History of the United States I
3 free practice tests · 120 questions each · 1h 30min · No sign-up required
About This Exam
The CLEP History of the United States I exam covers the period from early European colonization through the end of Reconstruction (1877). It tests your knowledge of political, economic, social, intellectual, and cultural developments during this formative period of American history.
What's Covered
- Early colonization — European exploration, colonial societies (New England, Middle, Southern colonies), relations with Native Americans, and colonial governance
- The American Revolution — causes of colonial discontent, key events and battles, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of Confederation
- The Constitution and early Republic — the Constitutional Convention, ratification debates, Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists, and the Bill of Rights
- The early national period — Washington through Monroe administrations, Hamilton vs. Jefferson, the War of 1812, the Market Revolution, and Jacksonian democracy
- Antebellum period — westward expansion, Manifest Destiny, the slavery debate, abolitionism, reform movements, and sectionalism
- The Civil War — causes, key battles and turning points, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the home front
- Reconstruction — presidential vs. congressional Reconstruction, the 13th through 15th Amendments, Black Codes, and the end of Reconstruction
For the official exam description, see the College Board CLEP US History I page.
Study Tips
- This exam is broad. Don't spend all your study time on the Civil War — colonization and the early Republic are equally weighted.
- Know the major compromises: the Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise, the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850, and Kansas-Nebraska Act.
- Understand the evolution of slavery as both an economic system and a political issue from colonial times through the Civil War.
- Be able to identify key figures and associate them with the correct era. Mixing up Andrew Jackson with Andrew Johnson is a common mistake.
- The exam tests cause and effect more than dates. Focus on why events happened, not just when.
How to Register
Register at clep.collegeboard.org. The exam costs $97 and can be taken at a testing center or remotely. Check with your college for their CLEP credit policy and minimum score requirements before registering. Military service members, their spouses, and eligible veterans may be able to take the exam at no cost through DANTES funding.
About Our Practice Tests
All questions are original and written to match the difficulty, format, and topic coverage of the real exam based on official exam descriptions. We offer two modes: Practice Mode gives you instant feedback and explanations after each question, and Test Mode simulates the real exam with a timer and no feedback until you submit. Both modes are completely free with no account required.
Sample Practice Questions
Review these sample questions to get a feel for the exam. For the full interactive experience, use the Practice Tests above.
- A) establishing democratic governments
- B) finding a Northwest Passage to Asia
- C) acquiring gold, spreading Christianity, and expanding the Spanish Empire
- D) creating alliances with Native American tribes
- E) escaping religious persecution in Europe
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) acquiring gold, spreading Christianity, and expanding the Spanish Empire
Explanation:
Spanish exploration was driven by 'God, Gold, and Glory' — the desire for wealth (especially gold and silver), spreading Catholicism, and expanding Spain's imperial power.
- A) transfer of political systems between Europe and the Americas
- B) exchange of diplomatic ambassadors between Spain and Portugal
- C) widespread transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and ideas between the Old World and the New World after 1492
- D) trade agreements between Columbus and Native American leaders
- E) migration of Europeans to the Americas exclusively
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) widespread transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and ideas between the Old World and the New World after 1492
Explanation:
The Columbian Exchange was the massive biological and cultural transfer between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres following Columbus's 1492 voyage, including crops like maize and potatoes going to Europe and diseases like smallpox devastating Indigenous populations.
- A) the introduction of European political systems
- B) the spread of Christianity
- C) the introduction of horses
- D) the massive population decline caused by epidemic diseases such as smallpox
- E) the establishment of the fur trade
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
D) the massive population decline caused by epidemic diseases such as smallpox
Explanation:
European diseases, particularly smallpox, measles, and influenza, decimated Indigenous populations who had no prior exposure or immunity. Estimates suggest 80–95% of the Indigenous population died within the first century of contact.
- A) the colonists faced constant attacks from the Spanish
- B) the climate was too cold for agriculture
- C) many colonists were gentlemen unaccustomed to manual labor and the settlement was plagued by disease and poor leadership
- D) the English government refused to send supplies
- E) Native Americans refused all contact with the settlers
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) many colonists were gentlemen unaccustomed to manual labor and the settlement was plagued by disease and poor leadership
Explanation:
Jamestown's early settlers included many gentlemen who were unprepared for the physical labor required for survival. Swampy conditions bred disease, leadership was disorganized, and the colony nearly failed before John Smith imposed discipline and John Rolfe introduced tobacco cultivation.
- A) established the first colonial legislature
- B) created a formal alliance with the Wampanoag
- C) represented an early form of self-government based on majority rule and the consent of the governed
- D) declared independence from England
- E) established religious freedom in Plymouth Colony
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) represented an early form of self-government based on majority rule and the consent of the governed
Explanation:
The Mayflower Compact was a social contract signed by the Pilgrims before landing at Plymouth. It established a civil government based on the consent of the governed and majority rule — an early precedent for American democratic self-government.