AP European History Free-Response Questions - 2018

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel

2018 AP European History free-response questions for Section I (Parts A/B) and Section II (Document-Based Question) require structured answers using historically defensible reasoning. Section I prompts address revolutionary forces in late-1700s France, causes and effects of an international situation in a 1921 cartoon, and comparative analysis of reform and revolution from the 1500s through early modern Europe. Section II focuses on evaluating whether the Thirty Years’ War was primarily religious or political, using edited documents, at least six sources, and corroborating external evidence.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Section I

Part B (Short-Answer Response)

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3 or 4

Section II

Question 1 (Document-Based Question)

Thirty Years' War: religious vs political reasons

2018 AP European History Free-Response Questions © 2018 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement Program, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. Visit [the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org](the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org). [AP Central is the official online home for the AP Program: apcentral.collegeboard.org](AP Central is the official online home for the AP Program: apcentral.collegeboard.org). 2018 AP® EUROPEAN HISTORY FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS EUROPEAN HISTORY SECTION I, Part B Time—40 minutes Directions: Answer Question 1 and Question 2. Answer either Question 3 or Question 4. Write your responses in the Section I, Part B: Short-Answer Response booklet. You must write your response to each question on the lined page designated for that response. Each response is expected to fit within the space provided. In your responses, be sure to address all parts of the questions you answer. Use complete sentences; an outline or bulleted list alone is not acceptable. You may plan your answers in this exam booklet, but no credit will be given for notes written in this booklet. Read the passage below and answer all parts of the question that follows. “At the end of the 1700s two great revolutionary forces enormously increased the intensity of events. The two forces were these: On one hand the French nation had reached intellectual maturity, and on the other the French bourgeoisie had reached social maturity. French thought desired to apply its methods of analysis and deduction to all of reality, to society as well as nature. The French bourgeoisie had become conscious of its power, its wealth, its rights, and of its near-infinite possibilities of development. In a word, the bourgeoisie had attained class consciousness.” Jean Jaurès, French politician, history of the French Revolution published ina series of articles between 1901 and 1904 1. a) Describe one prior intellectual change that influenced the events described in the passage. b) Explain why the pattern of social changes that Jaurès describes led to the French Revolution. c) Explain how an ideology of the 1800s influenced Jaurès’interpretation of the causes of the French Revolution. -2- GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE. 2018 AP® EUROPEAN HISTORY FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS Use the image below to answer all parts of the question that follows. December 1921 cartoon from a British magazine showing British Prime Minister Lloyd George and French Prime Minister Aristide Briand and a fgure representing Germany, kneeling in the water. Aristide Briand and Lloyd George taunt the drowning Germany, December, 1921 (litho), English School,(20th century) / Private Collection / Bridgeman Images 2. a) Describe one cause of the international situation depicted in the cartoon. b) Explain one effect of the international situation depicted in the cartoon. c) Explain the cartoonist’s perspective on the international situation depicted in the cartoon. -3- GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE. 2018 AP® EUROPEAN HISTORY FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS Question 3 or 4 Directions: Answer either Question 3 or Question 4. 3. Answer (a),(b), and (c) . a) Describe one reason for Martin Luther’s critique of the Catholic Church in the early 1500s. b) Describe one Catholic response in the 1500s to Luther’s critique. c) Explain how Luther’s protest contributed to social change in Europe in the period 1517 to 1600. 4. Answer (a),(b), and (c) . a) Describe one of Lenin’s critiques of the Russian monarchy. b) Describe one effect of Lenin’s critique on Russian politics. c) Explain how Stalin’s policies departed from Lenin’s policies. END OF SECTION I -4- 2018 AP® EUROPEAN HISTORY FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS EUROPEAN HISTORY SECTION II Total Time—1 hour and 40 minutes Question 1 (Document-Based Question) Suggested reading and writing time: 1 hour It is suggested that you spend 15

FAQs

What is the format required for the Section I Part B responses?

Answer Question 1 and Question 2, then answer either Question 3 or Question 4. Use complete sentences, address all parts of the questions, and write within the space provided for each response.

What does the 2018 Section I Question 1 ask students to do?

It asks students to respond to a passage about revolutionary forces in the late 1700s France by describing prior intellectual change, explaining how the social change pattern led to the French Revolution, and analyzing how an ideology of the 1800s influenced Jaurès’ interpretation.

What key requirements apply to the Section II Document-Based Question on the Thirty Years’ War?

Students must present a historically defensible thesis, provide broader historical context, support arguments with at least six documents, use at least one additional piece of specific historical evidence, and explain relevance for at least three documents using their point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience.

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel

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