Guide to Midterm Exam: Historical Themes and Essay Structure

Legal Frameworks and Internment

The government utilized various legal tools during wartime that had profound impacts on civil liberties:

• Executive Order 9066: This directive led to the forced Japanese Internment within the United States, a period of significant constitutional and human rights controversy.
• Public Proclamation No. 4 and Public Law 503: These are specific legal frameworks that governed domestic policies and the management of civil liberties during wartime.

Essay Themes: Deep Analysis Required

The essay portion of the exam demands a high level of synthesis. You will not simply be asked to define terms, but to analyze the "why" and "how" of American history. There are three primary themes you should prepare for:

1. The Progressive Presidents

You should be prepared to analyze the era of the Progressive Presidents. This involves more than just listing names; you must discuss their specific accomplishments, the policy implementations they championed, and the lasting political legacies they left behind.

2. Wilson’s 14 Points

A central theme in early 20th-century diplomacy is President Woodrow Wilson’s "14 Points." Your study should focus on these fundamental principles and how they were intended to shape international relations and establish a framework for lasting peace following World War I.

3. Isolationism vs. Interventionism

This is a comparative study of the shifting tides of United States foreign policy. You must be able to trace the tension between staying out of global conflicts (isolationism) and becoming actively involved in them (interventionism). Specifically, focus your analysis on three pivotal eras:

• The Spanish-American War
• World War I
• World War II

Essay Success Strategy: The Five-Paragraph Rule

To secure the full 100 points for the essay, you must adhere to a strict structural format. A disorganized essay will likely result in a lower score, regardless of how much you know.

The Required Structure:

1. Introduction: Set the stage, define your terms, and present a clear thesis.
2. Body Paragraph 1: Highly detailed analysis of your first point.
3. Body Paragraph 2: Highly detailed analysis of your second point.
4. Body Paragraph 3: Highly detailed analysis of your third point.
5. Conclusion: Summarize your findings and reinforce your thesis.

Critical Requirement: The instructions emphasize providing "LOTS of detail." When discussing the relationships between different historical eras or policy decisions, do not be brief. Use specific examples, dates, and names to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the connections between these events.

Midterm Exam Review Study Guide Figure 1: Overview of the study topics and exam breakdown.