Part II

THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION

Directions: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs addressing the task

below, and a conclusion.

Theme: Change—Collapse of Government

The sudden death of a ruler, a defeat in war, or a successful revolution has often

led to the collapse of a government. Political, social, and economic changes have

occurred as a result of the collapse of a government.

Task:

Select two situations where the collapse of a government has led to significant

changes in a country or region and for each

• Describe the historical circumstances that led to the collapse of a government

• Discuss the political, social, and/or economic changes that occurred as a result of

the collapse of that government

You may use any situation from your study of global history and geography in which the

collapse of a government led to significant changes in a country or region. Some suggestions

you might wish to consider include collapse of the Roman Empire, collapse of Louis XVI’s

government, collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate, collapse of Czar Nicholas II’s government,

collapse of the Ottoman Empire, collapse of the Nationalist government in China

[Guomindang], collapse of Batista’s government in Cuba, fall of Reza Pahlavi’s government in

Iran, breakup of Yugoslavia, and collapse of the Soviet Union.

You are not limited to these suggestions.

Do not use an example from United States history as one of your situations.