BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY
HIST 497 Dr. George Sochan History Senior Seminar: Comprehensive Exam
Study Guide for Comprehensive Exam Autumn 2012
HIST 497: 2011 Comprehensive Exam Questions
African History (two of the following four questions are on the exam; you answer one of them)
Dr. Woods and Dr. Sochan are the readers/graders of the African part of the exam.
1. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century Europeans established colonial rule in most of Africa. Beginning with the Congress of Berlin and ending with the close of the First World War, compose an essay that covers the European establishment of Colonial Africa. In the essay be sure to consider the following: the reasons for European colonization, the means to establish colonial rule, the impact of colonization on Africans, and Africans‟ the intellectual and political responses to European rule. Boahen, A. Adu, ed. African Perspectives on Colonialism. Boahen, A. Adu. Africa under Colonial Domination, 1880-1935. Davidson, Basil. Modern Africa: A Social and Political History. Falola, Toyin. Africa Vol. 3. Foster, S. W. J. Mommsen, and R. Robinson (eds.). Bismarck, Europe, and Africa: The Berlin Africa Conference 1884 -1885 and the onset of Partition. Maddox, Gregory. The Colonial Epoch in Africa. Mazrui, Ali, ed. UNESCO General History of Africa. Vol. 8. Uzoigwe, G. N. “European Partition and Conquest of Africa: An Overview.” in UNESCO General History of Africa. Vol. 7. Vandervort, Bruce. Wars of Imperial Conquest in Africa, 1830-1914. Young, Crawford. The African Colonial State in Comparative Perspective.
2. As a movement, the term Pan-Africanism in contemporary times is typically defined as a collective movement amongst continental Africans and Africans in the Diaspora to overcome the effects of slavery and colonialism and regain independence. Since the first Pan-African Conference organized by the Trinidadian lawyer, Henry Sylvester Williams, in London in 1900, Pan-Africanism has had two clearly definable phases in the twentieth century. Identify and analyze these two phases. Make sure your answer includes the main personages, characteristics, and goals of each phase. Moreover, what impact did the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935-1936 have on Pan-Africanism? Furthermore, how does the Organization of African Unity (formed in 1963) relate to Pan-Africanism? Afigbo, A. E. The Making of Modern Africa Vol. 2. Ajala, Adekunle. Pan-Africanism: Evolution, Progress and Prospects. Amat, C.O.C. Inside the OAU: Pan-Africanism in Practice. Edem Kodjo and David Chanaiwa. “Pan-Africanism and Liberation” in UNESCO General History of Africa: Vol VIII, (1999), eds. Ali A. Mazrui and C. Wondji. Esedebe, P. Olisanwuche. Pan-Africanism: The Idea and Movement, 1776-1991. Falola, Toyin. Africa Vol. 4. Martin, Guy. Africa in World Politics: a Pan-African Perspective. Maturin, Owen. Henry Sylvester Williams and the Origins of the pan-African Movement, 1869-1911. McEwan, Peter. Twentieth Century Africa. Thompson, Vincent Bakpetu. Africa and Unity: The Evolution of Pan-Africanism.
3. One of the most significant events in history is the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which lasted about 400. This trade had a tremendous impact on the trans-Atlantic world: Western Europe, West Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. Compose an essay that presents an overview of this event from its inception in the fifteen century to its termination in the nineteenth century. While the focus of the essay should be on West Africa, especially the impact of the slave trade on the development of this part of Africa, the essay should also discuss the Middle Passage and the impact of Africans in at least one part of the Western Hemisphere during the era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Davidson, Basil. The African Slave Trade. Eltis, David. The Rise of African Slavery in the Americas. Falola, Toyin and Kevin Roberts. The Atlantic World, 1450-2000. Inikori, Joseph and Stanley Engerman. The Atlantic Slave Trade: Effects on Economies, Societies, and Peoples in Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Lovejoy, Paul E. Transformations in Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa. Manning, Patrick. Slavery and African Life: Occidental, Oriental and African Slave Trades. Northrup, David. Africa’s Discovery of Europe: 1450-1850. Oliver, Roland and Anthony Atmore. Medieval Africa, 1250-1800. Pope-Hennessey, James. Sins of the Fathers: A Study of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1441-1807. Solow, Barbara. Slavery and the Rise of the Atlantic System. Worger, William. Nancy Clark and Edward Alpers. Africa and the West: A Documentary History from the Slave Trade to Independence.
