Here's an advice, for your good. First Open last 10 years' past papers. Go through each paper's subjective portion thrice atleast. When you are done with 4 or 5 papers, you will start having a rough idea of the important portions/eras of the subject. Then, go through remaining past papers. Finally, Make a list of these portions and in front of each portion, mention how many times a question from that portion has been asked in last 10 years. This way, not only are you going to have a broader view of the subject, you will end up marking important topics on your own as well. And you don't have to depend on some unreliable source, or other members like me, asking them to tell you important topics. What you can do for yourself, nobody can do for you. As a starting point, I am mentioning some important topics, which have been asked in paper many numerous times. Refine the list yourself when you are done with inspecting past papers. I have studied Majumdar's book and deem it to be ENOUGH to cover both the breadth and depth of the subject


1- Colonization period (Spain, France, UK) With special reference to UK's colonies. (This portion is really imp for objective)

2- American revolution (War of Independence) - Causes of war, Declaration of independence, Articles of Confedration, Socio- economic significance of American revolution, Making the constitution, Its salient features

3- Federalist Regime (Not really imp but give it a go to have proper understanding of political structure of US)

4- Democratic-Republican Regime (Some of questions very frequently asked from this portion are Jefferson's democracy, war of 1812 and Monroe Doctrine)

5- Jacksonian Democracy Its characteristics and comparison or contrast with Jeffersonian Democracy

6- American Civil War: causes, foreign policy of US during Civil war, socio-economic significance wih special reference to Industrialization

7- First World war: how USA plunged into it, Wilson's Fourteen Points, Treaty of Versailles, USA's rejection of treaty and Its implications on world peace

8- The great depression causes and impacts

9- Note on President FD Roosevelt (appears once in every 2 exams almost)

10- 2nd World war US entry into war after attempted neutrality, conventions and charters at the end of war, emergence of US and USSR as undisputed powers and start of cold war

11- Cold war, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan

12- Short notes on Watergate scandal, Bush Doctrine etc

13- One question about Slavery in USA is always asked. It can be just an essay on slavery, analysis of slavery as a blight to american society, Slavery's role in inciting hatred among North & South which finally led to Civil war, Abolishment of Slavery etc

Remember, its just my perception of importnt topics and any other's views may vary. As i said before, just have a close look on past papers, chalk out important questions and refine this list.

Plus, before starting this subject, make a sense of important topics by googling each important topic/era and just reading about it very briefly like What is it, when did it happen, why did it happen, How it relates to the next important event. Wikipedia can help you greatly in this regard. This will help you to develop a mindset about the subject and once you have done it, go to your text book for thorough studies. This way, things will not only become very interesting but easy as well.

Good luck with your prep, God bless you.

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"And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods?"