Africana Studies The Africana Studies Series helps students critically examine, explore, and analyze unique experiences of African people and African-descended people. Units that feature African American history—which are especially appropriate for the AP African American Studies course—include Racial Slavery, New Nation, Civil War, and Civil Rights. The series includes curriculum units on the Haitian Revolution, Cuba, and Brazil that examine their significance in understanding the central role of slavery and race in the history of the Atlantic World. Units on colonization and independence in Africa as well as the history of Nigeria focus on pre-colonial African history, African independence movements in the 20th century, and contemporary issues facing some Africans today. The core units in this series have been updated within the past several years, providing fresh scholarship on these critical topics. This series provides your students with deep dives into topics that are often what's missing from standard textbooks.
Brazil
Brazil: A History of Change
The largest South American country has an often surprising and overlooked history. In this unit, students see Brazil as a unique, dynamic country with an important history, diverse culture, and its own path of development.
Colonization in Africa
Colonization and Independence in Africa
Students explore Africa in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and consider the changes colonialism imposed on African governments, economies, and societies. Students consider some of the ways Africans responded to European colonialism.
Cuba
History, Revolution, and Reform: New Directions for Cuba
Cubans have very different opinions about their country and its history, particularly about the Cuban Revolution that began in 1959. In this unit, students explore Cuba’s history, the Cuban Revolution, and consider the country’s future.
Civil Rights
Freedom Now: The Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi
Students trace the history of the Black freedom struggle from Reconstruction through the 1960s. Readings and activities focus on the grassroots movement to achieve civil rights for African Americans.
Civil War
The Civil War and the Meaning of Liberty
Students probe the history of the United States from 1830 to 1865. Using primary sources, readings, and lessons, students consider the experiences of people in the United States as well as the issues driving the political confrontation over slavery and the meaning of liberty.
Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution
Students trace the development of the American colonial world and one of the greatest wealth-producing colonies in world history. They consider the groups involved in the conflict and reflect on the legacies of one of the most successful revolts of enslaved people in history.
Nigeria
Nigeria: History, Identity, and Change
Students explore Nigeria’s history—from the precolonial to the present—and consider the future of Africa's most populous country.
New Nation
We the People:
A New Nation
Rather than taking the usual approach of learning history from only the perspective of the elite political leaders, students consider the opportunities, hardships, aspirations, and questions facing people across society in the United States in its earliest years—from 1783 to 1830. 