General question - first time studying for CLEP exam

[rrr]

The big picture is definitely important for this one. For me, it kind of helps to read through the study materials like a novel... these are the characters (Jefferson, Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, etc) and here's the chronological development of how and why things are developing. For example, you should be able to have a general concept of what life was like after the Civil War, rather than memorize specific facts and figures related to it. Have a general sense of why other countries did/did not get involved in our affairs, the general differences in political parties at the time, causes and effects of slavery, manifest destiny and land expansion, and how the nation's goals and strategies developed over the time period.