1302 Study Guide for Midterm
Spring 2013
Dr. Brunet
You have an hour and twenty minutes for this exam, so WATCH YOUR TIME. You should spend
roughly 40 minutes on your essay and 40 minutes on your short answers.
Part I. Short Answer Exercises. 60pts. total
The following SIX terms will be on your exam. You will choose THREE and write a short answer
for each term. Remember these are not essays, so keep them concise and to the point. You
should define each term, put them in their historical context AND give the reason WHY they
were historically important. In other words, answer the basic “who, what, where, when, why”.
Your answers should average no more than a page in length. Each answer is worth 20 points.
Creation of a Consumer Culture
Era of the “Wild” West
Robber Barons vs. Captains of Industry
Populism
The New American City
Part II. Essay. 40pts. total
Choose one of the following two essays and write a complete answer based on your mastery of
the history presented in class. Your essay must include an introduction, your points of
discussion and a conclusion.
Following the Civil War, America experienced a great development of its industrial capacity.
Why was America uniquely situated at this time for an industrial revolution and what effects did
this growth have on the country AND on society? Remember to include ALL levels of society in
your essay. In your opinion, was industrialism optimal for the business owner, the middle class
or for the working class? THINK about this question before you answer.
The industrialization of the United States not only affected its citizens, but also its landscape, its
politics, its cities AND rural areas, and in some ways, its standing in the world community. Assess
this statement.