Social Sciences and History / Unit 6 SSH 0522 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Classifying a Revolution by Its Break with the Past
The idea
The exam asks which revolution went furthest, and the anchor ranks them by their break. America's: independence and a republic, with slavery intact. France's: monarchy overthrown, democratic rights and equality proclaimed, then factions, the Terror and the Directory. Haiti's: the most radical, toppling colonial government and slavery together and creating a new nation, then burdened by the independence debt of eighteen twenty-five. Latin America's, from chapter eight: creole elites resenting peninsulares and Spanish restrictions, led by juntas after France toppled Spain's king; Mexico's first wave under Hidalgo and Morelos demanded social reform and lost creole support; the second wave under Iturbide won independence to preserve creole privilege. Brazil's: a royal heir declaring independence and keeping a monarchy.
In practice
Given "a revolution that ended both foreign rule and slavery", Haiti. Given "a revolution won to keep the privileges of a colonial elite", Mexico's second wave. Given "independence proclaimed by a royal heir", Brazil. Given "liberty declared while slavery continued", the United States. Given "a revolution whose social demands cost it elite support", Hidalgo's. Rank by what changed: rulers, institutions, or the labor system too.
Where people slip
The trap is equating independence with social revolution; the anchor's Latin American chapter is titled "revolution for whom" and answers, mostly, the creoles. The second trap is Haiti's cost: the anchor pairs its radicalism with the debt that followed.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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