Western Civilization Since 1650   Fall 2009 Midterm Exam

This is a take-home exam. 

~Your exam paper must be typed as a MS Word file (I can accept no other formats), and then mailed to me as an attachment. 

~Be sure that you follow all of the format instructions in the syllabus!

 ~Whenever you quote, paraphrase or summarize information you must provide a simple parenthetical source citation at the end of the sentence or paragraph. 

Example 1: The 1789 Declaration of Rights of Man insisted that men have the right to own property and that the government cannot interfere with that right unless it proves that there is clear public need (1789 Declaration, point 17).

Example 2: 

Although they violated many of the rights declared in 1789, “the Jacobins fundamentally believed in Enlightenment principles” (Kidner, p. 123).

~The exam has two sections.  You must answer both questions. 

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Section 1 (50 points):

Answer this question in an essay that is 2-4 pages long (typed, double spaced, 12 point font). 

You must refer to specific evidence in your answer, and your evidence must come from our assigned primary source documents, our assigned textbook, and class lectures. 

Here is the question (read the set-up carefully!): 

The leading thinkers of the Enlightenment were heavily influenced by the scientific revolution, and the leading thinkers of the French Revolution were heavily influenced by the Enlightenment. 

In an essay that uses specific examples from the 1789 "Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen" and specific evidence from Kidner chapters 17, 18, and 19 and our lectures, explain: 

a)      the basic principles that 17th and 18th century scientists stated about nature law and how humans can understand nature (i.e., the idea of natural law and the scientific method);

b)     how Enlightenment thinkers applied those basic principles to looking at society (i.e., how did they used the scientific method to seek natural laws regarding humans, human society and human institutions);

c)      what Enlightenment thinkers generally believed about government, man’s natural rights and natural law;

d)     what specific ideas laid out by the French Revolution’s leaders in the 1789 "Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen" reflected Enlightenment ideas about government, man’s natural rights, and natural law (i.e., what parts of the document show the clear influence of Enlightenment ideas and how).

Bonus points!   You can earn between 1 and 5 bonus points if you also answer this:

e)     how were the Jacobins who led the French Revolution during its “radical phase” influenced by Enlightenment ideas and principles? 

Section 2 (50 points)

Answer this question in an essay that is 2-4 pages long (typed, double spaced, 12 point font). 

You must refer to specific evidence in your answer, and your evidence must come from the text of Voltaire’s Candide, our assigned textbook, and class lectures. 

Here is the question (read the set-up carefully!): 

Voltaire was an important French Enlightenment thinker whose ideas about natural law, natural rights, and natural religion were shared by many other Enlightenment thinkers. 

He used the short novel Candide to get ideas across through satire.  For example, he was especially biting in his caricatures of religious zealots and clerics. 

Explain how Voltaire's satirical depiction of Catholic Church officials and other religious zealots reflect his general criticisms of organized religious institutions. To do this, you must: 

a)      use lecture notes and the Kidner text to explain what Voltaire thought about organized religious institutions and whether he believed that organized religion was really dedicated to “God’s fundamental truths”;

b)     explain at least three different episodes in Candide in which Voltaire is criticizing the Catholic Church and its clergy;

c)      in explaining these episodes, be sure that you make clear how they demonstrate Voltaire’s larger point about the “problems” with organized religion.

d)     explain at least one episode in which Voltaire is criticizing a cleric or religious zealot from some faith or denomination other than the Catholic Church and how that fits into his general ideas about the “problems” with organized religion.

Bonus points!   You can earn between 1 and 5 bonus points if you also answer this:

e)      how does Voltaire use Candide’s visit to El Dorado to demonstrate his ideas regarding "proper" religion?