AP African American Studies Fall 2025 Semester Exam Review

AP African American Studies - Fall 2025 Semester Exam Review Notes

Unit 1 Review

Key Vocabulary, Events, People, Historical Developments:

  • African Diaspora: The dispersion of African peoples across the world, particularly due to slavery.

  • Black Campus Movement: Movements advocating for the inclusion of Black studies in higher education.

  • Interdisciplinary Nature of African American Studies: The study of African American history and culture through multiple disciplines such as history, sociology, literature, and art.

  • Mansa Musa: Wealthy ruler of the Mali Empire, known for his pilgrimage to Mecca and the spread of Islam.

  • Catalan Atlas: A map from 1375 highlighting trade routes and geographical knowledge of the times, including Africa.

  • Ethnolinguistic Diversity in Africa: The variety of ethnic and linguistic groups present in Africa, reflecting its rich cultural tapestry.

  • African American Studies Discipline: An academic field focused on African American experiences, culture and history.

Major Civilizations and Historical Events:

  • The Swahili Coast: Historical trade hub that connected Africa with the Arab world.

  • Global Visions of Africa Prior to Songhai Empire: Reflections on how Africa was perceived before its major empires, often through a Eurocentric lens.

  • Mali Empire: Flourished c. 1235-1600, notable for trade, wealth, and cultural influence in West Africa.

  • Ghana Empire: Preceded Mali, known for its wealth in gold and resources.

  • Bantu Migration: Movement of Bantu-speaking peoples across Africa, significantly influencing languages and cultures.

  • European Colonialism: The period of European powers establishing colonies in Africa, leading to significant social and political changes.

  • Indian Ocean Trade: Maritime trade network linking East Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

  • São Tomé and Príncipe: Islands off the west coast of Africa, significant in the context of sugar plantation slavery.

  • Great Zimbabwe: An ancient city in southern Africa, known for its stone ruins and economic power.

  • Animism and Religious Syncretism: Indigenous African religions blending with beliefs introduced through colonialism and slavery.

Key Individuals:

  • Joao I (Kongo): King of Kongo, known for his correspondence with Portugal.

  • Afonso I (Kongo): His conversion to Christianity and influence on Kongo's politics and society.

  • Queen Anna Nzinga: Ruler of Ndongo and Matamba, known for her resistance against Portuguese colonization.

  • Queen Iyoba Ndia: Notable female ruler from the history of Africa.

Educational Centers:

  • University of Sankore and University of Timbuktu: Centers of learning in medieval West Africa, known for their contributions to knowledge, culture, and education.

  • Griots: West African storytellers and oral historians, vital to preserving African culture and history.

Geographical Regions:

  • Mediterranean Region of Africa: Region tied to historical trade routes and cultural exchanges.

  • Aksumite Empire: Ancient kingdom known for its trade and architecture in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea.

  • King Ezana: Prominent ruler of the Aksum Empire, known for his Christian conversion and influence.

  • Nubian Empire: An ancient civilization located to the south of Egypt, known for its pyramids and connections to the Nile Valley.

Cultural Aspects:

  • "Epic of Sundjata": A foundational narrative in West African literature chronicling the exploits of Sundjata Keita.

  • Desert Regions, Semiarid Regions, Savanna Grassland: Diverse climates of Africa that influenced historical settlement patterns and economies.

  • Rainforest Regions of Africa: Ecologically rich areas impacting livelihoods, cultures, and histories.

  • Iron Working Regions of Africa: Areas where iron production contributed to technological and economic development.

  • Nok Society: Known for its terracotta sculptures and early forms of ironworking in Nigeria.

Trade and Slavery:

  • Trans-Saharan Trade: Trade routes connecting West Africa with the Mediterranean, crucial for cultural exchange and commerce.

  • Voodoo: African diasporic religion with origins in West Africa, often misunderstood in North American contexts.

  • Mediterranean Trade: Economic exchanges that linked various civilizations around the Mediterranean.

  • Cabo Verde and São Tomé: Key locations for the slave trade, impacting African societies.

  • Slave Castles: Fortifications used in the transatlantic slave trade, symbolizing the brutal commercialization of human lives.

  • The Great Enclosure: Significant archaeological site in Great Zimbabwe.

  • Slavery in the Kongo: Impact of European influence on slave practices in Kongo.

Modern Connections:

  • Global Honoring of Africa: Examples of contemporary recognition of African heritage, such as tattoos and art.

  • Islam in Africa: Impact of Islamic practices and beliefs on African cultures and societies.

  • Christianity in Africa: Examination of how Christianity intertwined with African traditions and influenced social structures.

Unit 2 Review

Major Themes:

  1. Sense of Belonging: The struggles of African Americans to attain a sense of belonging in the United States.

  2. Abolitionist Efforts: Both free-born and formerly enslaved African Americans and allied Whites employed various methodologies to eradicate slavery.

  3. Service to Country: The many contributions of Black Americans to the military and national service throughout history.

Unit 2.17: African Americans in Indigenous Territory

  • Roles of African Americans: Important contributions often overlooked in historical narratives regarding their participation in Indigenous territories.

  • Citizenship Issues: Examination of struggles for citizenship within Indigenous nations.

  • Required Sources:

    • "Arkansas Petition for Freedmen's Rights," 1869

    • "Abraham, A Black Seminole leader," 1863

    • "Gopher John," a Black Seminole leader and interpreter

    • "Diary entry recounting the capture of 41 Black Seminoles by Gen. Thomas Jesup," 1836

Unit 2.18: Debates About Emigration, Colonization, and Belonging in America

  • Emigration vs. Anti-Emigration: Compare and contrast these ideological perspectives with significant figures like Frederick Douglass and their arguments highlighting exclusion from society.

  • Required Sources:

    • "The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the U.S.," by Martin Delaney, 1852

    • "Emigration to Mexico," by The Liberator, 1832

    • "West India Emancipation Speech" by Frederick Douglass, 1857

    • "What to the American Slave is the Fourth of July" by Frederick Douglass

Unit 2.19: Black Political Thought: Radical Resistance

  • Literary Resistance: Examination of the persuasive literary efforts of African Americans and abolitionists, including calls for violence against the institution of slavery.

  • Required Sources:

    • "Appeal," by David Walker

    • "An Address to the Slaves of the United States," by Henry Highland Garnet, 1843

Units 2.20 - 2.21: Abolitionism, the Underground Railroad, and Resistance in Photography

  • Art and Awareness: Role of art in illustrating the experiences related to the Underground Railroad, emphasizing Harriet Tubman's contributions and the utility of photography in advancing abolitionist causes.

  • Required Sources:

    • "Harriet, the Moses of Her People," by Sarah Bradford (2.20)

    • "Harriet Tubman’s reflection in The Refugee," by Benjamin Drew (2.20)

    • "I Go to Prepare a Place for You," Quilt by Bisa Butler, 2021 (2.21)

    • Photographs of Harriet Tubman (2.21)

Unit 2.22: Gender Resistance in Slave Narratives

  • Abolitionist Organizations: Evaluate efforts of free African Americans to establish organizations aimed at supporting abolitionism.

  • Women’s Narratives: Analysis of narratives written by women to highlight their unique struggles within the context of slavery.

  • Required Sources:

    • "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself," by Harriet Jacobs, 1860

    • "Excerpt from the History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave by Mary Prince," 1831

Units 2.23: The Civil War and Black Communities

  • Contributions During Civil War: Assess the role of African Americans in the Union army and contributions to society during the Civil War era.

  • Art and Remembrance: Evaluate how artistic expressions, such as art and photography, honor the service of African Americans in the military.

  • Required Sources:

    • "The Colored Soldiers," by Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1895

    • "Washerwoman for the Union Army in Richmond, VA," 1860s (in presentation)

    • "Photograph of Charles Redmond Douglass," 1864 (in presentation)

Unit 2.24: Freedom Days: Commemorating the Ongoing Struggle for Freedom

  • Celebrations of Freedom: Connect past celebrations surrounding the abolition of slavery to contemporary movements for freedom and recognition.

  • Required Sources:

    • "General Order No. 3," 1865

    • Juneteenth Celebration Photographs from 2021 (3-Philadelphia, Louisville, Galveston)

Unit 2 (Topics 2.7 -2.16) Review
Major Themes:

  1. Resistance to Slavery: Various forms of resistance against slavery, including tactics against dehumanization.

  2. Preservation of Culture: Efforts in maintaining African cultural heritages and traditions in the Americas.

Unit 2.7: Slavery and American Law

  • Legislation and Rights Denial: Analyze the impacts of slave codes and landmark legislative cases aimed at curbing the rights of enslaved people.

