AP® U.S. History Unit 6 Review and Practice Test
Build confidence for APUSH Unit 6 with clear explanations, helpful notes, videos, and exam-style practice. Explore major developments in the United States from 1865 to 1898, including industrialization, immigration, urban growth, and key social and political changes. Whether you're completing the Unit 6 APUSH progress check MCQ, preparing for an AP® U.S. History Unit 6 test, or reviewing essential concepts with a study guide, UWorld’s APUSH Unit 6 review provides everything you need to understand this period with clarity and confidence.
Master AP U.S. History Unit 6 with Confidence
Get a solid grasp of key Unit 6 events with easy-to-follow lessons, notes, and practice questions. Our review breaks down major concepts so you can study smarter and feel ready for test day.
Engaging Video Lessons
Our video lessons make Unit 6 topics easy to understand, even if you’re short on study time. Each lesson explains major events, themes, and historical shifts in a simple, engaging way. You’ll learn exactly what the AP exam expects and build the confidence to tackle any question.
Interactive Study Guides
Our interactive study guides break down Unit 6 concepts into easy steps, helping you understand key events, people, and themes from 1865 to 1898. Each guide includes helpful visuals, quick summaries, and exam-focused tips. You can review at your own pace and stay organized as you prepare for your APUSH test.
Test Your Knowledge with APUSH Unit 6 Practice Questions
Question
The completion of the first transcontinental railroad shown in the photograph most directly resulted from
| A.The end of Native American resistance | |
| B.The influx of Chinese immigrant laborers | |
| C. The emergence of an antitrust movement | |
| D. The enactment of the Interstate Commerce Act |
Explanation
For most of the 19th century, the US essentially had open borders, with few restrictions on individuals entering the country. Beginning in the 1840s, Chinese individuals emigrated by the thousands to the West Coast to mine gold. After the gold rush declined in the 1860s, Chinese laborers provided most of the unskilled labor for construction of the transcontinental railroad.
Building the transcontinental railroad was a massive undertaking that required thousands of workers. Well over 10,000 Chinese immigrants, predominantly unmarried men, filled the jobs and worked as contract laborers. Immigrants helped lay track across virgin wilderness, across the Great Plains, and through the mountains. This backbreaking, hazardous work took place 6 days a week, year-round.
(Choice A) Native American resistance to US expansion intensified, not ended, following completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869.
(Choice C) The antitrust movement called for breaking up trusts which created monopolies on certain industries, including railroads. This movement didn't aid the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
(Choice D) The Interstate Commerce Act regulated the railroad industry but didn't contribute to the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.
Things to remember:
In the mid-19th century, Chinese immigrants on the West Coast provided most of the unskilled labor for construction of the transcontinental railroad.
Passage:
"With the Negro…eliminated from all participation in…elections, there could be no longer an excuse for killing Negroes to prevent 'Negro Domination.' Brutality still continued…[and] the murderers invented the…excuse…that Negroes had to be killed to avenge their assaults upon [White] women.
If the Southern people…would…admit that colored men and women are lynched for almost any offense…there would not now be the necessity for this defense.
It [now] becomes a painful duty of the Negro to reproduce a record which shows that a large portion of the American people…condone murder and defy the contempt of civilization. We plead not for the colored people alone, but for all victims…. During the year 1894, there were…197 persons…put to death by mobs who gave the victims no opportunity to make a lawful defense. No comment need be made upon a condition of public sentiment responsible for such alarming results….
[T]he pages which follow shall be…the record…made, not by colored men, but…by white men, of reports sent over the civilized world by white men in the South….
[T]he Chicago Tribune…has made a specialty of the compilation of statistics touching upon lynching. The data compiled by that journal and published to the world January 1, 1894, up to the present time has not been disputed."
Ida B. Wells, The Red Record: Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynching in the United States, 1895
1. The Red Record: Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynching in the United States, 1895
Question
The type of views expressed in the excerpt emerged most directly from which of the following trends?
| A. Growing anti-Catholic sentiment | |
| B. Racial violence against African Americans | |
| C. The closing of the frontier | |
| D. Support for labor strikes |
Explanation
Lynching refers to the violent killing of individuals without a legal trial. Although some people have described lynching as a form of vigilante justice for alleged crimes, during the late 19th century it was primarily used against African Americans to uphold White dominance.
As Black communities began to thrive economically during the late 19th century, the number of African Americans lynched increased. Despite comprising less than 15 percent of the population, the number of African Americans that were lynched during the 1890s far exceeded that of Whites.
The excerpt is from Ida B. Wells' The Red Record—a detailed report on the 197 instances of lynching that occurred in 1894. Wells' work emerged from a trend of racial violence against Black communities and clearly shows that lynching disproportionately impacted African Americans.
(Choice A) Anti-Catholic sentiment typically affected European immigrants, whereas the views in the excerpt pertain to racial violence against Blacks.
(Choice C) The 1890 Census declared the frontier "closed" five years before Wells wrote The Red Record, but nothing in the excerpt emerged from that development.
(Choice D) Support for labor strikes is not related to the experience of racial violence discussed in the excerpt.
Things to remember:
During the late 19th century, lynching was a common type of racial violence primarily inflicted by Whites against Blacks.
Question
Which of the following groups would have been most likely to support the policy suggested in the image?
| A. Pro-immigration union leaders | |
| B. Southern cotton sharecroppers | |
| C. White working class | |
| D. Business owners and Christian missionaries |
Explanation
In order to answer this question, consider the following:
- What is the policy that the cartoon is referencing?
- Who would have supported this policy?
Policy: The 1882 cartoon, depicting a Chinese immigrant unable to enter the United States, is referencing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The Act banned Chinese laborers, skilled or unskilled, from entering the country for ten years, and also prevented any Chinese immigrant from becoming a citizen of the United States; however, Chinese immigrants who arrived before the Act and were not yet citizens were exempt.
Supporters: The white working class would have been most likely to support the Chinese Exclusion Act. Chinese laborers worked for extremely low wages, which employers preferred as it helped them earn a larger profit. The lower wages paid to the Chinese, in turn, had the effect of crowding out white laborers.
As a result, the most vocal opponents of Chinese labor and immigrants were white laborers, such as members of the Workingmen's Party of California, which opposed Chinese immigration.
(Choice A) Pro-immigrant union leaders would have opposed the Chinese Exclusion Act because they believed immigrants had a right to work in the United States.
(Choice B) Although some Chinese laborers were hired to work on sugar plantations in the South, there is little evidence to support the claim that southern sharecroppers supported the Chinese Exclusion Act.
(Choice D) A substantial number of business owners and missionaries opposed the Chinese Exclusion Act. Business owners profited from paying lower wages to Chinese laborers, and missionaries saw Chinese immigrants as potential converts to Christianity.
Things to remember:
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was supported by the white working class, who viewed the Chinese as taking away economic opportunities because the Chinese laborers were willing to work for less money.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the main topics covered in AP U.S. History Unit 6: Period 6: 1865–1898?
AP U.S. History Unit 6 focuses on how the United States changed after the Civil War. Key topics include:
- The settlement of the West – westward expansion, conflicts with Native Americans, and new economic opportunities
- The “New South” – rebuilding the South, shifting economies, and ongoing racial inequality
- The rise of industrial capitalism – big business, factories, labor unions, and growing class tensions
- Immigration and migration – new immigrant groups, movement to cities, and changing communities
- Reform movements – efforts to improve working conditions, politics, and society
- Debates about the role of government – arguments over regulation, economic policy, and government power
UWorld helps you master all these Unit 6 topics with clear explanations and AP-style practice questions, so you can feel more confident going into your test.
How should I prepare for an AP U.S. History Unit 6 exam?
A simple read, watch, and practice routine works best for your APUSH Unit 6 review. Start by reading clear Unit 6 notes or a study guide to understand major topics like the West, the “New South,” immigration, and industrial capitalism. Then watch video lessons to reinforce the big ideas and help you remember key themes for your Unit 6 test.
Finish by taking an APUSH Unit 6 practice test, answering MCQs, and trying a few FRQs. Practicing with real exam-style questions builds confidence and shows you what to expect on test day. UWorld combines all of this—study guides, video lessons, and realistic APUSH Unit 6 practice questions, so you can prepare more effectively and score higher.
Are any free resources available for APUSH Unit 6?
Yes, you can begin with UWorld’s free trial, which gives you access to a sample set of APUSH Unit 6 practice questions, detailed explanations, and study tools. It’s an easy way to test your understanding of major topics like westward expansion, the rise of industrial capitalism, and the “New South.” The realistic MCQs and clear answer breakdowns help you learn faster, correct mistakes, and build confidence before taking a full Unit 6 practice test.
In addition to UWorld, the College Board offers free topic videos, progress-check questions, and past FRQs that closely match the style of the AP U.S. History exam. Khan Academy also provides helpful lessons and short quizzes that simplify important events from 1865 to 1898. When used together, these free resources give you a strong foundation for your APUSH Unit 6 review without any cost.
What types of questions are on the AP U.S. History Unit 6 test?
The AP U.S. History Unit 6 test includes the same question formats you’ll see on the full AP exam. You’ll answer multiple-choice questions based on short passages, charts, political cartoons, or images connected to themes like industrial capitalism, westward expansion, and immigration. The test also includes short-answer questions (SAQs) that ask you to explain causes, effects, or historical significance using specific evidence from Unit 6.
Depending on your teacher or practice set, you may also see DBQ- or LEQ-style prompts that ask you to build an argument about major developments from 1865 to 1898. UWorld gives you realistic Unit 6 MCQs, SAQs, and source-based questions so you can practice every format you’ll face.
How can I improve my score on the Free-Response Questions (FRQs) for Unit 6?
To score higher on Unit 6 FRQs, start by knowing the core content—terms, events, and themes like the settlement of the West, the “New South,” industrial capitalism, and major immigration and migration patterns. Strong Unit 6 knowledge helps you pull in accurate evidence quickly. When you write, focus on creating a clear argument and connecting each point to specific historical examples from 1865 to 1898.
Practice is key, especially with prompts resembling APUSH Unit 6 SAQs, DBQs, or LEQs. Using timed writing helps you get comfortable organizing your thoughts fast. UWorld’s Unit 6 practice questions, explanations, and sample responses guide you on how to structure arguments and use evidence effectively, making your FRQs more precise and exam-ready.
What is the "Period 6: 1865–1898" unit's weight on the AP U.S. History exam?
Period 6 covers some of the most important changes in American history, including industrialization, westward settlement, and major shifts in immigration and the economy. Because these themes shape so many long-term developments, this unit appears regularly throughout the AP U.S. History exam.
You’ll often see Unit 6 material in multiple-choice sets and in questions that ask you to analyze cause and effect, compare developments, or explain historical significance. Topics like the “New South,” industrial capitalism, and reform movements connect easily to broader AP themes.
UWorld’s Unit 6 practice questions help you review these high-impact topics with explanations that show how they may appear on the real test.
Where can I find a good study guide for APUSH Unit 6?
A strong APUSH Unit 6 study guide should make the major themes from 1865–1898 easy to understand, and UWorld’s guide is built exactly for that. It breaks down key topics like westward expansion, the “New South,” industrial capitalism, and immigration into clear, student-friendly explanations so you can review without feeling overwhelmed.
UWorld’s Unit 6 study guide also includes helpful visuals, quick summaries, and exam-style examples that show you how these themes appear on real AP questions. Everything is organized by the concepts the AP exam emphasizes most, so you always know what to focus on.
With step-by-step explanations, keyword-rich notes, and easy navigation, UWorld gives you one of the most efficient ways to master APUSH Unit 6 and feel confident heading into your test.
Can I find practice tests specifically for AP U.S. History Unit 6?
Yes, you can find practice tests focused entirely on APUSH Unit 6. These usually include multiple-choice questions, short-answer prompts, and source-based items tied to themes like industrial capitalism, immigration patterns, and the “New South.”
Practicing with Unit 6-specific questions helps you see exactly where your understanding is strongest and where you need more review. Some teachers provide their own Unit 6 quizzes or review packets, while others use progress-check questions to help students prepare for assessments. These are great for building confidence before a full exam.
UWorld offers high-quality Unit 6 practice tests and MCQs that match the difficulty and style of the real AP exam, complete with clear, helpful explanations.
How can I connect the key themes of APUSH Unit 6 more easily?
Understanding Unit 6 becomes much easier when you can connect themes like westward expansion, industrial capitalism, and immigration instead of memorizing each topic separately. UWorld helps with this by showing how events from 1865 to 1898 link together through clear explanations and well-organized notes. You see how changes in the economy, population growth, and regional development overlap across the period.
As you move through each concept, UWorld highlights cause-and-effect patterns and themes that the AP exam frequently tests. This helps you see why the “New South” developed the way it did or how industrialization shaped reform movements and government policies.
With visual aids, timelines, and practice questions built around these connections, UWorld makes it easier to understand Unit 6 as a whole rather than as a list of isolated facts.
What’s the best way to review APUSH Unit 6 right before a test?
Right before your Unit 6 test, the goal is to focus on quick, targeted review—not relearning everything from scratch. UWorld’s Unit 6 study guide is perfect for this because it summarizes the most important events from 1865 to 1898 in short, readable sections. You can refresh your memory on topics like the settlement of the West, new industrial systems, and rising immigration in just a few minutes.
After reviewing the notes, doing a short set of Unit 6 practice questions helps you check what you remember under light pressure. UWorld’s explanations reinforce the themes you’re most likely to see on your test.
This combination of fast notes and focused practice helps you boost confidence, sharpen recall, and walk into your APUSH Unit 6 quiz or exam feeling prepared.