4. A major historical controversy concerns the consequences of European colonialism in Africa. Much of that controversy centers on the economic impact of European involvement in Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Walter Rodney‟s How Europeans Underdeveloped Africa regards the imperial episode as detrimental while Lewis Gann and Peter Duignan attempt to rebut the thesis of exploitation. Compare the analysis of the these three historians, including their use of evidence and coherence of argument, in order to determine which assessment seems more credible. Your essay must include the work of one other historian besides the aforementioned three. Ake, Claude. A Political Economy of Africa. Boahen, A. Adu. African Perspectives on Colonialism. Davidson, Basil. Modern Africa: A Social and Political History. Gann, Lewis and Peter Duignan. Burden of Empire: An Appraisal of Western Colonialism in Africa south of the Sahara. Gann, Lewis and Peter Duignan. Colonialism in Africa, 1870-1960. Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Hubbard, James Education under Colonial Rule: A History of Katsina College, 1921-1942 Maddox, Gregory. The Colonial Epoch in Africa. Mazrui, Ali. (ed). UNESCO General History of Africa Vol. 8. Miers, Suzanne and Martin Klein. Slavery and Colonial Rule in Africa. Rodney, Walter. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Summers, Carol. Colonial Lessons: Africans’ Education in Southern Rhodesia, 1918-1940. Suret-Canale, Jean. Essays on African History: From the Slave Trade to Neocolonialism. Vaughan, Megan. Curing Their Ills: Colonial Power and African Illness.
European History (two of the following four questions are on the exam; you answer one)
Dr. Fenyo and Dr. Sochan are the readers/graders of the European part of the exam.
1. Based on the following four questions, write a comparative essay on Protestantism and Catholicism. (1) How is a person to be saved? (2) Where does religious authority reside? (3) What is the Church? (4) What is the (highest form of) Christian life? Although these questions refer to the religious aspect of the Reformation, your analysis must show the non-religious implications that correlate to these religious themes. Buck, Lawrence and Jonathan Zophy. The Social History of the Reformation. Chadwick, Owen. The Reformation. DeMolen, Richard. The Meaning of the Renaissance and the Reformation. Grimm, Harold. The Reformation Era, 1500-1650. Koenigsberger, Helmut. Early Modern Europe, 1500-1789. Latourette, Kenneth Scott. A History of Christianity. Lindberg, Carter. The European Reformations. Pettegree, Andrew. The Reformation World. Spitz, Lewis. The Renaissance and Reformation Movements. Thomson, Samuel. Europe in Renaissance and Reformation. Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
2. In a recently published treatise on global power, Niall Ferguson argues, “What the British Empire proved is that empire is a form of international government that can work—and not just for the benefit of the ruling power.” In six chapters of study, distinguishes the British Empire from evil empires, like the Soviet Union, he examines the British Empire and concludes that it was “a Good Thing.” Based on Ferguson‟s Empire, compose an essay that provides an overview of the British Empire from 1707 to 1970, considers six areas of contributions, and examines British impact in, at least, three of the following continents: North America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. Conclude your essay by answering whether Ferguson is right to argue that the British Empire was “a good Thing.” Bridge, Carl and Kent Fedorowich. The British World: Diaspora, Culture, and Identity. Cunliffe, Bary. The Penguin Illustrated History of Britain and Ireland. Darwin, John. The Empire Project: The Rise and Fall of the British World-System, 1830-1970. Drayton, Richard. Nature’s Government: Science, Imperial Britain, and the ―Improvement‖ of the World. Ferguson, Niall. Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power. Ferguson, Niall. Civilization: The West and the Rest. Fischer-Tine, Harald and Michael Mann. Colonialism as Civilizing Mission: Cultural Ideology in British India. Gann, Lewis & Duignan, Peter. The Burden of Empire. James, Lawrence. Raj: The Making and Unmaking of British India. James, Lawrence. The Rise and Fall of the British Empire. Morris James. Farewell the Trumpets: An Imperial Retreat. Morris, James. Heaven’s Command: An Imperial Progress. Morris, James. Pax Britannica: The Climax of an Empire. Nasson, Bill. Britannia’s Empire: Making a British World. Parsons, Timothy. The British Imperial Century, 1815-1914: A World Perspective. Peterson, Derek. Abolition and Imperialism in Britain, Africa, and the Atlantic. Schama, Simon. A History of Britain: The Fate of Empire, 1776-2000.
