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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Paine indicate the corporate charters destroy rights in Ways and Means of Improving the Conditions of Europe?

2. How did Paine describe the monarchical government that the American Constitution avoided in Of Constitutions?

3. Building on the foundation of Part One, in what style was Part Two of Rights of Man written?

4. What forms of objection were there to the Articles of Confederation?

5. What idea did Paine think the European government should be constructed on?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Paine define the old governments and the new governments in Chapter 3?

2. What was Paine's objection to the Articles of Confederation?

3. How did Paine discuss social order in Chapter 1?

4. Why did Paine think that natural rights rejected hereditary government?

5. Why did Paine think that America was the only country that could have tried the new form of government he supported?

6. What was Paine's opinion of George Washington?

7. As discussed in Ways and Means of Improving the Conditions of Europe, what effect would a possible alliance with France have for England?

8. How much time had passed between Part One and Part Two of Rights of Man, and how did Burke respond to Part One?

9. Which two functions did Paine divide governments into in Of Constitutions?

10. Why did Paine support commerce and universal trade in Ways and Means of Improving the Conditions of Europe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Of Constitutions chronicled America's path to Independence and the forming of the Constitution.

1) Describe at least three key events that led to the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.

2) Explain Paine's objection to the Articles of Confederation and if they seem valid in your opinion.

3) Analyze the ratification of the Constitution and how the concerns the people had back then about the document could be applied to current times.

Essay Topic 2

In the third preface to Rights of Man, Paine established his resentment of the backlash that his readers have received.

1) Describe the general preface for the book and the mistreatment of some of Paine's readers.

2) Explain Paine's response to the unfair treatment of his readers in other countries.

3) Analyze the literary reasons for having three prefaces in a book or document, and how they apply to Rights of Man.

Essay Topic 3

Both Paine and Burke looked at the storming of the Bastille in very different ways.

1) Describe why Burke might have decided to ignore the Bastille and how he briefly referred to it.

2) Explain Paine's opinion of the Bastille and why he considered it to be an important historical event.

3) Analyze whose opinion of the Bastille you think seems the most logical.

(see the answer keys)

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