Ap Essay Exam Practice Questions

Is it alright if I start with this essay I wrote first and to the one listed on the weekend?

For this essay I used my book and the fast track to the 5 book and it still took me two hours to write! I then consulted my dad and we together edited it. I am using this as practice, hopefully I will get better at this!

I can post my first draft before my dad edited it, but I don't know if it is necessary. If you want me to, I can.

Here was the question:
Analyze the following statement:
Those Americans who fought as patriots were influenced by two revolutionary impulses: independence from Britain and the desire to democratize American society and government.

Essay Option #1

The patriots had various reasons for seeking independence in the fateful years of 1775-1783. These reasons did not materialize instantly but can be traced back to decades earlier. Two revolutionary impulses existed: independence from Britain’s tyrannous rule and the desire to democratize a failing American society and government.
Before the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the objective of the British was to regulate trade and in general influence the colonial government. However, Britain achieved these aims in a limited way and did not over-manage the colonies. Britain did not intervene excessively during a period of salutary neglect between 1650 and 1763. During this time the colonies were increasingly able to develop their economy. But Britain depended on the colonies to provide raw materials and saw them as a market for its goods. For example, Great Britain needed the timber found in large quantities in the new world to maintain its fleet of wooden ships. Needs such as these motivated new laws to provide for the mother country that eventually created irreconcilable conflict. This legislation manifested itself in the mercantilist system.
Major mercantilist policies in the pre-1760 period began with the Navigation Laws of 1660. These laws were made to control colonial trade and promote English shipping. Important crops, such as tobacco, and other resources had to be shipped only in British ships. In addition, ships were required to stop in England first when America traded with other nations. This law would have devastated the American economy had the British enforced it. Additional requirements were added in 1663, 1673, and 1696. The Wool (1699), Hat (1732), and Iron (1750) Acts were intended to subordinate American capital to British capital by preventing American businessmen from turning raw materials into finished products. For example, the Hat Act required that beaver pelts be sold to English manufacturers who would then sell them around the world. This turned the upper class, in fear of losing money, against Britain. The Molasses Act (1733) was used to control sugar cane sales to the colonies. These restrictions were not well enforced. Anyway, Americans often bought sugar from the non-British Caribbean islands. Although the mercantilist system did impose some restrictions, its most Americans did not challenge the policies because they were difficult to enforce.
1763 can be seen as a turning point in the relationship between Britain and its colonies. In this year the French and Indian war ended and along with it Britain’s salutary neglect of the colonies. Also, a newly appointed prime minister, George Grenville, enforced British ideas for transforming the political, economic, and trade relationship with the colonies. The Proclamation of 1763 banned the colonists from moving past the Appalachian Mountains, supposedly because Britain did not have the money to protect colonists in that area against Indians. This proclamation would have effectively closed the area west of the Appalachians to Americans in want of economic opportunities if colonists had not moved west anyway into the land they had fought to protect.
Post-1763 policies began to stir more tension. They were instituted to raise revenue needed for payment of French and Indian War debts. The Sugar Act of 1764 replaced the Molasses Act and reduced duties on imported sugar. This was well enforced and smugglers were punished by the British. The Currency Act of 1764 forbade the colonists to print soft currency and forced them to use hard currency even to pay taxes. The Stamp Act of 1765 angered colonists the most. This was a tax on all printed material. The colonists accepted being taxed (at this time most Americans still thought of themselves as British citizens), but not without representation. Britain argued that through virtual representation members of parliament represented all citizens regardless of location. The Act was eventually repealed, but organizations such as the Sons of Liberty that were formed during the Act’s reign remained to stir up the colonists against the mother country. Angered colonists boycotted various taxed commodities and increasingly used force to protest, as illustrated in the Boston Massacre and frequent tar-and-feathering of officials.
Although independence from Britain was the main goal of the Revolutionary War, many colonists sought domestic social change in democratic directions. Although the colonies were more democratic in many respects than Europe, at the eve of the Revolution many colonists feared a “Europeanization” of America. Armed conflicts of the 1690s and early 1700s enriched the merchant class of New England and in the Middle colonies. These elites ruled over the lower classes, and by 1750, the richest 10 percent of Bostonians and Philadelphians owned nearly two-thirds of the taxable wealth in their cities. The war had also created many widows and orphans. The number of poor people grew. In addition, in the New England country landholdings were subdivided due to overpopulation. Wealth was not distributed evenly among whites in the south, as well, and the plantation kingdom was ruled by relatively few planters. In all of the colonies, indentured servants, convicts, and paupers swelled the lower class ranks. Perhaps least fortunate is the plight of the southern black slaves, for whom equality with whites was nonexistant. Many colonists wanted a more democratic environment.
When recalling the causes of the American Revolution, it is important to address both the need for independence from an overpowering Britain and the increasing desire for drastic social change. Both contributed to the passion with which patriots fought for a free and independent nation. Agitation motivated by poor social conditions and a bullying mother country sparked an all out war.

