World History Seminar

Big Era 7

1750 – 1914 CE

Panorama Lesson 1

The Atlantic Revolutions

Due Dates:

  • Monday/Wednesday Group - Complete this assignment by Monday, March 18, 2013.
  • Tuesday/Thursday Group – Complete this assignment by Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Introduction

Political Revolutions and New Ideologies: The American and French revolutions offered the world the potent ideas of popular sovereignty, inalienable rights, and nationalism. The translating of these ideas into political movements had the effect of mobilizing unprecedented numbers of ordinary people to participate in public life and to believe in a better future for all. Liberal, constitutional, and nationalist ideals inspired independence movements in Haiti and Latin America in the early nineteenth century, and they continued to animate reform and revolution in Europe throughout the era. Democracy and nationalism contributed immensely to the social power of European states and therefore to Europe’s rising dominance in world affairs in the nineteenth century. Under growing pressures from both European military power and the changing world economy, ruling or elite groups in Asian and African states organized reform movements that embraced at least some of the ideas and programs of democratic revolution.

Assignment

  1. Create and write you own definitions of the ideas of “liberty” and “equality”.
  2. Read Student Handouts 1.1 through 1.4 about the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, and the Venezuelan Revolution.
  3. Answer the questions that go with each of the Handouts.
  4. Complete Student Handout 1.5 – Comparison Worksheet.
  5. Write an essay that answers the question “Which of the Atlantic revolutions best lived up to the ideals of liberty and equality?”

Rubric for your essay

To get a score of 4.0 your essay must:

  1. Be written as an essay. An essay is not a bullet-point list. An essay is written with complete sentences.
  1. The essay must have an introductory paragraph.
  1. The introductory paragraph must include a definition of the ideas of “liberty” and “equality”.
  2. The introductory paragraph must tell the reader which Atlantic revolution best lived up to the ideals of liberty and equality.
  1. The essay must have body paragraphs that tell the reader why the Atlantic revolution that you chose was the revolution that best lived up to the ideals of liberty and equality.
  1. The body paragraphs must provide examples from the readings that support your choice.
  2. The body paragraphs must connect your choice to your definition of “liberty” and “equality”.
  3. The body paragraphs must provide examples from the readings that tell the reader why at least one of the other revolutions did not live up to the ideals of liberty and equality.
  1. The essay must have a concluding paragraph that summarizes your essay for the reader.
  1. The essay must be typed.
  1. Your name, the date, and a title must be written at the beginning of your essay.

A Word About Late Work

You must complete your essay by class time on the due date for your group. This is because on that day you will be playing a game based upon the readings and your essays. Answering the questions that go with the readings and writing the essay is how you will prepare for the competition.

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