Name: ______________________________________________

APUSH Exam Review Bootcamp, Day 5:

Historical Thinking Skills (HTS): Compare & Contrast
A comparative essay requires that you compare different historical individuals,
events, or processes in order to draw historically valid conclusions. Comparisons
can be made across time periods, geographic locations, or within the same time
period or location. In this essay, you will need to make a comparative argument,
substantiate your argument with evidence, and analyze the reasons for the
similarities and differences that you identified. In this essay, you will also need to
include a synthesis.

Example Prompts:
1. Prior to American involvement in both the First and Second World Wars, the United States adopted an
official policy of neutrality. Compare the policy and its modifications during the period 1914-17 to the
policy and its modifications during 1939-41.

2. Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World
War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.

3. Compare the goals and strategies of Black reform movements in the period 1890 -1910 to the goals and
strategies of Black reform movements in the period 1950-1970.

4. Describe the patterns of immigration in TWO of the periods listed below. Compare and contrast the
responses of Americans to immigrants in these periods.
1820-1860 1880 -1924 1965 -2000

5. "Landslide presidential victories do not ensure continued political effectiveness or legislative success."
Assess the validity of this statement by comparing TWO of the following presidential administrations.
Franklin Roosevelt (1936)
Lyndon Johnson (1964)
Richard Nixon (1972)
Ronald Reagan (1984)

PROMPT:
You decide! Circle the prompt above that you would like to work on today.
1. Break down the prompt:
Time period (________________): What was happening during these two periods?

Specific factors: What was happening in regards to the specific factors from the prompt (i.e., expansion,
Black reform movements, immigration, etc.)?
2. BRAINSTORM SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES

- Identify similarities and differences in the two time periods and/or factors listed in your prompt. Jot down
your ideas and specific examples (people, events, laws, ideas etc.), or qualifications (yes, but) that will help substantiate your claims.
Consider REASONS for the similarities & differences you identified.
3. TAKE A POSITION more similar or more different?
Taking a position is not required but it helps to make your thesis more of an ARGUMENT.

No matter what position you take, you must address similarities AND differences in your thesis and essay.

You will also need to analyze the REASONS for the similarities and differences that you identify.

4. WRITE A THESIS
Write a thesis that that addresses MULTIPLE similarities and differences. You dont have to fully elaborate on your
reasoning in the thesis the reasons for the similarities and differences will be further discussed in the body of your
essay, with evidence! Use a dependent clause or phrase (despite, although, however, yet) to qualify your thesis and
indicate your position. Here are some examples:

The decades of the 1920s and 1950s both ___________ and _______. However, each decade differed
significantly in ______________ and _____________.

Despite differences in ___________________ and ________________, overall the 1920s and

1950s were largely similar in that _________________ and __________________.

Although the decades of the 1920s and 1950s differed in the extent of ________ and ________, they
shared in common _____________, ____________, and ______________.

Write your thesis here:

You may use the back of this paper to construct an outline.