Changes

As we move into our third week, here is another set of tips on multiple-choice history questions.  Learn and use these skills!  They will be valuable not only for this class, but for all multiple choice exams:

As we move into our third week, here is another set of tips on multiple-choice history questions.  These tips are valuable for this class and for all multiple choice exams:

1.  '''Disqualify answer choices that contain language that is too sweeping''', such as "everyone" or "only".  Here is an example.  Question: "Why was George Washington elected president?"  Possible answer choice:  "Because everyone wanted him.  Nope, not "everyone" liked George Washington.  Here is another example.  Question: "Why was slavery used?"  Answer:  "Solely because of greed."  Nope.  Not "solely" (or "purely" or "only”) because of greed. Some common "sweeping" words that signal an incorrect answer choice are: everyone, always, never, only, solely, purely, all and every.

1.  '''Disqualify answer choices that contain language that is too sweeping''', such as "everyone" or "only".  Here is an example.  Question: "Why was George Washington elected president?"  Possible answer choice:  "Because everyone wanted him.  Nope, not "everyone" liked George Washington.  Here is another example.  Question: "Why was slavery used?"  Answer:  "Solely because of greed."  Nope.  Not "solely" (or "purely" or "only”) because of greed. Some common "sweeping" words that signal an incorrect answer choice are: everyone, always, never, only, solely, purely, all and every.

2.  '''Look for the answer choice that is the best fit to the question'''.  The question is like a "lock" or "key hole", and you are looking for the answer (or the "key") that is the best fit.  Matching the verb or concept behind the question with the best fitting verb or concept in the answer can help.  For example, when a question asked about "exploration", the answer that said to "find the best route" was the best fit and the correct answer.

2.  '''Look for the answer choice that is the best fit to the question'''.  The question is like a "lock" or "key hole", and you are looking for the answer (or the "key") that is the best fit.  Matching the verb or concept behind the question with the best fitting verb or concept in the answer can help.  For example, when a question asks about "exploration", the answer that says to "find" the best route would be a good fit and correct.

3.  When a question completely baffles you, such as a question asking for a hidden political motive behind the "Wizard of Oz" movie, '''consider a possible economic (money-based) answer'''.  Historical events and politics are motivated more by money than most students realize.  When you're lost and can't explain why people did something, like have slaves, then think if there was a economic or financial motivation for owning slaves.  There was: slaves were virtually free labor, and were more profitable to use than paying someone to do the job.  Slave-owners became richer than many people who opposed slavery.

3.  When a question completely baffles you, such as a question asking for a hidden political motive behind the "Wizard of Oz" movie, '''consider a possible economic (money-based) answer'''.  Historical events and politics are motivated more by money than most students realize.  When you're lost and can't explain why people did something, like have slaves, then think if there was a economic or financial motivation for owning slaves.  There was: slaves were virtually free labor, and were more profitable to use than paying someone to do the job.  Slave-owners became richer than many people who opposed slavery.

4.  Finally, '''view multiple choice questions like a puzzle'''.  Enjoy solving them.  Don't let any test or question intimidate you.  Multiple choice questions become much easier when you find a way to enjoy figuring out their puzzles.

4.  Finally, '''view multiple choice questions like a puzzle'''.  Learn to enjoy solving them.  Don't let any test or question intimidate you.  Multiple choice questions become much easier when you find a way to enjoy figuring out their puzzles.

==Review==

==Review==

To learn history well, you must put yourself back at that time.  Think of what it might have been like.  Imagine it in your mind.  Put yourself at the time and place of the Boston Massacre, for example.  Try to see both sides of the conflict, and why people acted as they did.  Why did the British soldiers shoot their guns?  Because people were throwing snowballs at them, some containing rocks.  Why were colonists throwing snowballs?  Because they did not think the British soldiers should be there.  Why were the British soldiers there?  Because the King George III ordered them to be.  And so on.

To learn history well, imagine being there at certain times and places.  Think of what it might have been like.  Imagine it in your mind.  Put yourself at the time and place of the Boston Massacre, for example.  Try to see both sides of the conflict, and why people acted as they did.  Why did the British soldiers shoot their guns?  Because people were throwing snowballs at them, some containing rocks.  Why were colonists throwing snowballs?  Because they did not think the British soldiers should be there.  Why were the British soldiers there?  Because the King George III ordered them to be there to keep things under control.  And so on.

We discussed how England had reasons for imposing its direct taxation on the colonists, in order to pay for the [[French and Indian War]].  But how do we know the taxes were to pay for the war?  Would that be all that the taxes would be paying for?  Would the taxes cease when the war debt was paid?  No, because that was a slippery slope.  Most likely those taxes would never end, even after the war was fully paid.

We discussed how England had reasons for imposing its direct taxation on the colonists, in order to pay for the [[French and Indian War]].  But how do we know that the taxes were to pay for the war?  Would that be all that the taxes would be paying for?  Would the taxes cease when the war debt was paid?  Probably not: most likely those taxes would never end, even after the war was fully paid.

Learn to use your imagination and common sense to understand history, and see the motivations on both sides of conflicts.  One side may be completely wrong, but understand why it is motivated to act as it does.  Often the reason is simple:  to make more money.

Learn to use your imagination and common sense to understand history, and see the motivations on both sides of conflicts.  One side may be completely wrong, but understand why it is motivated to act as it does.  Often the reason is simple:  to make more money.

Ask yourself this question:  was the American Revolution a "conservative revolution?"  It did not attempt to overthrow and remove King George III, who ruled for 60 years (including nearly 40 years after American Revolution).  The American Revolution was not motivated to establish a brand new future with its own leader, and for years afterwards the colonies (then states) refused to have a president at all.  Instead, the American Revolution was an attempt to restore the past of the colonies, and restore natural God-given rights as the colonists understood them.  Regardless, the colonists won the revolution, and history becomes even more interesting as they decide what to do next.

Ask yourself this question:  was the American Revolution a "conservative revolution?"  It did not attempt to overthrow and remove King George III, who ruled for 60 years (including nearly 40 years after American Revolution).  The American Revolution was not motivated to establish a brand new future with its own leader, and for years afterwards the colonies (then states) refused to have a president at all.  Instead, the American Revolution was an attempt to restore the past of the colonies, and restore natural God-given rights as the colonists understood them.   

==State Constitutions==

==State Constitutions==