Deck 14: Revolution: In the Name of Justice

Question 1

The American revolutionaries of 1776 saw and believed that there was an "intimate relationship" between the words of their Declaration of Independence and the deeds they performed.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The storming of the Bastille brought an end to the French Revolution.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The Reign of Terror refers to the time immediately prior to the American Revolution.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Locke argued that his doctrine of rebellion could serve as a deterrent to revolution.

Question 5

About 40 countries experienced some sort of military takeover from 1945 to 1970.

Question 6

Although the American Revolution can be seen as "a revolution of sober goals," the French Revolution was seen as having "infinite expectations."

Question 7

Which government document made human rights the philosophical basis of good government departing significantly from past precedent and contemporary practice?

A)The Federalist Papers
B)The Declaration of the Rights of Man
C)The Declaration of Independence
D)The Second Treatise of Government
E)The Federalist Papers

Question 8

Aristotle, Madison, and Marx all saw the perennial tension between rich and poor as a key problem in political life.

Question 9

Edmund Burke thought that political philosophy was the secret to good government.

Question 10

Revolutionary change is most often organized from the lower classes, and all such changes depend on the success of the attempts of the new government to squash corruption.

Question 11

According to Jefferson, a government's legitimacy can be traced to the ability to protect the freedoms of the individual and how it conforms to the will of the majority.

Question 12

The nonviolent transition from communist dictatorship to constitutional government in Czechoslovakia is known as the Orange Revolution.

Question 13

According to James C. Davies's theory, revolutions stem less from crushing disappointments than from terrible suffering.

Question 14

Although the new American government could have easily been taken over or supplanted, what helped to defuse and prevent these types of conspiracies and cabals?

A)Concern for legitimacy
B)Concern for constitutionality
C)Concern for the rule of law
D)Concern for irony
E)Concern for liberty

Question 15

Tocqueville argued that economic improvement led to revolution because once people saw that some improvement was possible, they inevitably yearned for more.

Question 16

What was the "Lockean attitude" that many of the American revolutionaries possessed?

A)The revolutionary leaders were very bold in reaching for their goals.
B)The revolutionaries saw the war as a necessary evil.
C)The revolutionaries were convinced that they had divine power on their side.
D)The revolutionaries had a more pragmatic approach to government and for dealing with Britain.
E)The revolutionaries thought that oppressed people all over the world would come to their aid.

Question 17

Thomas Paine attempted to refute Burke's view of revolution in his Rights of Man, and addressed it specifically to Burke.

Question 18

According to Harvard sociologist Pitirim Sorokin, the _____ was the bloodiest and most turbulent in our history.

A)sixteenth century
B)seventeenth century
C)eighteenth century
D)nineteenth century
E)twentieth century

Question 19

According to Jefferson, what is the philosophical basis of good government?

A)Social deconstruction
B)Liberty
C)Human rights
D)Revolution
E)The Socratic method

Question 20

Revolutions are, by definition, violent political phenomenon.

Question 21

Which of the following was NOT an aspect of Robespierre's revolutionary vision?

A)The creation of a "new citizen"
B)The "despotism of liberty"
C)Compassion for the poor
D)A regime of virtue
E)Individual freedom

Question 22

What is the significance of the nonviolent revolutions that occurred in Eastern Europe beginning in 1989? In what other ways do these transitions differ from other revolutions? Do you think there will be more nonviolent revolutions in the future?

Question 23

Which revolution did James C. Davies study to compare the theories of Marx and Tocqueville?

A)Dorr's Rebellion of 1842
B)The Egyptian Revolution of 1952
C)The American Revolution
D)The Orange Revolution
E)Both A and B

Question 24

Discuss the various reasons why modern revolutions take place, and why many governments fail because of their indecisiveness.

Question 25

Locke's theory of revolution is based on the idea that

A)governments exist to protect the rights of life, liberty, and property.
B)revolt is always followed by positive social and political transformations.
C)tradition and stability are more important than liberty and equality.
D)desperation caused by poverty is the spur to revolutionary action.
E)all of the above.

Question 26

Paine argues that revolution is always justified against monarchism. Are there conditions under which revolution would be justified against a democratic government? Explain.

Question 27

What was the "Reign of Terror?"

A)Robespierre's response to rising political opposition
B)Hitler's purge of his "Brown Shirts"
C)British name for the march to Boston back from Concord in April 1775
D)Stalin's purge of the unfaithful
E)John Locke's theory about government and the current political climate

Question 28

Explain different theories on the causes of revolution as explained by Burke, Paine, and Locke. Which do you find most convincing?

Question 29

Edmund Burke believed that political society is best founded on

A)the protection of human rights.
B)religion and tradition.
C)the philosophy of rationalism.
D)the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
E)scientific principles.

Question 30

What document enshrined the egalitarian spirit and slogan of the French revolution: liberty, equality, and fraternity?

A)The Republic
B)The Declaration of the Rights of Man
C)The Declaration of Independence
D)The Magna Carta
E)Two Treatises on Government

Question 31

Revolution is particularly likely when _____ loses confidence in their government?

A)peasants
B)the proletariat
C)the military
D)religious/moral leaders
E)the electorate

Question 32

Which political philosopher argued that the greatest injustice a government could commit was the denial of the people's right to choose their own government?

A)Edmund Burke
B)Alexander Hamilton
C)Ted Gurr
D)Thomas Paine
E)John Locke

Question 33

According to Tocqueville, as soon as a bad government begins to mend its ways,

A)it will quell revolutionary fervor.
B)it will rise greatly in the public's esteem.
C)it is at an increased risk for revolution.
D)it stands a good chance of surviving.
E)none of the above.

Question 34

Karl Marx declared _____ to be the ultimate cause for all revolutions.

A)poverty and social alienation
B)restriction of liberty
C)economic improvement
D)inequality in wealth
E)the perception that government leaders are inept

Question 35

Which political philosopher argued that tyrants cannot afford to institute reforms because to do so would be to admit past injustices and activate "the rancor and cupidity of the populace"?

A)Aristotle
B)Alexis de Tocqueville
C)Karl Marx
D)John Locke
E)Alexander Hamilton

Question 36

Which political theorist's writings helped sound the death knell for the doctrine of divine right?

A)Edmund Burke
B)John Locke
C)Aristotle
D)James Madison
E)Karl Marx

Question 37

How did Gurr and Gladstone reconceptualize the idea of a modern revolution?

A)As a struggle between social classes
B)As a desire to destroy the prevailing social order
C)As a new belief that political struggle can change social and economic structures
D)As a desire to vent public frustrations and exercise their right to revolt
E)As an interactive process that occurs over time

Question 38

Whose approach to political change is summarized by the statement, "Our patience will achieve more than our force"?

A)Locke
B)Paine
C)Burke
D)Robespierre
E)Jefferson

Question 39

José Ortega y Gasset argued that the masses cannot and should not rule society in general. Do the experiences of governments and revolutions in the 20th century confirm this way of thinking, or contradict it? Explain.

Question 40

What happened in the wake of the French Revolution?

A)The monarchy was eventually reinstituted.
B)The monarchy's powers were more limited than those of the pre-revolutionary regime.
C)Revolutionary social and political reforms were retained.
D)The government became more centralized.
E)All of the above

Question 41

Given the dangers and violence involved, is revolution ever justified? What social, economic, or political problems would justify revolution?