Midterm Examination II Study Guide

The second Midterm is scheduled for Friday, November 13, 11:00-11:50 am. I hope it is a lucky day for each of you, but with good preparation you won't need luck for your midterm examination.

The exam includes a) identifications (6 @ 5 points each = 30 points), b) multiple choice questions (10 @ 2 points each = 20 points), and c) a topical essay (50 points). Students taking the midterm examination during the scheduled class period on November 13th are permitted to use a "test aid." (A "test aid" must be no larger than the surface of one-half sheet of paper--one side--, 8.5 inches x 5.5 inches.)

Identifications will come only from those hotlinked to lecture topics on the class schedule and covered in class through November 9th. 

Multiple choice/True and false questions will be selected from the online quizzes.

Possible Topical essay questions are listed below.

I will choose at random three of the following essay questions for the midterm. You will be required to answer one of the three questions for your 50 point topical essay. Remember to include a thesis statement, supported by approximately three or more specific examples, and a brief conclusion.

Possible Topical Essay Questions:

1) From 1790-1815, the Federalists and the Republicans both believed that they were protecting the fundamental values rooted in the founding of the United States. However, each political party had different approaches to U.S. foreign relations. What were the major strategies and events behind U.S. foreign policy from 1790-1815 and what roles did America's first political parties play in this history?

2) The United States' economy went through an important transition from the 1790s through the 1850s. What were the major factors reshaping the U.S. economy and how did the transformation play out when considering factors such as race, ethnicity, and gender?

3) Andrew Jackson is often cited as a symbol for his era. In fact, the 1830s and 1840s are often referred to as the Jacksonian Era. What were the major political controversies shaping Andrew Jackson's presidency and his legacy?

4) How did the debate over slavery change in the United States between 1800 and 1850? What were the major social, economic, environmental, and political factors that contributed to the shifts in the debates about slavery?

5) Calls for reform became a major theme in the United States beginning in the 1830s through the 1850s. Calls for reform often occur in history when there are significant social and economic changes happening in a society. What were the major reform movements, and less positive reactionary movements, of this period and what social and economic changes did they reflect?