SMC Exploring Historical Crossroads Colombian Exchange Questions

History of Western Civilizations 

• Review the following images and answer the questions that follow.
• You must incorporate at least 1 primary source (historical document) that has been assigned to you over the past 8 weeks for each question and you can reference the textbook and lecture slides as you feel necessary to validate your points).
  • Do not use unassigned sources (history.com, Wikipedia, etc).
• Each question should yield a 1-2 paragraph answer. These are short answer questions not essays.
• I am available as needed in office hours or the standard weekly zoom meet to discuss your questions about the test. 

16th Manuscript illustration by an unknown native artist showing a Nahuas victim of smallpox

1. What was the Colombian exchange and what impact did it have on Native peoples in the Americas and Caribbean and on white Europeans in the colonies and in Europe.

Stenka Razin in captivity, 1671

1. Who was Stenka Razin? What was happening in Russia during the time period of his resistance, put what was happening in Russia into context within the wider western world at the time.

Eugène Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People 1830

1. Which revolution is being depicted here? What were the goals of its leaders and to what extent were they successful or not?

The 15th Amendment, Celebrated May 19th, 1870 by James C. Beard

1. This illustration was made in celebration of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. constitution. The Amendment passed in February 1870 (5 years after the Civil War) and the first time that the fourth of July was celebrated as a federal holiday was that July (1870). Contextualize these (the 15th amendment and the 1st national celebration of Independence Day) events within the wider western civilizations context. In other words, what else was going on in the West at this time and in what ways did these American experiences fit within the era.

Extra Credit: 

Watch this clip, made by NPR (National Public Radio) of Frederick Douglas’ great great… grandchildren reciting his speech “What to the Slave is The Fourth of July”, written for and spoken to a crowd of abolitionists in 1852. Remember that at this time, slavery had still not been outlawed in the U.S., the civil war had still not occurred, and European powers were only beginning to enter into a phase of colonization that we call New Imperialism (this is a main topic in Week 9 of this class). Also keep in mind that this production was made in the summer of 2020 when BLM (Black Lives Matter) protests were well underway following the murder of George Floyd. What is your experience of the 4th of July? What stands out to you from Douglas’ speech and from what his descendants say after the recitation is over? To what degree if any do you view contemporary commemorations such as the fourth of July or Memorial Day as nation-building exercises and what holidays (that are not currently federal holidays) do you think the U.S. should celebrate and why.