Is AP Gov significantly harder if you didn't take APUSH?

<p>This is probably the wrong forum, but I’m too lazy to find the right one.</p>

<p>I am taking AP Government and Politics this year. Last year there were some problems that resulted in my exclusion from APUSH. My AP Gov teacher has assigned us this essay prompt:</p>

<p>The legitimacy of the U.S. government has increased over time. Identify and explain how legitimacy was increased by TWO of the following:</p>

<p>-The Constitutional Convention
-The Civil War
-The New Deal
-9/11</p>

<p>I’m beginning to worry that my lack of detailed knowledge about U.S. history will cripple me in AP Gov essays. I have an above-average level of knowledge about U.S. history for someone who only took the regular class, but I’m far from truly educated when it comes to the four events above.</p>

<p>How much does APUSH knowledge play into AP Gov essays? Can you give me an estimated percentage?</p>

<p>the question should be fairly simple with or without APUSH. currently I am an AP gov student as well, and although i took reg. history last year, there are atleast two of the highlighted 4 topics that i have knowledge prior to AP gov. U shoulda already covered the Const. Convention by now, so that makes 3. Maybe expanding your horizon of government beyond the classroom might help. It’s the A students after all, who do more than is expected.</p>

<p>My U.S. history teacher actually didn’t cover the Constitutional Convention…we actually started the year off with the Civil War.</p>

<p>The difference in rigor and intellectual stimulation between AP and regular classes at my school is huge. In the regular classes, you learn almost nothing that isn’t common knowledge, and draw pictures most of the time. You can’t even call them “college preparatory” classes. The AP classes, on the other hand, really open your mind and can teach you stuff that you will still remember the next year and the year after that.</p>