World History Grade 9
The American and French Revolutions
Compare and Contrast Essay
The French and American revolutions are both critical events in world history that left the world with legacies that
still impact us today. In this essay, I would like you to compare the French and American revolutions and the
legacies they left on world history. To help you organize your ideas I have listed below a number of terms and
people that I would like to see in your writing:
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Revolution (provide me a clear definition and show me how the American and French Revolutions meet
that definition)
Enlightenment
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke
Social Contract
Monarchy
King Louis XVI of France
Marie Antoinette
King George III of Great Britain (England)
Republic
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington
Constitution
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Individual Rights – Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition, Religion, Due Process
Popular Sovereignty
3 Estate System – 1st Estate (Clergy), 2nd Estate (Nobility), 3rd Estate (Commoners)
Maximilien de Robespierre
National Assembly
Guillotine
Reign of Terror
Dictator
You do not need to list every one of these terms in your essay, but you should strive to show me that you
understand what these key terms mean by using them in proper context. As with all essays, your essay needs a
thesis and needs to make a point. Before you choose your thesis, conduct some research. Once you have a good
grasp of both revolutions then you can decide on a thesis. Please tell me what your thesis will be before writing
your essay.
Due Date: Friday January 22, 2016
Length: 3 to 5 pages, double spaced, 12 point font
Assessment: You will be assessed using Criterion A: Knowing & Understanding; Criterion C: Communicating; and
Criterion D: Thinking Critically. Refer to your I&S rubrics for specific details on scoring.