history 131

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HIS 131—Exam II (Fall 2025)

Durham Technical Community College

Due: by 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 4, 2025

Point Total: 100 Points

• Five points will be deducted for each day the assignment is turned in late.

• It is your responsibility to save a copy of your exam.

• Please submit the exam through Canvas.

• **The last opportunity to submit a late essay is by 1:00 PM on Monday, October 6.

• Please remember to complete the multiple-choice portion of the exam.

Directions

• Your response should be typed, double-spaced, and in an appropriate font size (10-12 pt.).

Please note, I understand the formatting may differ if you are using the textbox in Canvas.

• Please remember to put your name on the assignment.

• To answer these questions, you may use your class notes, posted lectures, textbook, and

materials on Canvas. Do NOT consult other outside sources. Failure to comply with this

requirement may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Durham Tech Academic

Honest Policy.

• Please note that it is NOT acceptable to use generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) to create

or aid with this assignment. Its use will be considered a violation of the Academic Honesty

Policy and treated as an act of plagiarism.

• For this assignment, you only need to cite direct quotations, and it is fine to use MLA style

citations, placing references as needed at the end of a given sentence. Also, there is no need

for a separate “Works Cited” page. More information about MLA style citations is available

through the Durham Tech Library homepage.

https://www.durhamtech.edu/dtcclibrary/citationhelp.htm

Examples: (Shi 321)

• It is inappropriate to simply copy extended passages from the textbook. That is plagiarism.

If you do use material from the textbook, you must rewrite the passages in your own words.

Furthermore, it is fine to use your notes and/or any posted lectures; however, do not simply

cut and paste from my posted lecture notes. Not only is that inappropriate but it also does not

actually demonstrate your comprehension of the material.

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Essay (100 points)

Answer ONE of the following essay questions. Write a well-thought-out response and address

all parts of the question.

1. Why was Spain interested in getting rid of Louisiana? Why was the United States interested

in acquiring this territory? Why was Spain not interested in making a deal with the United

States for Louisiana? Lastly, how did the United States eventually acquire Louisiana from

France?

2. What were the consequences of the War of 1812? How did they contribute to the

establishment of the Era of Good Feelings?

3. Why was the Missouri statehood issue so politically controversial? How was this specific

crisis resolved? Lastly, what did this crisis demonstrate about the disruption nature of western

expansion and the institution of slavery?

4. What was the Compromise of 1850? What were its major provisions? How did the

legislation pass? Finally, what did the Compromise accomplish?

5. How and why did the Second Party System collapse? What consequences did the collapse

have on American politics?

6. Why did Abraham Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation? What did the proclamation

do? Do you believe Lincoln deserves the title of the “Great Emancipator”? Please explain your

reasoning.

Extra Credit (It is worth up to 10 points added to your Exam II grade.)

If you complete the extra credit question, it is fine to include it in the same file (Word Document

or PDF) as your exam essay. However, clearly label this section of your assignment as “Extra

Credit.”

Extra Credit Assignment: Answer a second essay question from the above list.