  • Required Sources:

    • Article 1, Section 2 and Article 4, Section 2 of the US Constitution

    • Excerpts from Chief Justice Taney’s opinion on Dred Scott

    • South Carolina Slave Code of 1740

    • Code Noir de Louisiane

Unit 2.8: The Concept of Race

  • Partus Sequiter Ventrem: Explain how this legal doctrine impacted the perceptions of race and legitimized slavery.

  • Required Sources:

    • Laws of Virginia, Act XII, General Assembly, 1662

    • "Am I not a woman and a sister?" from The Liberator, 1849

Units 2.9 and 2.10: Creating African American Culture and Naming

  • Music and Art as Resistance: Explore how music and art practices were utilized in resisting enslavement and reflecting African traditions.

  • Required Sources:

    • "My Bondage, My Freedom," by Frederick Douglass, 1855

    • "Steal Away to Jesus," Wallace Willis

    • Pottery by David Drake

    • The gourde head banjo

    • Selections from letters written to newspapers from Call and Response, 1831-1841

Unit 2.11: The Stono Rebellion and Fort Mose

  • Fort Mose’s Significance: Impacts on British colonies and those enslaved in the context of the Stono Rebellion.

  • Required Sources:

    • Excerpt from an Account of the Stono Rebellion, 1739

    • Letter from the Governor of Florida to His Majesty, 1739

Unit 2.12: Legacies of the Haitian Revolution

  • Haitian Groups and Leaders: Exploration of the significant groups during the revolution, including maroons and Toussaint L’Overture, and their global impact.

  • Required Sources:

    • Preliminary Declaration of the Haitian Constitution

    • Frederick Douglass’s lecture on Haiti at the Chicago World’s Fair, 1893

    • L’Ouverture, 1986, from The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture series by Jacob Lawrence

    • To Preserve Their Freedom, 1988, from The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture series by Jacob Lawrence

    • Strategy, 1994, from The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture series by Jacob Lawrence

Unit 2.14: Revolts and Resistance in the United States

  • Forms of Resistance: Different methods of resistance against slavery, linking external influences to resistance within the United States.

  • Required Sources:

    • Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Rufus King, 1802

Units 2.15 and 2.16: Maroon and Diasporic Societies

  • Maroons' Importance: Establishment of maroon societies as a means to preserve African cultures and traditions.

  • Required Sources:

    • Leonard Parkinson, a Captain of the Maroons, 1796

    • Maroon War in Jamaica, 1834

    • The Hunted Slaves by Richard Ansdell, 1862

    • The Maroons in Ambush on the Dromilly Estate in the Parish of Trelawney, Jamaica by F.J. Bourgoin, 1801

    • Escravo Africano - Mina by José Christiano de Freitas Henriques Junior, 1864

    • Festival of Our Lady of the Rosario, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by Carlos Julião, c. 1770

Unit 2 (Topics 2.1-2.6) Review

  • Arrival of Africans in the New World: Examination of the dual arrival of Africans as both free individuals and as enslaved persons, including required sources:

    • "Juan Garrido's Petition"

    • "Depiction of Juan Garrido"

    • "Major Coastal Regions from Which Captives Left Africa, All Years"

    • "Final Africans Imported Revision of Origins and Percentages"

Resistance on Slave Ships

  • Resistance Forms: Discuss the varied ways in which enslaved Africans resisted commodification aboard slave ships.

  • Supreme Court Case: Effects of the case United States v. La Amistad on perceptions of slavery and rights.

  • Required Sources:

    • "Stowage," by Willie Cole, slide

    • "Sketches of the captive survivors from the Amistad trial"

Slave Auctions

  • Awareness through Art: Examination of methods by which African Americans utilized art to shed light on horrid conditions at slave auctions.

  • Required Sources:

    • "The Slave Auction" by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

    • "Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northup

    • "The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano" by himself.

Labor and Economy of American Slavery

  • Roles of Enslaved People: Explore the various roles (agricultural, skilled labor, domestic work) that enslaved people occupied.

  • Cultural Heritages: Analyze how African Americans drew on African cultural traditions to cope with life in the antebellum South.

  • Required Sources:

    • "Rice Farmer Basket"

    • "Broadside advertising."