HISTORY 355

The Age of Revolutions
Midterm Examination Study Guide

 

Possible Identifications (50 Points):

On the exam, four of these terms will appear, you will define and give the significance of TWO of those four. Each ID will be worth 25 points of your total exam score. Be as complete as you can identifying who, what, where, when, why, and how, as well as reflecting on the termÕs significance.

 

Seven Years War

The Price of Empire

The Empire Strikes Back

Coercive Acts

Organizing Independence

Republicanism

1776 State Constitutions

Patriots

Loyalists

The Disaffected

Wartime Troubles

Gospel of Moneyed Men

Barrier Against Democracy

White ManÕs Democracy

A Revolution for Women?

A Revolution for Slaves?

A Revolution for Indians

(Not So) Absolute Monarchy

Privileged Estates

The Estates-General

National Assembly

Civil Constitution of the Clergy

Sans-Culottes

The Terror

Thermidor

Napoleon

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

 

 

Possible Essay Questions (50 Points):

One of the following essay questions will appear on the exam. Be sure to answer as completely as you can and include numerous SPECIFIC EXAMPLES from lectures and readings to support your argument.

 

1)    What do you see as the top five similarities between the American and French Revolutions in terms of the categories we are using to analyze revolutions: causes, process, internal conflicts, ideology, effects of war, counter-revolutions, and outcome?

2)    Which revolution was more revolutionary the French or the American? (Be sure to define your criteria for ÒrevolutionaryÓ and be sure to include numerous specific examples from EACH revolution.

3)    In his book, 1984, George Orwell gives the following description of social hierarchy and revolution: ÒThroughout recorded time, and probably since the end of the Neolithic Age, there have been three kinds of people in the world, the High, the Middle, and the LowÉThe aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the Middle is to change places with the High. The aim of the LowÉis to abolish all distinctions and create a society in which all men shall be equal. Thus throughout history a struggle which is the same in its main outlines recurs over and over again. For long periods the High seem to be securely in power, but sooner or laterÉthey are then overthrown by the Middle, who enlist the Low on their side by pretending to them that they are fighting for liberty and justice. As soon as they have reached their objective, the Middle thrust the Low back into their old position of servitude, and themselves become the High.Ó To what extent does OrwellÕs depiction of revolution apply to the American and French Revolutions? Be sure to identify who you are including in the categories of middle, low, and high and to assess the assertions that Orwell makes about the relationships between the groups. USE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES TO MAKE YOUR CASE.

 

Again, with each essay it is CRITICAL that you use NUMEROUS SPECIFIC EXAMPLES from lectures and readings to make your case.