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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Essay question

Advanced US History Students:   Write a question here that you believe would be an excellent essay question for your test on the colonial period???

80 comments:

  1. During the 1600's mercantilism was a big part of life for the new colonies. Define mercantilism and explain the reasons for its use, and why it failed.

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    1. I like the ending--why it failed in the American Colonies. End in a ?

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  2. The American colonies were very successful in using, what they called, the "Old Colonial System". Why were they successful with this system?

    -Nunez

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    1. This could confuse a student who understands Statutory Neglect, but does not connect that with the descriptive phrase of Old Colonial System. Idea perfect--I might word it differently.

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  3. Although Jamestown had initial failures it was the first successful English colony in the Continental United States. What made it successful and what were the initial failures?

    - Pape

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    1. This is a fine question if I were going to ask more than one essay question on the test.

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  4. The Settlers of America fled England in search of religious freedom; finding little complete religious freedom in the American Colonies. How did this help the settlers survive and establish states that could prosper?

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    1. Your question does read in smooth distinctive manner. It could confuse a student who actually knows the information you seek

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  5. In 1688, the "Glorious Revolution" happened. It had a profound affect on both England and the English colonies. What is the "Glorious Revolution" and what changes was it responsible for in both England and America?

    - Cooke

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    1. Would it seem fair to you for me to ask a question about a subject I did not discuss in class?

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  6. The French and Indian war is described as a war that escalated from a regional-affair to a world wide conflict. It was fought in Europe, India, and North America. Many historians consider this a world war, do you agree or disagree? Why?

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    1. This is a fine question if I were going to ask more than one essay question on the test.

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  7. Despite England's efforts to keep control over the colonies in America, it was very difficult for Britain to govern America. Why was it so hard for England to keep its' colonies under control and what did the royal crown do to attempt to maintain dominance?

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  8. How was the Massachusetts Bay Colony so successful when they settled in 1624? What did they learn from Jamestown that made them even more productive in Massachusetts?

    -Thompson

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    1. Good question---I might add a bit more to it so it includes New England compared to the southern colonies.

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  9. Explain the causes of Great Britain's loss of control over its colonies, and show how this lead to the American Revolution.

    -Morin

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    1. Well done--this is short, but it allows a student to really show me what they know.

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  10. The French and Indian War was considered a world-wide conflict that was fought in Europe, India and North America. What was the cause of it and what changed did it make for both sides of the war?

    - Nguyên Nguyễn

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    1. This is a fine question if I were going to ask more than one essay question on the test.

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  11. Most wars are influenced by Religion. Explain, starting with the Colonists leaving England, how the American Revolution was influenced by the Religious beliefs of the people involved.

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    1. wow this is a hard--yet a fair question--well done

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  12. During the colonial era, England has gone through a tumultuous period, suffering wars both inside and outside the nation. How these conflicts, both interior and exterior, have influenced the colonies? Within the response, choose two specific incidents, identify them, and explain how the incidents supports the idea.

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    1. Interesting-I would re-word it, but your notion is excellent.

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  13. Before there were colonies in America, people all over England were experiencing social, religious and governmental persecution. Which of these three kinds of persucution do you think was the biggest factor in peoples decision to leave England? And why?

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    1. Good question-the students would get to give their opinion and attempt to prove it with historical fact

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  14. While Great Britain was preoccupied with both domestic and foreign affairs throughout Europe, the American colonies took full advantage of England’s salutary neglect as an opportunity to grow and flourish. However, shortly after Britain returned its attention to the colonies in 1763, the colonists revolted, marking the beginning of the American Revolution. What effect do you think John Locke’s “social contract” theory (Two Treatises of Government; published in 1689) and Adam Smith’s theory on the “invisible hand” (The Theory of Moral Sentiments; published in 1759;) had on the transition from the colonial period to the onset of the American Revolution?

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    1. Excellent AP History question. I am not sure I am ready to challenge non-AP kids with this yet-------well done---

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  15. When America was discovered, the Spanish, English, French, the Dutch, and the Swedes all founded colonies in North America. What effect did European colonization/settlement have on native Americans' life? In your opinion, were the changes positive or negative?

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    1. Great question---a student could do a lot with this--This is a better question if I were going to ask more than one essay question on the test.

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  16. State which region of colonies you believe was more successful. New England or the South? Use religion, politics and the colonies society to support your answer.

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  17. The economic policies pursued by the British regime that ruled colonial America affected the development of the settlements and the economy of the North American continent in general. Do you think that these policies were beneficial for the colonies or did they restrict their growth and development?

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  18. Settling in the New World proved to be a difficult task for many English colonies. Why did some colonies flourish in the New World, while other colonies had far less success? Use specific examples to support your answer.

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    1. This allows for quite a bit of flexibility which is good--but I think I would like to focus on two or three main ideas

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  19. Both the northern and southern colonies had their own problems, which England handled very differently. How did the way that Britain handled these situations cause the colonist uprisings? Compare the northern and southern colonies.

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    1. I like the concept of your question---I would word it differently

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  20. In your opinion, which out of the 13 British colonies was most successful? What made this colony more successful than the other 12? use specific examples and comparisons in your answer.

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    1. as infantile historians are opinion is not worth much.

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  21. America rebelled against Britain in what is known as the American Revolution. What actions, or lack thereof, by Great Britain towards the American colonies, prior to this revolution, caused the Americans to rebel?

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  22. Why were the US colonies successful in settling along the east coast? What were some of the environmental and economic advantages they used in their favor? Were the northern or southern colonies more successful? Be specific.

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  23. What proprietorship colony was separated from Pennsylvania by the Mason-Dixon Line? This colony was known as "A haven for Catholics." It is one of the 13 original colonies. State which colony this is and explain why this colony was regarded as a "A haven for Catholics." Use as much detail as possible.

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    1. this is a question that would be appropriate if I were asking more than one essay question

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  24. Define mercantilism and explain the affect it had on both the economy and the freedoms of the colonists?

    -Higgins

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  25. Discuss your views on the reasons for the success England had in attracting settlers to the new colonies, and what impact did this have on future tensions between the north and south of America?

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    1. So you are talking about the differences in the sections of the colonies that latter on lead us to a civil war

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  26. The 13 original colonies settled by the British varied greatly in levels of success. Which colony was originally the most prosperous? Give specific details to support your opinion. State the colony's location and if it was a royal colony or a proprietary colony in you answer and explain if these were factors in the colony's success.

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    1. good question if I were going to ask more than one essay question.

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  27. To get people aroused to move and start a new life in America their was much propaganda about America being an unknown utopia. What hardships did the settlers of Jamestown face when they arrived in America and how was it different from the propaganda that they had believed in England.

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    1. good question if I were going to ask more than one essay question.

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  28. Jamestown, Virginia was the first successful colony in the New World. Identify the factors that allowed the area to flourish, and state which you think were the most important to the colony's success. Use specific examples in your answer.

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    1. good question if I were going to ask more than one essay question.

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  29. In the early American colonies, the different states had varying sorts of self government and regulations on religion. In your opinion, which state was able to succeed the most thanks to their unique policies on government and religion, or were these factors minor compared to others such as location and environment? Explain.

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  30. In what ways did location and geography play a role in the developing of the original thirteen colonies, and their expansion (or lack of)?

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    1. Good notion: this leads to the greater problem of the differences in the sections of the colonies that almost destroy the US in the Civil War

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  31. State some of the rebellious actions of the colonists in America and explain how these actions paved the way for revolution.

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  32. What were the different values of the English colonist in both the north and south? How did they differ and why? How did this lead to the American Revolution? Be specific.

    -Toffolon

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    1. Your question will be re-written and will be the test question

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  33. Seuk Woen(Kevin) KangSeptember 14, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    When the English started to colonize North America, the English enforced to use the Mercantilism to settlers in the new land. Define the Mercantilism and explain how enforcing to use the Mercantilism created a rebellion against the British, which would be the cause of the American Revolution?

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  34. After the French and Indian war, all of Canada and all French lands between the Mississippi river and the Appalachian mountain was ceded to the British. However; the British did not allow colonial inhabitants to travel to the new land. Why was this? Talk about the risks the British government would take and how it would affect them.

    -Michael Schiffer

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    1. We would need to re-word the question to make the student center on the colonial period==I love the thought

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  35. Define what a Propriety Colony is and what a Royal Colony is. Compare and contrast the two. How did their views on leadership differ? How did religious views affect the outcome of certain Proprietary and Royal Colonies? What aspects of each would lead to their success or failures?

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    1. Great question===only I would also include "Free Colony"

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  36. Benjamin Franklin once said "If we do not hang together, we will all hang separately." How does this statement fit Franklin's agenda for 13 colonies? Why does Franklin think it is important to exploit this topic?


    Quote from: http://en.proverbia.net/citasautor.asp?autor=12622
    -Sam Sabin

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    1. I love your effort---this question would be better in a test with more than one essay question

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  37. English colonists in the south and the north dffered in many ideas including religion, slavery, and culture. However, despite these differences, all English colonies had the same ardent hope : independence from England. Why was this and how did the English colonies react against the English government to go through the American revolution and gain their independence?

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    1. Historic facts in your question are not accurate for most of the colonial period

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  38. Due to Englands struggles to maintain controle over the colonies they enforced a series of laws called the Navigation Acts. What did some of these laws entail and what was their main purpose? What were some of the consequences of the Royal Crowns lack of enforcing them?

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  39. Very early into their settlements, the northern and southern colonies developed very different virtues. What were some of these differences and how did they feed into later historical events, such as the Civil War?

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    1. good idea--I think we should include topographical and government and differences also

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  40. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  41. What was mercatinlism and what were the ways that the British tried to make this work? Did they succeed? Was it one of the main reasons that they protected their colonies? Why or why not?

    -Escobar

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