Category: History

How do historians learn about the past? Are they psychic? Are they geniuses? Are they time travelers? In addition to the historical content you’re learning this week by reading your textbook, we’re also learning about how historians do history. This means how historians interpret the past and create a historical interpretation of the past based on primary and secondary sources. DIRECTIONS After watching and reading the sources below, scroll down to see the questions and then reply with your answers. Watch – Historical Sources – How to History (5-minute watch) Read – UMB – Primary & Secondary Sources Watch – Josie Smith – What Does a Historian Do? (6-minute watch) ASSIGNMENT Create an infographic or slide (Canva, Google, PowerPoint) demonstrating what you learned from the three videos above. Make sure to: Include an image of 1 (one) primary source found in this week’s assigned reading. You don’t need to analyze or identify it. Just demonstrate that you know what a primary source is by sourcing one from the textbook. Provide citations from each of the required videos above. Create a stand-alone image. This means your product should clearly and specifically explain what you learned, without you having to explain it. Upload your file as an attachment only. No links. Google Slides should be saved as PDFs and submitted as attachments, not links. Questions? Reach out in the Pronto main chat so that everyone can benefit from the answer. GRADING An “A” paper meets all the directions above, including college-standard formatting, a completed spelling/grammar check, direct evidence quotations, and in-text citations. The answer should thoroughly address the question above with specific historical content. Work is graded based on the ability to demonstrate historical understanding and analytical skills. Remember to write in complete sentences with proper writing mechanics. You should have Grammarly installed to help correct your work as you write, but ensure the AI function is turned off (see Module 0). HELPFUL TIP: Make sure you use evidence from any assigned sources and cite it within your sentence (i.e. either “As found in the Mr. Langa’s AP US History document,”).

How do historians learn about the past? Are they psychic? Are they geniuses? Are they time travelers? In addition to the historical content you’re learning this week by reading your textbook, we’re also learning about how historians do history. This means how historians interpret the past and create a historical interpretation of the past based on primary and secondary sources. DIRECTIONS After watching and reading the sources below, scroll down to see the questions and then reply with your answers. Watch – Historical Sources – How to History (5-minute watch) Read – UMB – Primary & Secondary Sources Watch – Josie Smith – What Does a Historian Do? (6-minute watch) ASSIGNMENT Create an infographic or slide (Canva, Google, PowerPoint) demonstrating what you learned from the three videos above. Make sure to: Include an image of 1 (one) primary source found in this week’s assigned reading. You don’t need to analyze or identify it. Just demonstrate that you know what a primary source is by sourcing one from the textbook. Provide citations from each of the required videos above. Create a stand-alone image. This means your product should clearly and specifically explain what you learned, without you having to explain it. Upload your file as an attachment only. No links. Google Slides should be saved as PDFs and submitted as attachments, not links. Questions? Reach out in the Pronto main chat so that everyone can benefit from the answer. GRADING An “A” paper meets all the directions above, including college-standard formatting, a completed spelling/grammar check, direct evidence quotations, and in-text citations. The answer should thoroughly address the question above with specific historical content. Work is graded based on the ability to demonstrate historical understanding and analytical skills. Remember to write in complete sentences with proper writing mechanics. You should have Grammarly installed to help correct your work as you write, but ensure the AI function is turned off (see Module 0). HELPFUL TIP: Make sure you use evidence from any assigned sources and cite it within your sentence (i.e. either “As found in the Mr. Langa’s AP US History document,”).

Prompt

What people, events, and issues made the Battle of Horseshoe Bend a “Slow & Laborious Slaughter”? How did the consequences of this battle impact life on the TN frontier afterward, for both whites and American Indians?

Identify and discuss the physiographic region in which you live and at least one other. Talk about how the land (its resources, waterways, geographical features, etc.) impacts the history of the region in which you live and/or the state in general (you can talk about the economy, society, politics, culture of indigenous and settler populations). Be specific and provide historical details from the required sources. How does YOUR story fit into the story of the land in Tennessee?

• Start the Assignment by providing historical context: time period with dates, major events and issues that preceded the topic being discussed, important background. This is part of your grade.
• Be specific in your answers. Refer to at least two sources from the lesson in your answer by providing a direct quote of no more than two sentences from each source, or other detailed information from the source. Details include names, dates, data points, stories, events that illustrate a larger point. These details are important- they should be unique to the source and not be information that is easily retrieved from any source on the topic.
• When quoting a source, you can say “according to A Tennessee History by Dr. Bucy, quote ‘The area of West Tennessee was one of the Chickasaw’s favorite hunting grounds… the road that they used to come into Tennessee was called the Chickasaw Trace’ end quote.”
• You can also paraphrase from a source by simply remembering some of the details from the source, that way you don’t have to look away from the camera. Just remember to name the source and that the details are identifiable and unique to the source.
• Do not use any sources from outside course content for any part of this assignment. Do not make clear use of the lesson sources will not be graded.

For this assignment, you are to construct an Abstract for your research paper. An effective abstract synthesizes your research into a concise, professional summary that identifies your argument, methodology, and significance (not necessarily in that order). Your abstract must be a full paragraph and must address the following four elements:

1. The Problem: What specific historical or cultural tension are you investigating?

2. The Thesis: What is your central claim?

3. The Evidence: What primary or secondary sources are you using to prove your point?

4. The Significance: Why does this research matter? What is the larger implication of your findings?

I have provided a sample for you to review and use as a model. Note the due date and time, and be sure to upload it as a Word file. And be prepared to discuss it in class.

I will also be uploading work that’s already been done to align with the abstract paper… Such as thesis and outline paper.

Tang Dynasty

Must be 3 pages long single spaced. Must include at least 5 peer-reviewed sources

• Introduction: Introduce the concept of Dynastic China and provide a brief overview of the chosen dynasty’s historical significance.

Research & Include:

• Brief explanation of Dynastic China
• What a dynasty is (hereditary rule, Mandate of Heaven)
• The cycle of rise, prosperity, decline, and replacement
• Timeline placement:
• The Tang Dynasty (618907 CE)
• Who founded it:
• Emperor Gaozu of Tang (Li Yuan)
• Why it is historically significant:
• Considered a golden age of Chinese civilization
• Expansion of territory
• Strong central government
• Cultural flourishing
• Thesis idea (example):
• The Tang Dynasty was one of the most powerful and culturally influential dynasties in Chinese history because of its political organization, social structure, and major cultural achievements.
• Historical Context: Describe the historical context in which the selected dynasty emerged, including key events and developments.

Research & Include:

• The fall of the Sui Dynasty
• Heavy taxation
• Forced labor projects (Grand Canal)
• Military failures
• Rebellions and instability
• Rise of Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu)
• Role of:
• Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin)
• Strengthened the dynasty
• Military expansion
• Administrative reforms
• Expansion of trade along the Silk Road
• Growth of Changan (capital city)
• One of the largest cities in the world at the time
• Key turning point:
• The An Lushan Rebellion
• Weakened the dynasty
• Beginning of decline
• Political and Social Structure: Analyze the political organization and social structure during the reign of the chosen dynasty, highlighting the roles of emperors, bureaucrats, and common people.

Research & Include:

• Role of the emperor (absolute authority, Mandate of Heaven)
• Centralized bureaucracy
• Civil Service Examination system
• Based on Confucian teachings
• Merit-based positions (not just aristocracy)
• Law code:
• The Tang Code (influenced later East Asian legal systems)
• Local vs. central government control

Research & Include:

• Social hierarchy:
• Emperor
• Scholar-officials (gentry)
• Peasants
• Artisans
• Merchants
• Role of Confucianism in society
• Status of women:
• Example: Wu Zetian
• Only female emperor in Chinese history
• Urban life vs. rural life
• Religious diversity:
• Buddhism
• Daoism
• Confucianism
• Cultural and Intellectual Achievements: Explore the cultural and intellectual accomplishments, including art, literature, philosophy, and technological advancements, during the selected dynasty’s rule.