3. Several of the major ISMs, or ideologies, were either initiated or evolved considerably during the „long‟ nineteenth century (1789 to 1914), mostly in Europe. Certain of these nineteenth century ideologies have had tremendous impact in modern world; they are liberalism, socialism, conservatism, and nationalism. Compose an essay that discusses three of the four ideologies within the context of nineteenth century European history. The essay should provide the main elements of the ideology and show the development of the ideology as a movement (or ongoing event) within nineteenth century Europe. Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities. Cawes, Mary Ann. A Century of Isms. Chadwick, Owen. The Secularization of the European Mind in the Nineteenth Century. Gildea, Robert. Borders and Barricades: Europe, 1814-1914. Hobsbawm, E. J. The Age of Capital, 1848-1875. Hobsbawm, E.J. The Age of Empire, 1875-1914. Hobsbawm, E.J. The Age of Revolution, 1789-1848. Goldwag, Arthur. -Isms and –ologies. Golob, Eugene. The ISMs: A History and an Evaluation. Gooch, Brison. Europe in the Nineteenth Century: A History. Merriman and Winter, eds. Europe 1789 to 1914 Encyclopedia of the Age of Industry and Empire. Palmer, R.R., Joel Colton, and Lloyd Kramer. A History of the Modern World. Taylor, Barbara. Eve and the New Jerusalem: Socialism and Feminism in the 19th century. Winks, Robin and Joan Neuberger. Europe and the Making of Modernity, 1815-1914.
4. In the 1960s historian, Geoffrey Barraclough, stated that contemporary history began in 1890. Surveying history from his vantage point, Barraclough saw that Europe‟s place in the world had drastically changed. Compose an essay that contrasts Europe‟s world-standing in 1965 with its world-standing in 1890, and which also explains what had happened during those seventy-five years to have altered Europe‟s position so significantly. This essay must have three sections: (1) Europe in 1890, (2) Europe in 1965, and an overview of European history between those dates that discusses key events that changed Europe‟s standing. (Dr. Sochan) Adas, Michael, Peter Stearns and Stuart Schwartz. Turbulent Passage: A Global History of the Twentieth Century. Aron, Raymond. The Dawn of Universal History: Selected Essays from a Witness of the Twentieth Century. Barraclough, Geoffrey. An Introduction to Contemporary History. Blainey, Geoffrey. A Short History of the Twentieth Century. Browne, Blaine T. and Robert Cottrell. Uncertain Order: The World in the Twentieth Century. Crampton, R.J. Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century—And After. Gilbert, Felix. The End of the European Era: 1890 to the Present. Gilbert, Martin. History of the Twentieth Century. Hale, Oron. The Great Illusion, 1900-1914. Hughes, H. Stuart and James Wilkinson. Contemporary Europe: A History. Johnson, Paul. Modern Times: The World from the Twenties to the Nineties. Keylor, William. The Twentieth-Century World: An International History. Laqueur, Walter. Europe in Our Time: A History, 1945-1992. Sontag, Raymond. A Broken World, 1919-1939. Vinen, Richard. A History in Fragments: Europe in the Twentieth Century. Wright, Gordon. An Age of Controversy: Discussion Problems in Twentieth Century European History.
United States History (two of the four questions are on the exam; you answer one)
Dr. Bell and Dr. Sochan are the readers/graders of the United States part of the exam.
1. According to the classic work, The Puritan Dilemma, by Edmund Morgan, the Puritans in America were compelled to do great work (they also had a hand in the slave trade), but Morgan says they had a great dilemma. Compose an essay that centers on the Puritans in the seventeenth century; that identifies the dilemma; and the assesses the impact of Puritanism in United States history in some period after the seventeenth century. Baldwin, Neil. The American Revelation: Ten Ideals that Shaped our Country from the Puritans to the Cold War. Bremer, Francis. Puritanism: A Very Short Introduction. Bremer, Francis. The Puritan Experiment: New England Society from Bradford to Edwards. Hall, David. Puritans in the New World: A Critical Anthology. McKenna, George. The Puritan Origins of American Patriotism. Miller, Perry. Errand in the Wilderness. Miller, Perry. The New England Mind: The Seventeenth Century. Miller, Perry and Thomas Johnson. The Puritans: A Sourcebook of their Writings. Monroe, James. Hellfire Nation: The Politics of Sin in American History. Morgan, Edmund. The Puritan Dilemma. Mosse, George. The Holy Pretence: A Study of Christianity and Reason of State from William Perkins to Jonathan Winthrop. Reinitz, Richard. Tensions in American Puritanism. Shi, David. For the Record: A Documentary History of America. [John Winthrop‟s essay, “From General Observations and Model of Christian Charity”] Sydney, James. The New England Puritans. Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
2. Hindsight is often 20-20, and in American history that perspective shows a seemingly inexorable march through the 1850s to the Civil War. In an essay that focuses on the tumultuous events of that decade, discuss the major events that contributed to the eruption of the “irrepressible conflict.” For parameters in your essay use the failure of the Compromise of 1850 and the attack on Harpers Ferry in 1859. The essay should con- clued by connecting the Election of 1860 to what had been discussed regarding the 1850s. Craven, Avery. The Coming of the Civil War. Craven, Avery. The Growth of Southern Nationalism, 1848-1861. Ferrell, Claudine. The Abolitionist Movement. Foner, Eric. Politics and Ideology in the Age of the Civil War Holt, Michael. The Political Crisis of the 1850s. Nevins, Allan. The Ordeal of the Union. Potter, D.M. The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861. Rawley, James. Race and Politics: ―Bleeding Kansas‖ and the Coming of the Civil War. Sewell, Richard. A House Divided: Sectionalism and the Civil War. Stampp, Kenneth. The Causes of the Civil War. Summers, Mark. Crisis of the Union, 1849-1861.
