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.