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CSS History of USA Syllabus
History of USA is a 100-mark Group IV optional subject in the CSS written exam, examined in one three-hour paper. Below is FPSC's official syllabus, word for word: every section, topics and suggested readings.
- Marks
- 100
- Papers
- 1
- Time
- 3 hours a paper
- Group
- Group IV
- Subject code
- 30
The paper
100 marks- I.Introduction:-
- •From ancient times to 1492
- •Advent of the Europeans to British supremacy (1492-1606)
- II.USA as a British Colony (1606-1783).
- III.USA as an Independent Country (1783 - 1819)
- IV.Expansion of USA: From 13 to 50 States (1820 - 1949)
- V.Constitution of the USA: Salient Features
- VI.Civil War between the North and the East (1850 - 1869)sic: 'the North and the East' as printed.
- VII.Industrialization and its emergence as one of the world powers (1870 -1916)
- VIII.USA’s role in the Two World Wars (1914 – 1918 & 1939 - 1945)
- IX.Post 1945 world scenario and emergence of USA and USSR as the Two World Powers.
- X.American Role in patronizing UNO and International Organizations 1945 - 2012
- XI.American Role in Cold War and its emergence as the Sole Super Power (1945 - 1990).
- XII.International Concerns of USA: An Overview.
- XIII.The War on Terror: The Role of Pakistan and USA (2001 - 2012)
- XIV.Global perceptions of the USA.
- XV.Progressive Era: Reforms of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson,
- XVI.The Great Depression and the New Deal
- XVII.Civil Rights Movement
- XVIII.United States’ role in International Conflicts
- XIX.US Presidential Election
- XX.The US Congress: Role and Functions
- XXI.Separation of Powers: Check and Balances
Suggested readings
- 1.The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution,Bailyn. Bernard, 1992
- 2.A Pocket History of the United StatesCommager, H. and Nevins, Allan, 1967
- 3.Painless American History,Curt Lader, 2009
- 4.The Politically Incorrect Guide to American HistoryE.Woods, Thomas Jr., 2004
- 5.The Civil War: A NarrativeFoote, Shelby, 1986
- 6.The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made it.Hofstadter. Richard , 1948
- 7.US-South Asian Relations 1784 – 1940: A History Perspective,Iftikhar H. Malik, ed., 2006
- 8.The Tragedy of Great Power PoliticsMearsheimer, John, 2001
- 9.Enlightenment Revolution and the Birth of Modern NationNelson, Craig, Thomas Paine, 2006
- 10.The USA: 1917 – 1980Smith, Nigel, 2006
- 11.American Colonies: The Selling of North AmericaTaylor, Alan, 2002
- 12.White Over Black: American Attitudes Toward the Negro 1550 – 1812Winthrop D. Jordan,
- 13.The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents.William. A. De Gregorio, 2005
- 14.A people’s History of the United States: 1492 to Present.Zinn, Howard, 1980
Past papers
FPSC's History of USA papers from 2016 to 2026, as text. Open a year, or see them all.