I should get a chance to go through this tomorrow, but it will be late tomorrow night.

I also have another essay that I wrote in class. It's ok if you can't critique it right away... I know how busy you guys are! But if you have some free time, it would be helpful if you did. This is because the first essay I posted I wrote at home with the review book and the text book AND my dad edited it. This essay I wrote at school in about 40 minutes. I did use the review packet for information, but not the text book. After rereading it, it seems like it is really bad and short. Is there enough info in it? Is the language formal enough? Is it too short? What would I have gotten on it if I wrote this for the real exam?

If it is absolutely horrible, please feel free to tell me. I have a feeling it is. I hope to improve a lot before the exam in May!

The question was:
How prepared were the American colonists to face the economic and military power of Great Britian when war broke out in 1775?

Essay Option #2
Some may find it surprising, if not comical, that in 1775 the American colonists were willing to fight the most powerful nation in the world, Great Britain. At first glance, the outcome of a British victory seems more than likely. However, the colonists were adequately prepared to face this economic and military power.
It is first important to note that colonists were divided on the issue of war with Britain. Most Americans were loyalists or were indifferent or neutral about the war and so did not support it. Many Tories, located centrally in New England, actually fought to crush the American rebellion. Many on the frontier and other remote areas were not affected by the British government’s acts and policies and so did not feel passionate about the revolutionary cause. However, the energy of the radicals in the colonies proved sufficient in defeating the British eventually.
The colonists did face disadvantages when entering the war against Britain. First, George Washington’s militia was considerably smaller than the huge armed force of Britain. Also, the Continental Congress had no real political authority. It had no power to tax or to create a sound currency. The Continental Army frequently experienced shortages in food and supplies. And, as with their foe, Americans were prone to war weariness that accompanies a long war.
Americans also had many advantages in the war. First among these is the ideal of liberty that Americans were fighting for. Colonists actually had a cause that they were passionate about. They were also fighting to protect their homes and way of life. Americans had excellent officers, such as George Washington, and foreigners who came to assists the Americans, among then Thaddeus Kasciusko, Casimir Pulaski, Baron von Steubon, and Marquis de Lafayette. The Americans had the advantage of a defensive position in land they knew how to navigate. They were able to effectively utilize guerilla warfare, which counteracted Britain’s disciplined troops and greater firepower. After the Battle of Saratoga, the French aided the colonists with financial support and military intervention. This greatly helped the Americans defeat the British. Also, the Americans hoped that a protracted war would convince the British public and allies of the American cause in Parliament that continuing war was senseless.
When entering the war against Great Britain, the Colonists faced disadvantages. However, their advantages outweighed these and the Americans won war against Great Britain. Finally, the separate colonies could become an independent United States of America.

ABT:
Pianogirl gave some very good suggestions, so I'll just note a couple other things I noticed.

First, for option 2, I might distinguish French intervention in the war--pre- and post-Saratoga. The prompt asks about colonial readiness as of 1775, roughly three years before France offered manpower and naval assistance to the colonists. Still, a sprinkling of French guns and munitions offered at the war's start were vital to the colonists, most of whom owned no firearms. It may seem like nitpicking, but it's just a suggestion.

Also, you might want to further address the failings of the Cont. Congress, compounded by the states' rights mentality that divided colonists when unity was most necessary.

Otherwise, it looks pretty good. Practice makes better, so keep at those essays and, I assure you, they will improve.

Here's one, albeit with little hints throughout:

[URL=http://www.teachablemoment.org/high/dbq3.html]http://www.teachablemoment...

Question: Why did Truman decide to drop the atomic bomb and was it for political means or otherwise. Was this action morally justified?

Edit: Meh... no one cares with this year almost over. What was I thinking. ^^

I had one DBQ that was so bad. The question was "During the years between 1650-1750, England switched its economic policy from Mercantilism to an Open Market Economy. Discuss the effect this had on the U.S." The problem is that England did not develop an open market economy. The Colonists developed a system kind of like an open market in response to the oppression of the english mercantile system, navigation acts, and various other acts and taxes. Sorry, just had to rant...again:D :rolleyes: