War and Politics:
Lincoln, Virginia and the Election of 1864
How did the bloody military stalemate in Virginia affect the presidential election of 1864?
Also, how did candidates and generals respond to events during that long summer?
Advanced Placement Short Answer Questions and DBQ
Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the Advanced Placement US History course is implementing a redesign, focusing the course on the development of historical thinking skills and an understanding of content learning objectives from seven themes. The exam has also been redesigned to include a shortened DBQ (only seven documents) and four short answer questions. Included on this page are a series of short answer questions and a DBQ, all modeled after the redesigned Advanced Placement US History Exam.
See more primary source analysis worksheets on the Lessons and Activities Page.
AP US History Short Answer Question Sets
SHORT ANSWER SET #1
Answer parts a and b.
a. Briefly explain ONE important difference and ONE important similarity between Lincoln’s election in 1860 and his election in 1864.
b. Briefly explain ONE important social impact of Lincoln’s election in either period.
SHORT ANSWER SET #2
Answer parts a, b, and c.
a. Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt both faced re-election during wartime. Briefly explain ONE important similarity in the reasons why both men ultimately proved victorious in these two elections (1864 and 1944).
b. Briefly explain ONE important similarity in the effects of their successful re-elections to the presidency.
c. Briefly explain ONE critical American response to the re-election of either president.
SHORT ANSWER SET #3
Answer parts a and b.
a. Briefly explain TWO important ways in which Grant’s Virginia Campaign impacted Lincoln’s re-election bid in the 1864 presidential election.
b. Briefly explain ONE important way in which Grant’s Virginia Campaign impacted George McClellan’s nomination as the Democratic Party’s candidate for the 1864 presidential election.
SHORT ANSWER SET #4
Answer parts a, b and c.
a. Briefly explain ONE issue of political party divisions in 1828.
b. Briefly explain ONE issue of political party divisions in 1864.
c. Briefly explain ONE important historical factor that accounts for the continuity or change in political party divisions between the two periods.