AP European History Long Essay Questions
**Note: This Long Essay Question test bank contains 8 pairs of cross-period questionsthat are numbered 1-16 and address all 4 AP European History time periods. The question pairs are organized by period and mirror the format of the College Board’s AP European History sample exam questions.
Periods 1 & 2
Question 1. Many historians maintain that the Renaissancecan be viewed as a turning point in European society. Support, modify, or refute this interpretation,providing specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept: 1.1.I
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-5
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-11
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-1
Historical Thinking Skill:Periodization
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 2. Many historians maintain that the Enlightenmentcan be viewed as a turning point in European society. Support, modify, or refute this interpretation,providing specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:2.3.I
Key Concept:2.3.II
Key Concept:2.3.III
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-7
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-1
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-4
Thematic Learning Objective: OS-9
Historical Thinking Skill:Periodization
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 2 & 3
Question 3. Evaluate the extent to which the emergence of Absolute monarchy contributed to maintaining continuity as well as fostering change in the societyand politics of Europe through the 17th and 18th century. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:2.1.I
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-2
Thematic Learning Objective: SP-3
Thematic Learning Objective:IS-7
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 4. Evaluate the extent to which the emergence of the “new imperialism” of the 19th century contributed to maintaining continuity as well as fostering change in the societyand politics of Europe through the late 19th and early 20th century. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:3.5.I
Key Concept:3.5.II
Key Concept:3.5.III
Thematic Learning Objective:INT-1
Thematic Learning Objective:INT-11
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-6
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 2 & 3
Question 5. Evaluate the extent to which the French Revolution can be viewed as a turning point in European history. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:2.1.IV
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-10
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-3
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-1
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-4
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-7
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Periodization
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 6. Evaluate the extent to which the Industrial Revolution can be viewed as a turning point in European history. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:3.1.I
Key Concept:3.1.II
Key Concept:3.1.III
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-1
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-3
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-4
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-7
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-5
Thematic Learning Objective:IS-3
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Periodization
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 3 & 4
Question 7. Some historians argue that the Congress of Vienna and Concert of Europe were effective means of establishing and maintaining international peace and stability throughout the nineteenth century.Support, modify, or refute this stance,providing specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:3.4.I
Key Concept:3.4.II
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-14
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-16
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-17
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-18
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 8. Some historians argue that the League of Nations was a dismal failure as a means of establishing and maintaining international peace and stability.Support, modify, or refute this stance,providing specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:4.1.II
Key Concept:4.1.III
Key Concept:4.2.II
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-8
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-6
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-14
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-17
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 1 & 4
Question 9. Evaluate the extent to which the Reformation reshaped the worldview of Europeans. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:1.3.I
Key Concept:1.3.II
Key Concept:1.3.III
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-2
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-11
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-3
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 10. Evaluate the extent to which the rise of fascism reshaped the worldview of Europeans. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:4.1.III
Key Concept:4.2.II
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-8
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-9
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-6
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-8
Thematic Learning Objective:IS-10
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 1 & 3
Question 11. Evaluate the extent to which the Scientific Revolution altered Europeans’ understanding of the world around them and their interactions with the world.Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:1.1.IV
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-1
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-4
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-5
Thematic Learning Objective:IS-1
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 12. Evaluate the extent to which the ideological and political movements of the 19th century altered Europeans’ understanding of the world around them and their interactions with the world.Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:3.3.I
Key Concept:3.3.III
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-8
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-14
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-1
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-4
Thematic Learning Objective:IS-7
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 2 & 4
Question 13. It can be argued that the wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon were the most pivotal point in reshaping the political and social make-up of Europe. Support, modify, or refute this concept,providing specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:2.1.IV
Key Concept:2.1.V
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-10
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-3
Thematic Learning Objective:OS-9
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-5
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-17
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 14. It can be argued that World War I was the most pivotal point in reshaping the political and social make-up of Europe. Support, modify, or refute this concept,providing specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:4.1.I
Key Concept:4.1.II
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-6
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-13
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-14
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-18
Thematic Learning Objective:IS-8
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Periods 1 & 4
Question 15. Evaluate the extent to which the Age of Exploration contributed to maintaining continuity as well as fostering change in the relationship between Europeans and the rest of the world. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:1.4.I
Key Concept:1.4.III
Key Concept:1.4.IV
Thematic Learning Objective:INT-6
Thematic Learning Objective:INT-11
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-5
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-15
Thematic Learning Objective:IS-10
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Question 16. Evaluate the extent to which the Cold War contributed to maintaining continuity as well as fostering change in the relationship between Europeans and the rest of the world. Provide specific evidence to justify your answer.
Key Concept:4.1.IV
Thematic Learning Objective:INT-8
Thematic Learning Objective:INT-11
Thematic Learning Objective:PP-5
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-13
Thematic Learning Objective:SP-14
Historical Thinking Skill:Patterns of Continuity and Change over Time
Historical Thinking Skill:Historical Argumentation
Historical Thinking Skill:Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence