History 112 Fall 2006

Midterm Study Guide – Midterm will take place on 10/23

**Midterm Exam will engage with material covered through class on October 16^th**

Part I

Choose one of the following questions and answer it in a coherent essay. Make sure that you create a clear argument and that you support your argument with examples from the readings, lectures, and discussions [20 points]. The exam will ask two of the following questions:

(1) Was France’s absolutism a solution to the social, economic, and political ills of the late sixteenth century? Define what we mean by absolutism and describe how France implemented that particular form of government. Defend your response carefully, using materials from the lecture, section, and reading. Please be sure to refer to at least one of the following readings: “Little Thumb,” “Letter to His Heirs,” and/or the satirical poem concerning Charles I.

(2) Before 1789, the liberal political, social, and economic goals of the Enlightenment were considered revolutionary and often appealed to broad sections of the population. What were these political, social, and economic goals? Who did they appeal to and why? Please make be sure to refer to either “What is Enlightenment?” or “preface, Emile.”

(3) The French Revolution and Napoleonic era can be thought of in terms of phases. What were the phases of the French Revolution, and how did each phase either exemplify or reject the ideals outlined in the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen?” Did Napoleon act as the product of or a reaction to these ideals? Explain. Defend your response carefully, using materials from the lecture, section, and reading. Be sure to refer to the “The Declaration of the Rights of Man” and to “the Napoleonic Code.” You also may refer to the “The Declaration of the Rights of Woman” if you would like.

(4) In 1815 the leaders of the Great Powers met in Vienna and attempted to restore the European Order that had existed before 1789. Pretend you are a student in 1850 and that you are to write an essay on the period between the Congress of Vienna and the 1848 revolution. Did either the liberals or the conservatives “win” the political battle during the revolutions of 1848? In other words, was Metternich successful in turning the clock back after 1815? Furthermore, what key political, social, and ideological changes have taken place between 1815 and 1848? Please discuss one of each. Make sure you clearly refer to the national context to which you are referring. Do make sure that you include at least one of the following reading: “Faust” “The Erlking,” and “The Communist Manifesto.”

Part II – THESE ARE MODEL QUESTIONS ONLY

Match a term, phrase or individual in column A with one in column B. You must write the number and corresponding letter in your bluebooks. (you will need to match 5 of 5; 10 points)

Model Questions

Column A column B

1. Thirty Years War a. Aristotle

2. Geocentrism b. militant radicals in Paris

3. Enlightened Absolutism c. Concluded by Treaty of Westphalia

4. Sans-culottes d. Galileo

5. Heliocentric view e. Frederick the Great

Part III – THESE ARE MODEL QUESTIONS ONLY

Please put two of the following three sets of events in chronological order. Make sure you identify which set you are answering and do mark down your answers in your blue books. (10 points; five points per set and no partial credit within each set)

1. a. Congress of Vienna

b. French Revolution of 1789

c. Self-Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte

2. a. Publication of Communist Manifesto

b. Discovery of flying shuttle

c. Scientific Revolution

3. a. Glorious Revolution

b. rule of Oliver Cromwell

c. England’s battle against Napoleon