Study Guide for the Mid-Term

These questions are samples of some of the ideas that will be on the Mid-Term.

Q’s
WARNING: THESE QUESTIONS ARE ONLY IN DRAFT FORM!!!!

All answers must include the thoughtful use of direct evidence. Be sure to quote from historically relevant documents. A professional list of references must accompany each answer. Each answer should be less than or equal to 500 words.

Primary Documents

Group A
1. Write a news story analyzing one of the L-D debates. Be sure to: capture the central conflict of the debate in your lede; use high quality quotes representing a variety of perspectives; place the specific debate in historical context; and use concise, focused paragraphs.
2. On what grounds did Americans make a case for independence from Great Britain?

Group B
3. Describe how James Madison’s concept of human nature influences the ideas of federalism in the early U.S. government.
4. Describe the 2008 Presidential debates in comparison to the Lincoln Douglas Debates.

Open Notes

WARNING: THESE QUESTIONS ARE ONLY IN DRAFT FORM!!!!
DOUBLE WARNING: THERE WILL BE MORE QUESTIONS! I AM STILL BRAINSTORMING!

All answers must include the thoughtful use of direct evidence. Be sure to quote from historically relevant documents. A professional list of references must accompany each answer. Each answer should be less than or equal to 500 words.

Group A
1. To what extent does the current state of America offer the incoming President an opportunity to review and revise the social contract that upholds this country? Be sure to discuss at least one specific issue that relates to American society, politics, and/or economics.
2. To what extent does the current state of America offer the incoming President the opportunity to review and revise the use of federal power to regulate society? Be sure to discuss at least one specific issue that relates to American society, politics, and/or economics.

Group B
3. Slavery can be approached politically from two different perspectives: a matter of morality or a matter of public policy. Compare how politicians of the time engaged these two different perspectives regarding the then-ongoing issue of slavery.
4. Analyze the Dred Scott decision and it’s historical impact in America.

Group C
5. The future President will likely have the opportunity to appoint one or more justices to the Supreme Court. Describe your recommendations in the form of a professional email to the President.
6. Describe the relationship between the messages found in the 2008 Presidential elections and what is found in the US founding documents and the Enlightenment philosophies that were popular at that time. Where have we come as a country? Where might we be going?