History 407/607: Midterm Examination Study Sheet
Possible Identifications
Outpost of Empire Democracy in Early America
Eroding Independence Rough
Music
Men and Patriarchy Women and Patriarchy
Colonial Slavery Playoff System
Challenge of Great Awakening
French and Indian War Paying for Britain’s War
Stamp Act Revolt (1765) Farm Uprisings
Indians and Proc. Line Townshend Acts (1767)
Coercive Acts (1773) Republicanism
1776 State Constitutions Organizing
Independence
Lexington and Concord The Long Retreat
Victory at Saratoga Citizen Soldiers
Continental Army Problems
Waging War
British Blunders Southern
Strategy
Click Here for Sample ID
Possible Essay Questions
1) What
caused the American Revolution? Some
scholars see the Revolution as the product of cultural factors such as
religion. Others see it as an
ideological movement inspired by beliefs in rights and principles. Some see it as a response to long-term
demographic trends (i.e. changes to population, land holding). Still others have argued that Revolution
represented an economic struggle that was primarily about class. What do you think? Was the Revolution mostly about culture,
ideas, demographic trends, or class? [YOU NEED TO MAKE ONE OF THESE POSITIONS
YOUR CENTRAL ARGUMENT]. How do the other
factors relate to the one you have chosen?
Or do the factors not relate to one another? [The more detailed your
answer and the specific examples you cite from lectures and readings, the
better your grade will be]
2) In
telling the story of the Revolution through 1776, historians usually depict two
American Revolutions: a revolution to establish “home rule” (the anti-colonial
struggle against Britain)
and one to decide “who shall rule at home” (the internal revolution over the
distribution of power within America).
What was the relationship between these
two revolutions? How did the revolution for “home rule” spur the revolution
over “who shall rule at home”? Likewise, how did the internal revolution help
fuel the anti-colonial struggle against Britain? [The more detailed your
answer and the specific examples you cite from lectures and readings, the
better your grade will be]
3) A
friend of yours says that the colonial victory against Britain was
“not as big a deal as people have made it.
Americans in the colonies were completely united against England and totally motivated throughout the war
with the citizen soldier fighting for their farms; they had the help of France; and Britain had inept generals. If you think about it, Britain really
didn’t stand a chance.” Given what you
and your fellow students have learned about the Revolutionary War, how would
you respond? (Be sure to address each of your friend’s assertions. You need not
argue that your friend is either all wrong or all right in their assertions.) [The
more detailed your answer and the specific examples you cite from lectures and
readings, the better your grade will be]