Antebellum Reform DBQ Packet
Advanced Placement Examinations Program
COLLEGE AP BOARD
AP U.S. HISTORY
Official Document-Based Essay Booklet
Subject: Unit 4 — Expansion & Reform (1825–1855)
Document-Based Free Response Question
19TH-CENTURY REFORM MOVEMENTS
An inquiry into the crusades for moral perfection, individual liberties, and democratic expansion in the Antebellum Era.
I. Abolition
The absolute moral crusade against bondage.
II. Suffrage
Equality and voting franchise for women.
III. Temperance
Curbing intemperance for home safety.
IV. Institutions
The common school and asylum crusades.
STUDENT NAME:
EXAM DATE:
CLASS PERIOD:
INSTRUCTOR:
| AP® DBQ Essay Rubric Category | Max Pts | Score |
|---|
| A. Thesis & Claim Formulation (Defensible argument) | 1 | |
| B. Contextualization (Situates response in era trends) | 1 | |
| C. Evidence (Sourced Documents & Outside Knowledge) | 3 | |
| D. Analysis & Reasoning (Complex understanding / HIPP) | 2 | |
| TOTAL EXAM SCORE | 7 | |
AP EXAMS
AP® United States History Examination Section II: Free Response Essay
PART A: DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTION (DBQ)
DIRECTIONS:
The following question is based on the reform efforts of the antebellum period. You should base your argument on both your analysis of the historical documents (Documents 1–7) and your specific knowledge of the era to construct a cohesive, well-substantiated historical essay.
Question & Prompt (Historical Analysis)
"To what extent did reform movements in the United States from 1825 to 1855 lead to an expansion of democratic ideals?"
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