Welcome to AP US History! I am Mr. Hafera. AP U.S. History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman level college course. It is a two-semester survey of American history from the Age of Exploration and Discovery to the present. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, interpretation of original documents, and historiography.