The French and American Revolutions were indisputably two of the most important events in the history of Western civilization. Each discredited absolutism, obliterated aristocratic privileges, gave rise to democratic forms of government, and spread the values of liberalism and nationalism, which continue to shape global affairs to the present day.
For your next project, you will compare and contrast these revolutions to answer the following Essential Question:
To gather sufficient information to answer these questions effectively, you are required to use a minimum of six credible sources. You will find two highly advanced academic sources below, which you are free to use if you want a challenge and/or to base your arguments on more authoritative evidence, thus making your argument more compelling. You will also find several primary source documents from the revolutions. You may use as many primary sources as you can find; however, they can only count as two of your minimum of six sources.
This project will be completed in two stages:
For your next project, you will compare and contrast these revolutions to answer the following Essential Question:
- To what extent were the revolutions in America and France successful democratic revolutions?
- What is democracy? How important are the ideas of freedom, equality, and political participation to a democracy?
- What were the short- and long-term causes of these revolutions?
- What were the main events of these revolutions?
- What were the most important short- and long-term outcomes of these revolutions?
- How successful were these revolutions in meeting their main goals?
- How democratic were the results of these revolutions?
To gather sufficient information to answer these questions effectively, you are required to use a minimum of six credible sources. You will find two highly advanced academic sources below, which you are free to use if you want a challenge and/or to base your arguments on more authoritative evidence, thus making your argument more compelling. You will also find several primary source documents from the revolutions. You may use as many primary sources as you can find; however, they can only count as two of your minimum of six sources.
This project will be completed in two stages:
- Stage One: Research Notes with a bibliography and a Project Outline. These will be assessed to determine whether your research is sufficient and from credible sources. You will get feedback on your outline to help you improve your argument. These must be submitted on Google Drive. This Stage is due on Thursday, Nov 27 before the beginning of class. You must use the feedback you receive to revise and improve your outline, and re-submit it by Monday, December 1.
- Stage Two: Final Project. You may choose whatever type of product you prefer. Some of the cooler ones I've seen this year have been app-smash videos, digital books, and screencast videos. Essays are also highly encouraged. Even traditional posters can be very cool if done well. Whatever format you choose, you must find some way to publish it on your blog (therefore, presentations are not an acceptable format this time). This Stage is due on Monday, December 8.
us_revolutionary_war_zinn.pdf |
us_constitution_zinn.pdf |
merriman_the_french_revolution.pdf |
Primary Source Documents:
American Revolution
Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
Patrick Henry: Give Me Liberty or Give me Death
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
Declaration of Independence
French Revolution
Abbe Sieyes: What is the Third Estate?
Tennis Court Oath
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
Olympe de Gouges: Declaration of the Rights of Women
Maximilien Robespierre: The Cult of the Supreme Being (part of dechristianization)
Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of Terror
American Revolution
Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
Patrick Henry: Give Me Liberty or Give me Death
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
Declaration of Independence
French Revolution
Abbe Sieyes: What is the Third Estate?
Tennis Court Oath
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
Olympe de Gouges: Declaration of the Rights of Women
Maximilien Robespierre: The Cult of the Supreme Being (part of dechristianization)
Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of Terror