Fall Semester Final Exam Study Guide

United States History
Fall Semester Final Examination
Mr. Novick - January 2011

Exam Date: Friday, January 14, 2011 – D Block in Room 20

DIRECTIONS: Select four (4) of the following seven (7) essay questions to answer, writing or typing your essays in complete sentences and paragraphs. You may use one 8.5 x 11 sheet of notes to use in composing your essays, provided this sheet was prepared in advance of this test session. This exam is closed-book and closed-Internet.

You have enough time to spend about 30 minutes developing each of the four questions you choose to answer.

Each essay question you complete will be worth 25 points, for a total of 100 points on this exam. The essays will be evaluated on your mastery of the history, the quality of your thinking, how fully you respond to the question posed, and the quality of the writing. The exam is worth 25% of your fall semester grade.

Select four of the following seven questions (please circle the questions you choose to answer, and submit them with your work). In all answers, be as specific and detailed as possible:

1. What were the causes of the Revolutionary War? What prompted the colonists to want to resort to violence to seek freedom for the English colonies from England, their mother country? Be as specific as possible. Once you’ve explained the causes (be sure to include your analysis of how the French & Indian War and the Enlightenment related to the Revolution), answer this question to the best of your ability: pretend you are King George of England, and you are going to write a one-paragraph response to the Declaration of Independence, explaining why the colonies should not get their freedom from England. Based on what you know from this course, write that response.

2. What was the Declaration of Independence? What was its purpose? Who was involved in it? What impact did it have? Why was it so important, and why do you think it is still important today? What philosophy and period in history made it possible?

3. Describe the new federal Constitution that replaced the Articles of Confederation: why was it written? What did the federalists and anti-federalists debate? How was this debate settled? What is Federalism? What was the Great Compromise? What was the 3/5 Compromise? What are divided government and checks and balances? What was The Bill of Rights? What roles did George Washington and James Madison play at the Constitutional Convention of 1787? And finally, what was life like under the first years of the new Constitution?

4. Write a four to five paragraph essay describing the importance of George Washington to American history. After telling his life story and about his specific roles in US history (thoroughly), write your opinion on this question: how might American history have been different if George Washington had never been born?

5. Write a four to five paragraph essay describing the importance of Thomas Jefferson to American history. After telling his life story and about his specific roles in US history, write your opinion on this question: scholars agree that Jefferson was one of the most eloquent voices for freedom, in his writings, in world history. But he also owned slaves, whom he never set free. Based on what you know, how is it possible that one of the most important voices for human liberty of all time didn’t practice what he preached?

6. Describe in detail the process of how a bill becomes a law in the United States. Be as specific as possible, and include the different ways a bill can be stopped from becoming a law. Also tell what role each of the three branches of the United States government plays in this process. Then tell your opinion: why did America’s Enlightenment founders make passing a new law so hard, so complicated?

7. Write a four to five paragraph essay identifying the three branches of the United States government and the important roles they play in governing the nation according to the Constitution, as well as the reasons a bill of rights was added to the Constitution by the founders of the country. What is the Bill of Rights? Who argued for it, and why? Be sure to provide at least four examples of important individual rights American enjoy as a result of the Bill of Rights. From whom does the Bill of Rights protect Americans? Then answer this question to the best of your ability: do you think America is doing a good job today balancing individual freedoms with a strong and stable federal government that can provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare of the country, and secure the blessings of liberty for future generations? Tell why or why not.