"In the period from 1750 to 1900, a wave of political revolutions swept across the Atlantic world. Inspired by Enlightenment ideas about natural rights and the consent of the governed, revolutionaries in North America, France, Haiti, and Latin America overthrew monarchies and colonial regimes. But the new political orders that emerged often fell short of their stated ideals — preserving slavery, excluding women, and replacing one elite with another."
— Adapted from a modern world history textbook
A
Identify ONE specific example from the period 1750–1900 that supports the author's claim that Enlightenment ideas inspired political revolution.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
"The American Declaration of Independence in 1776, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, directly applied John Locke's Enlightenment ideas about natural rights — life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — to justify the colonies' break from Britain, arguing that government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed."
Why it scores: Names a specific document (Declaration of Independence), specific date (1776), specific Enlightenment thinker (Locke), and specific concepts (natural rights, consent of the governed) — directly tying ideas to revolution.
B
Identify ONE specific example from the period 1750–1900 that supports the author's claim that revolutions inspired each other.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
"The Haitian Revolution (1791–1804) was directly inspired by the French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man, which declared all men equal — language enslaved Haitians used to demand their own freedom from French colonial rule. Simón Bolívar later cited both the American and French Revolutions as inspirations for Latin American independence."
Why it scores: Names specific revolutions (Haitian, French, Latin American), specific dates, and a specific causal link (the Declaration of the Rights of Man inspiring Haitian rebels).
C
Explain ONE specific way the revolutions of 1750–1900 fell short of their stated ideals of liberty and equality.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
"Despite declaring that "all men are created equal," the American Revolution preserved slavery; the U.S. Constitution counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes, and the institution of slavery continued for nearly another century until the 13th Amendment in 1865. Similarly, the French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man initially excluded women from political rights — Olympe de Gouges' 1791 "Declaration of the Rights of Woman" was rejected, and she was guillotined."
Why it scores: Identifies a specific limitation (preserved slavery, excluded women), specific examples (3/5 Compromise, 13th Amendment, Olympe de Gouges), and specific dates, clearly showing how revolutionary ideals were selectively applied.
How to score points on SAQs
Be specific. "Religion was important" doesn't score. "Mansa Musa's 1324 hajj to Mecca" does.
Name names and places. Graders look for concrete proper nouns — empires, rulers, religions, regions.
Stay in the time period. Unit 5 is 1750–1900. Don't write about World War I or the Cold War — those belong to later units.
Answer the actual question. If it asks "identify," give an example. If it asks "explain," give an example PLUS a sentence connecting it to the prompt.
Keep it tight. 1–3 sentences per part is plenty. Long answers don't score higher; they just waste exam time.