 1776, incorporating Enlightenment ideas about natural rights. The final document was approved on July 4, 1776. .
Which English colony was founded as a haven for Quakers in 1681?
Virginia
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania was granted to William Penn in 1681 by King Charles II as a refuge for Quakers facing persecution in England. It became known for religious tolerance and good relations with Native Americans. Philadelphia quickly grew into a major colonial city. .
What principle did the Monroe Doctrine, proclaimed in 1823, assert?
Free trade with all nations
Slavery must be abolished worldwide
European powers should not interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere
The United States would avoid all European conflicts
The Monroe Doctrine declared that any European colonial efforts in the Americas would be seen as acts of aggression against the U.S. It asserted a sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere. While it had little immediate enforcement, it shaped future American foreign policy. .
Who was the President of the United States during most of the Civil War?
Ulysses S. Grant
Andrew Johnson
Jefferson Davis
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln served as the 16th President from 1861 until his assassination in 1865, leading the Union through the Civil War. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and delivered the Gettysburg Address. His leadership was pivotal in preserving the Union. .
What was the primary significance of the Fourteenth Amendment (1868)?
It gave women the right to vote
It granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.
It abolished slavery throughout the United States
It established Prohibition of alcohol
The Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed citizenship to former slaves and prohibited states from denying any person equal protection of the laws. It became a cornerstone for civil rights litigation. It also addressed due process and representation issues after the Civil War. .
What was the main purpose of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890?
To regulate federal banking institutions
To curb the formation of monopolies and preserve competition
To create a national park system
To lower protective tariffs on imports
The Sherman Antitrust Act was the first federal statute to limit trusts and monopolies, reflecting concerns about corporate power. It outlawed any contract or conspiracy that restrained trade or commerce. Enforcement was uneven initially but laid groundwork for future antitrust actions. .
What did the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 achieve?
It permanently ended slavery throughout the entire United States
It declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate-held territories
It started the Reconstruction era
It granted voting rights to African Americans
Issued by President Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation declared enslaved people in rebelling states to be free. It transformed the war aim to include slavery abolition and allowed African Americans to join the Union Army. It did not apply to border states still loyal to the Union. .
Which of the following best describes a goal of Progressive Era reformers?
To expand the institution of slavery
To address social and economic problems through government intervention and regulation
To reinstate laissez-faire economic policies
To isolate the United States from global affairs
Progressive reformers sought to use government power to correct social ills, regulate business, improve labor conditions, and promote public health. They supported antitrust legislation, labor rights, and electoral reforms. Their efforts led to innovations like the direct election of senators and food safety laws. .
What was the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?
Segregation was permissible if facilities were 'separate but equal'
Segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause and was unconstitutional
School segregation must end gradually over 20 years
Education was not covered under the Fourteenth Amendment
Brown v. Board unanimously held that racial segregation in public schools was inherently unequal and violated the Equal Protection Clause. This landmark decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson's 'separate but equal' doctrine in education. It spurred the modern Civil Rights Movement. .
Which New Deal agency provided public works jobs, including the construction of roads and buildings?
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
The WPA, established in 1935, was the largest New Deal agency and employed millions in constructing roads, bridges, schools, and public buildings. It also funded arts and literacy projects. It aimed to relieve unemployment and stimulate the economy. .
What was the primary objective of the United States policy of containment after World War II?
To dismantle European colonial empires
To establish the United Nations as a military alliance
To restrict nuclear weapons development in the U.S.
To prevent the spread of communism beyond its existing borders
Containment aimed to stop Soviet expansion and influence by providing military and economic assistance to vulnerable countries. Coined by George F. Kennan, it shaped U.S. foreign policy throughout the Cold War. It led to programs like the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan. .
What did the Supreme Court decide in Korematsu v. United States (1944)?
The internment of Japanese Americans was constitutional under wartime powers
Japanese American citizens were entitled to full reparations
The internment policy violated the Fifth Amendment
Executive orders must be approved by Congress to be valid
In Korematsu v. United States, the Court upheld Executive Order 9066, ruling that wartime necessity justified the internment of Japanese Americans. This decision has since been widely criticized and formally repudiated by Congress in 1988. It remains a cautionary example of civil liberties sacrificed during conflict. .
0
{"name":"Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?, Which English colony was founded as a haven for Quakers in 1681?, What principle did the Monroe Doctrine, proclaimed in 1823, assert?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Foundational Events -

    Interpret question prompts covering colonial foundations, revolutionary milestones, and the evolution of the young republic to grasp their long-term impacts.

  2. Recall Influential Leaders and Movements -

    Identify and describe key figures and social movements - from Founding Fathers to civil rights activists - to build a robust historical vocabulary.

  3. Assess Your AP US History Quiz Performance -

    Use instant feedback from this free AP US History trivia quiz to pinpoint strengths and areas needing review before the exam.

  4. Apply Critical Thinking to Practice Test Scenarios -

    Practice interpreting primary sources and essay prompts within our APUSH review questions to sharpen analytical skills under timed conditions.

  5. Strengthen Exam Prep Techniques -

    Adopt test-taking strategies and time-management tips from our US history exam prep quiz to boost confidence on test day.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Colonial Motivations and Regional Differences -

    Review how economic (Gold), religious (God), and imperial (Glory) ambitions drove European settlement in North America. Remember the "3 Gs" mnemonic to recall Spain, England, and France's motivations, and note key regional distinctions: New England's commerce, the Chesapeake's tobacco economy, and the Southern plantation system (Library of Congress).

  2. Constitutional Foundations and Federalism -

    Understand debates in the Federalist Papers, especially Federalist No. 10, which argues for a large republic to control factions (Cornell University). Practice APUSH review questions on separation of powers, checks and balances, and the Tenth Amendment's reservation of powers to states in your next AP US History practice test.

  3. Civil War Strategies and Reconstruction Policies -

    Memorize the Union's Anaconda Plan to blockade Southern ports and split the Confederacy (National Archives). Study Reconstruction's three phases - Presidential, Congressional, and Redemption - using "PCR" as a shorthand and test yourself with a free AP US History trivia quiz question on the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

  4. Progressive Reforms and World War I Impact -

    Trace Progressive Era reforms like the 17th and 19th Amendments, and link them to muckrakers such as Upton Sinclair (Smithsonian Institution). For your US history exam prep quiz, recall major WWI causes using "MAIN" (Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism) as a study aid.

  5. Cold War Dynamics and Civil Rights Movement -

    Master key Cold War policies - compare the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan with a Venn diagram (Gilder Lehrman Institute). Pair that with landmark civil rights milestones (Brown v. Board, Montgomery Bus Boycott) and quiz yourself with AP US History quiz flashcards on de jure versus de facto segregation.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

Regional History Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker