For Discussion Board #3, write three (3) posts where you address any of the following five questions and/or reply to another student. After your first post, you may then write your next posts either answering any of the remaining four questions or replying to other student posts. Write these posts with your own ideas and what you learned from the online lectures or your own ideas.
Here are the questions you may address:
1) In examining one of the key aspects of the American Revolution, the U.S. Constitution has endured for 239 years. Yet, the French Revolution produced three different constitutions from 1789-1799. Many other constitutions worldwide have been usually short-lived and frequently scrapped for new and improved versions. Within this modern historical context, what do you believe are the difficulties and challenges for a modern country to create an enduring, stable constitution? Does the secret lie in creating a strong and intricate checks and balance system? Full separation of powers? Principles of shared governance between national and state or provincial governments? Does the secret lie within creating the constitutions actual wording? Making sure the constitution enables many democratic elements like voting and freedoms? You may create a response from any of these suggestions or come up with your own ideas.
2) Provide your assessment how Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette should be remembered in the Modern World History. Do you believe they are sympathetic tragic figures? Should they be remembered as villains? A couple completely out of place within the modern forces of the French Revolution? Innocent victims of radical violence? You may take one of these positions or develop your own thoughts on the ill-fated royal couple. Be sure to give equal time assessing both Louis and Marie Antoinette.
3) Provide recommendations of feature films, TV shows, documentaries, and books (fiction and nonfiction) that cover the French Revolution and Napoleonic Era. Provide a concise plot and summary of the film, TV show, documentary or book. What aspect of the French Revolution is depicted? Or how is Napoleon Bonaparte depicted? For instance, you may write a review of the 2023 Hollywood movie Napoleon directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix. AS AN OPTION: You may, but not required, include in your post a cut and paste image of the movie/TV poster or book cover.
4) After reading the 30 Napoleonic quotations, select one or several quotations that either hold special appeal or wisdom for you. Explain the deeper meaning and insight you draw from this quote(s) (it can be good or bad). Is it something that makes you think about human nature? Personal motivation? Human relations? Political or leadership insight? Philosophical wisdom? Or the art of war? The list of quotations can be found as a separate Word file in the Discussion Board module.
5) Provide your own historical assessment of Napoleon Bonaparte. Was he a leader who embodied the Enlightenment and French Revolution? Or a tyrannical authoritarian personality who became a forerunner to modern dictators? Or something in between? You may also offer ideas on the motivation for building his continental empire. To spread French revolutionary ideas and help create the modern political world? Or was it for ego or megalomania? You may even depict a completely different modern world if he had not existed.
Here are your instructions and criteria for this Discussion Board:
- You must have three (3) separate posts. Each post is worth five (5) points each for a total of 15 points for Discussion Board #3.
- Provide insightful and well-reasoned support in your posts. Show serious reflection of thought.
- Each written post should be between 75-150 words. You may write more, but don’t be excessive; don’t write less than this word minimum; this word range should be enough to develop your ideas concisely.
- Remember don’t copy and paste material from the internet. Your posts must be your own original writing.
- Keep in mind that you must post first before seeing other classmates’ posts. To begin your post, point and click on Reply and a text box will appear. Then after you have reviewed what you written, then you can click Post Reply. Then you’ll be able to read your classmates’ posts.
- Remember to follow the rules of civility and proper academic conduct in your posts. Avoid vulgarity, rudeness, and insensitive language. You may disagree with someone in a reply, but be respectful.
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