3. Early twentieth century America is referred to as the Progressive Era during which time many political and constitutional changes occurred. These changes are usually called reforms. In an essay that establishes the historical context of late nineteenth and early twentieth century America, identify a number of these changes in order to present the essence of Progressivism. Also, determine in what ways the Progressives were connected to the Muckrakers and the Populists. Brasch, Walter. Forerunners of Revolution: Muckrakers and the American Social Conscience. Chambers, John. The Tyranny of Change: America in the Progressive Era, 1890-1920. Colburn, David and George Pozzetta. Reform and Reformers in the Progressive Era. Davis, Allen E. Spearhead for Reform: The Social Settlements and the Progressive Movement. Diner, Steven. A Very Different Age: America in the Progressive Era. Flanagan, Maureen. America Reformed: Progressives and Progressivisms, 1890s-1920s. Goodwyn, Lawrence. The Populist Movement: A Short History of the Agrarian Revolt in America. Gould, Lewis. The Progressive Era. Hays, Samuel. The Response to Industrialism. Hofstadter, Richard. The Age of Reform. Kazan, Michael. The Populist Persuasion: An American History. Licht, Walter. Industrializing America: The Nineteenth Century. Mann, Arthur. The Progressive Era: Liberal Renaissance or Liberal Failure? McGerr, Michael. A Fierce Discontent: The Rise and Fall of the Progressive Movement in America, 1870-1920. Sanders, Elizabeth. Roots of Reform: Farmers, Workers, and the American State, 1877-1917. Wiebe, Robert. The Search for Order, 1877-1920. Zunz, Oliver. Making Corporate America, 1870-1920.
4. One of the major events in U.S. history during the years after World War II is suburban development. Millions of persons in that period and still many people since then believe that the sprawl of suburban communities throughout the United States has enabled the fulfillment of the American Dream. Critics of America‟s postwar suburbs have not found a picturesque environment where dreams are fulfilled, but instead they see a seemingly endless sprawl from mall to mall where the alienated suburbanite is caught in a nightmare. Compose an essay that critically discusses life in the suburbs during the postwar era (1946-1963) and concludes with a determination as to whether the postwar suburb provided dream fulfillment or brought a nightmare. At least, one of the paragraphs in the essay must be about Levittown, NY. Cohen, Lizabeth. A Consumer’s Republic: The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America. Diamond, Etan. Souls of the Cities: Religion and the Search for Community in Postwar America. Halberstam, David. The Fifties. Hayden, Dolores. Building Suburbia: Green Fields and Urban Growth, 1820-2000. Hudnut-Beumler, James. Looking for God in the Suburbs: The Religion of the American Dream and its Critics, 1945-1965. Jackson, Kenneth T. Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States. Martinson, Tom. American Dreamscape: The Pursuit of Happiness in Postwar Suburbia. Mumford, Lewis. The Highway and the City. Nicolaides, Becky. My Blue Heaven: Life and Politics in the Working-Class Suburbs of Los Angeles, 1920-1965. Oakley, J. Ronald. God’s Country: America in the 1950s. O‟Neill, William. American High: The Years of Confidence, 1945-60. Sochan, George. “Levittown, NY: Suburban Dream or Nightmare?” in Humanities and Technology Review Fall 2009. Teaford, John. The American Suburb: The Basics.