An End-of-Year Review Activity that Makes Use of Various Attempts to Earn the APUSH Thesis Point

But Only for Prompts Beginning with the Words “Evaluate the Relative Importance”

Below are ten attempts to earn the APUSH LEQ/DBQ Thesis Point, with each attempt consisting of one or more lines of reasoning.

In the days leading up to the annual APUSH exam, I present these attempts to my students and ask them in small groups to name and briefly identify ONE piece of evidence to support a line of reasoning associated with some bolded text.

This exercise provides them with a wonderful opportunity to refresh their understanding of the material. Also, my “relative importance thesis point writing formula.”

P1. Evaluate the relative importance of different causes for the expanding role of the United States in the world in the period from 1865 to 1910.

There were many causes for the expanding role of the United States in the world in the period from 1865 to 1910. During this period of time, the role of the United States in the world expanded because of (1) the US’s ability to win a major war, (2) the US’s ability to purchase a large tract of territory, and (3) the US’s ability to annex the land of others, with the US’s ability to win a major war being the most important cause.

P2. Evaluate the relative importance of the factors that contributed to changes in women’s roles in United States society from 1940 to 2000.

There were many factors that contributed to changes in women’s roles in United States society from 1940 to 2000. During this period, women’s roles changed significantly due to (1) a Supreme Court ruling that gave women a new right, (2) a scientific advancement that gave women greater sexual freedom, and (3) a war that gave women a chance to find work in the factories, with a scientific advancement that gave women greater sexual freedoms being the most important factor.

P3. Evaluate the relative importance of causes of internal migration within the United States in the period from 1900 to 1970.

There were several causes of internal migration within the United States from 1900 to 1970. During this period, internal migration within the US was driven by (1) the desire of Blacks to escape racial segregation and prejudice in the South, (2) the chance for blacks to find work in factories located in the North, and (3) the widespread destruction of farmland on the Great Plains, with the chance for blacks to find work in factories located in the North being the most important cause.

P4. Evaluate the relative importance of causes of the rise of industrial capitalism in the United States in the period from 1865 to 1900

There were many causes of the rise of industrial capitalism in the United States in the period from 1865 to 1900. During this period of time, industrial capitalism rose due to (1) the expansion of new and better transportation networks, (2) the expansion of new and better communication networks, and (3) the lack of government regulation in industry, with (5) the lack of government regulation in industry being the most important cause.

P5. Evaluate the relative importance of the causes of the American Revolution in the period from 1763 to 1776.

There were many causes of the American Revolution in the period from 1763 to 1776. During this time, the American Revolution was caused by (1) an increase in British taxation without representation, (2) the use of violence by the British to ensure loyalty to the king, (3) the influence of Enlightenment ideas, with the increase in British taxation being the most important cause.

P6. Evaluate the relative importance of the factors that contributed to the growth and spread of the Progressive Movement in the United States in the period from 1890 to 1920.

There were many factors that contributed to the growth and spread of the Progressive Movement in the United States from 1890 to 1920. During this period, the Progressive Movement grew and spread due to (1) the rise of investigative journalism, (2) the influence of reform-minded politicians, and (3) the activism of grassroots organizations, with the rise of investigative journalism being the most important factor.

P7. Evaluate the relative importance of the causes of the United States’ entry into World War I in the period from 1914 to 1917.

There were many important causes of the United States’ entry into World War I in the period from 1914 to 1917. During this time, the US entered the war because of (1) Germany’s sinking of passenger ships with Americans aboard, (2) Germany’s policy relating to the use of submarines during wartime, (3) Germany’s attempt to get Mexico to attack the US while the US was fighting the Germans, and (4) President Wilson’s desire to make the world safe for democracy, with Germany’s sinking of passenger ships with Americans aboard having been the most important cause.

P8. Evaluate the relative importance of the factors that contributed to the development of the environmental movement in the United States in the period from 1960 to 1990.

There were many factors that contributed to the development of the environmental movement in the United States from 1960 to 1990. During this period, the environmental movement was shaped by (1) the growing public awareness of environmental issues, (2) the influence of key publications and events, (3) the rise of grassroots activism, and (4) the passage of various laws that sought to protect the environment, with the influence of key publications and events being the most important factor.

P9. Evaluate the relative importance of the outcomes of the New Deal policies in the United States in the period from 1933 to 1945.

There were many outcomes of the New Deal policies in the United States from 1933 to 1945. During this period, the New Deal policies led to (1) the stabilization of the banking system, (2) the expansion of federal intervention in the economy, (3) the establishment of social safety nets, and (4) the government’s hiring of the unemployed, with the government’s hiring of those who were unemployed being the most important outcome.

P10. Evaluate the relative importance of the reasons for the growth of the civil rights movement in the United States in the period from 1954 to 1968.

There were many reasons for the growth of the civil rights movement in the United States from 1954 to 1968. During this period, the civil rights movement grew due to (1) various rulings of the Supreme Court, (2) various laws passed by Congress, (3) various actions taken by the president, and (4) various speeches given by various charismatic citizens, with the various laws passed by Congress being the most important reason.