Literature

• Poetry flourished
• Famous poets:
• Li Bai
• Du Fu
• Themes: nature, politics, war, personal reflection

Art

• Landscape painting
• Ceramics (Tang sancai pottery)
• Buddhist sculptures

Religion & Philosophy

• Spread of Buddhism
• Buddhist monasteries and influence
• Government reaction against Buddhism later in dynasty

Technology & Trade

• Woodblock printing
• Advances in medicine and engineering
• Expansion of Silk Road trade
• Cultural exchange with:
• Korea
• Japan
• Central Asia
• Impact and Legacy: Discuss the dynasty’s lasting impact on Chinese history and how its legacy continues to influence the country today.

Research & Include:

• Influence on later dynasties (especially the Song Dynasty)
• Model for government and civil service exams
• Lasting impact on Chinese poetry and art
• Influence on East Asia (Japan and Korea adopted Tang systems)
• Changan as a model city
• Why historians consider it a golden age
• How modern China still references Tang culture in literature, tourism, and national identity

Tang Dynasty

Must be 3 pages long single spaced. Must include at least 5 peer-reviewed sources

• Introduction: Introduce the concept of Dynastic China and provide a brief overview of the chosen dynasty’s historical significance.

Research & Include:

• Brief explanation of Dynastic China
• What a dynasty is (hereditary rule, Mandate of Heaven)
• The cycle of rise, prosperity, decline, and replacement
• Timeline placement:
• The Tang Dynasty (618907 CE)
• Who founded it:
• Emperor Gaozu of Tang (Li Yuan)
• Why it is historically significant:
• Considered a golden age of Chinese civilization
• Expansion of territory
• Strong central government
• Cultural flourishing
• Thesis idea (example):
• The Tang Dynasty was one of the most powerful and culturally influential dynasties in Chinese history because of its political organization, social structure, and major cultural achievements.
• Historical Context: Describe the historical context in which the selected dynasty emerged, including key events and developments.

Research & Include:

• The fall of the Sui Dynasty
• Heavy taxation
• Forced labor projects (Grand Canal)
• Military failures
• Rebellions and instability
• Rise of Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu)
• Role of:
• Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin)
• Strengthened the dynasty
• Military expansion
• Administrative reforms
• Expansion of trade along the Silk Road
• Growth of Changan (capital city)
• One of the largest cities in the world at the time
• Key turning point:
• The An Lushan Rebellion
• Weakened the dynasty
• Beginning of decline
• Political and Social Structure: Analyze the political organization and social structure during the reign of the chosen dynasty, highlighting the roles of emperors, bureaucrats, and common people.

Research & Include:

• Role of the emperor (absolute authority, Mandate of Heaven)
• Centralized bureaucracy
• Civil Service Examination system
• Based on Confucian teachings
• Merit-based positions (not just aristocracy)
• Law code:
• The Tang Code (influenced later East Asian legal systems)
• Local vs. central government control

Research & Include:

• Social hierarchy:
• Emperor
• Scholar-officials (gentry)
• Peasants
• Artisans
• Merchants
• Role of Confucianism in society
• Status of women:
• Example: Wu Zetian
• Only female emperor in Chinese history
• Urban life vs. rural life
• Religious diversity:
• Buddhism
• Daoism
• Confucianism
• Cultural and Intellectual Achievements: Explore the cultural and intellectual accomplishments, including art, literature, philosophy, and technological advancements, during the selected dynasty’s rule.

Literature

• Poetry flourished
• Famous poets:
• Li Bai
• Du Fu
• Themes: nature, politics, war, personal reflection

Art

• Landscape painting
• Ceramics (Tang sancai pottery)
• Buddhist sculptures

Religion & Philosophy

• Spread of Buddhism
• Buddhist monasteries and influence
• Government reaction against Buddhism later in dynasty

Technology & Trade

• Woodblock printing
• Advances in medicine and engineering
• Expansion of Silk Road trade
• Cultural exchange with:
• Korea
• Japan
• Central Asia
• Impact and Legacy: Discuss the dynasty’s lasting impact on Chinese history and how its legacy continues to influence the country today.

Research & Include:

• Influence on later dynasties (especially the Song Dynasty)
• Model for government and civil service exams
• Lasting impact on Chinese poetry and art
• Influence on East Asia (Japan and Korea adopted Tang systems)
• Changan as a model city
• Why historians consider it a golden age
• How modern China still references Tang culture in literature, tourism, and national identity

HIST 305: Revolution, Protest, and Freedom

Assessment 1

Spring 2026

This assessment asks you to sit, think, examine your notes, and reexamine the readings in

order to effectively answer the question. Give yourself enough time to do all of this. It is

worth 100 points, or 20% of your overall grade for the course. You should make an

argument that is based upon a persuasive and accurate use of evidence. As an essay, it

must have a thesis (located in the introduction and underlined), body paragraphs that lay

out the evidence used to support the thesis, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and

discusses why it is important. Please submit your essay by Friday, February 20 at

midnight.

The Essay Question:

Karl Marx wrote that Revolutions are the locomotives of history.1 Historians consider the

Russian Revolution as a quintessential communist revolution in the sense that it was the

first, and, it created one of the most powerful and longest-lasting communist states in

history. To what extent did the Revolution change peoples lives? How did Bolshevism

provide ordinary people with a language, ideas, and means of action to challenge the

oppressive autocracy of the Tsar and the social and cultural norms that dominated

Russia? To answer these questions, discuss the poor working conditions that Europeans

faced in the 19th and early 20th centuries, explain why Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto

in 1848, assess why communism appealed to so many people that it caused a Revolution

in 1917 (why werent people content with reforms), and finally, evaluate the extent of

changes after the Revolution.

Essay Requirements:

Format

o The essay should be typed, 3-5 pages, 12-point font.

o Proper organization: the essay should include one introductory paragraph with a

thesis that is underlined, body paragraphs that contain evidence, and a

concluding paragraph.

Argumentation

o A thesis that is argumentative not descriptive.2 It should directly answer the

essay question in one-two sentences.

1 Marx, The Class Struggles in France, 1850.

2 Heres an example of a descriptive thesis: The Russian Revolution of 1917 led to many important events.

This thesis is weak because nobody would disagree with it; it is a simple statement of fact. Heres an

example of an argumentative thesis: The Russian Revolution was a transformative event because it led to a

significant shift in how people lived their lives, which is best demonstrated by changes in gender roles. This

o Evidence that is used throughout the essay that supports the thesis.

o Watch the video tutorial for tips on how to write a history paper that has an

effective thesis and good use of evidence.

Evidence

o Use evidence that is accurate and relevant to your thesis.

o You must use the following primary sources: the collection of documents on

Blackboard that show the poor working conditions of workers; The Communist

Manifesto; Love of Worker Bees.

o You must use a minimum of four direct quotes: at least one direct quote from

the collection of primary sources posted on Blackboard; at least one direct

quote from The Communist Manifesto; and at least two direct quotes from Love

of Worker Bees. You may use more than four direct quotes.

o Use footnotes to cite your sources using Chicago style (Turabian), and introduce

and analyze the quotes that you use as evidence (see example in the footnote

for this sentence).3 Watch the video tutorial for guidance on how to use

footnotes.

Ethics

o Proper note-taking, citations, and use of sources will allow you to avoid

plagiarism and fraud (accidental or purposeful). UNDs plagiarism and fraud

policy applies to this assignment, so make sure that all words/sentences that

are not your own are cited.

thesis is strong because it will need evidence to support it, and if the evidence is effective, the thesis will be

persuasive.

3 Heres an example of how you can introduce and analyze a direct quote: Factory conditions in Britain in the

mid-19th century were terrible. The British parliament initiated investigations into them and produced the

Sadler report of 1832, which detailed the horrors. As one child laborer, Michael Crabtree, put it. … (Sadler

Report, 1832).

I have attached the readings below that you need to reference.

Some other readings I cannot upload are:

• Alexandra Kollontai, Love of Worker Bees,
• The Communist Manifesto

Please see all attachments and read all instructions and directions very carefully and do exactly what the assignment is asking for.

Lenin’s economic policy enable the Russian economy to revolve i agree with the statement in the body of the essay topic should be about 9 February