| Section 1 - Political institutions and public policy | 
| The following are among the topics covered in this section: 
 
The development of American political partiesThe motivations and character of American expansionismThe intellectual and political expressions of liberalism, conservatism, and other such movementsThe emergence of regulatory and welfare-state legislation | 
| Section 2 - Social developments | 
| The following are among the topics covered in this section: 
 
The impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction upon the SouthThe changing nature of agricultural lifeLong-term demographic trendsThe changing occupational structure, nature of work, and labor organizationImmigration and the history of racial and ethnic minoritiesTrends in the history of women and the family | 
| Section 3 - Economic developments | 
| The following are among the topics covered in this section: 
 
The process of economic growth and developmentThe impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction upon the SouthThe motivations and character of American expansionismThe changing nature of agricultural lifeThe changing occupational structure, nature of work, and labor organizationUrbanization and industrialization | 
| Section 4 - Cultural and intellectual developments | 
| The following are among the topics covered in this section: 
 
Major movements and individual figures in the history of American arts and lettersThe changing occupational structure, nature of work, and labor organizationImmigration and the history of racial and ethnic minoritiesLong-term demographic trends | 
| Section 5 - Diplomacy and international relations | 
| The following are among the topics covered in this section: 
 
The motivations and character of American expansionismThe intellectual and political expressions of liberalism, conservatism, and other such movementsImmigration and the history of racial and ethnic minoritiesThe causes and impacts of major wars in American history |