The Capitol Riot and the Right to Revolution

UNITED STATES HISTORY I ONLINE
SHORT ESSAY
Technical Requirements: No more than one (1) page, typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one (1)-inch​margins. These technical requirements, especially the page limit, will be strictly​enforced, and​non-conforming essays risk receiving the grade of “F.”
Deadline:​The essay is due on Thursday, February 11, 2021, 12:00 Noon, No requests for extensions will be granted. Late essays will be​penalized at the rate of one (1) full grade per day. Essays submitted more than four (4)​days late will not be accepted and will receive the grade of “0”.
Assignment:​In order to separate political history from some remarkable political theater in recent weeks, write a short, succinct essay about founding principles. Shortly after the deadly Capitol riot on January 6, two first-year members of the House of Representatives issued a statement describing the riot as a “1776 moment”. Was it? That is a rhetorical question.
The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence recognized the so-called natural “right of revolution”: “[W]henever any Form of Government becomes destructive of [natural rights], it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” However, 11 years later, the Constitution of 1787 said nothing about this right.
Without doing any research, and relying only on the textbook reading assignments and the text of the second paragraph of the Declaration, explain what inclusion of the right of revolution meant to American government beginning in 1776. What is required to trigger the right of revolution? What would you need to know to have an informed opinion about whether the Capitol rioters were attempting to exercise the right of revolution?
Do not discuss the Declaration’s preamble. Do not discuss the long indictment of King George III. Do not discuss the states’ severance of their ties with Great Britain.
​This is intended to be a three (3)-paragraph essay. Your essay should begin with a brief introduction that states a good, clear thesis. In the second paragraph of your essay, discuss the right of revolution as fully as space permits and be specific because broad generalizations will not suffice. Your essay should end with a brief conclusion.
Citations & Sources:​This is not a research assignment, and students may not use any sources other than the assigned texts for this class to write this essay. Quotations should be kept to a minimum.
Grading Criteria:​(1) Insight into the issues presented by the assignment; (2) Reading; and (3) Style in presenting the facts and in analyzing and discussing them. Pursuant to the syllabus, this assignment will constitute Ten Percent (10%) of the final grade for the course.
Warning concerning Academic Honesty: According to the Norwalk Community College Student Handbook:​“Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to…Plagiarizing, including the​submission of others’ ideas or papers (whether purchased, borrowed or otherwise​obtained) as one’s own work.” Plagiarism is a very serious offense. Violations of the​College’s plagiarism policy are likely to result in the grade “0” on this assignment, as​possible disciplinary action by the College. Please be exceptionally careful!
Guiding Principle:​According to Justice Louis D. Brandeis, who served on the United States Supreme ​Court from 1916 to 1939: “There is no great writing, only great re-writing.”
UNITED STATES HISTORY I ONLINE
Instructions for Essay Writing
• Read the assignment very carefully; In particular, read the directions and technical requirements carefully and follow them precisely
• An essay generally should begin with an introduction that states a good, clear thesis
• Organize your essay carefully, dividing the discussion into paragraphs. Consider making a detailed outline before you begin writing and revise the outline as necessary while writing the essay
• If the assignment has two or more parts and, therefore, poses two or more issues, be certain to address each one
• As a general rule, each paragraph of discussion should be confined to a thorough examination of one issue
• As a general rule, each paragraph of discussion should have a topic sentence, followed by one or more sentences of analysis and detailed, factual support
• Use the essay to demonstrate what you know: Support your argument with facts and specific examples

• Good historical writing begins with and focuses on facts. Avoid vague, unsupported generalizations
• Clarity of expression is one of the greatest virtues of good writing in the social sciences
• Get to the point
• Stick to the point: Everything you write should be addressed to the question and the issue(s) it raised. Avoid rambling and digressions
• Academic writing strives for balance and objectivity. An essay generally should not be vigorously argumentative. Although the introduction should state a thesis, the approach to essay should be balanced, offering factual support for the thesis but acknowledging facts that are contrary
• Be cautious about offering personal opinions: Do not make personal statements such as “I believe” and “In my opinion”. Avoid substituting emotion for depth of analysis and thoroughness of discussion
• You must express ideas in your own words. Plagiarism is a very serious offense: Please be careful!
• Direct quotations should be kept to a minimum, but, when necessary, they must be accompanied by a citation to the source with complete bibliographic information
• The conclusion should briefly summarize the most important points made in the essay
• Be careful about spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. They are very important! Always proofread essays very carefully
• Please consult the instructor whenever you have questions about matters of content or style
• Do not procrastinate. Essays written at the last minute rarely succeed
UNITED STATES HISTORY I ONLINE
SHORT ESSAY
Technical Requirements: No more than one (1) page, typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one (1)-inch​margins. These technical requirements, especially the page limit, will be strictly​enforced, and​non-conforming essays risk receiving the grade of “F.”

Deadline:​The essay is due on Thursday, February 11, 2021, 12:00 Noon, No requests for extensions will be granted. Late essays will be​penalized at the rate of one (1) full grade per day. Essays submitted more than four (4)​days late will not be accepted and will receive the grade of “0”.
Assignment:​In order to separate political history from some remarkable political theater in recent weeks, write a short, succinct essay about founding principles. Shortly after the deadly Capitol riot on January 6, two first-year members of the House of Representatives issued a statement describing the riot as a “1776 moment”. Was it? That is a rhetorical question.
The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence recognized the so-called natural “right of revolution”: “[W]henever any Form of Government becomes destructive of [natural rights], it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” However, 11 years later, the Constitution of 1787 said nothing about this right.
Without doing any research, and relying only on the textbook reading assignments and the text of the second paragraph of the Declaration, explain what inclusion of the right of revolution meant to American government beginning in 1776. What is required to trigger the right of revolution? What would you need to know to have an informed opinion about whether the Capitol rioters were attempting to exercise the right of revolution?
Do not discuss the Declaration’s preamble. Do not discuss the long indictment of King George III. Do not discuss the states’ severance of their ties with Great Britain.
​This is intended to be a three (3)-paragraph essay. Your essay should begin with a brief introduction that states a good, clear thesis. In the second paragraph of your essay, discuss the right of revolution as fully as space permits and be specific because broad generalizations will not suffice. Your essay should end with a brief conclusion.
Citations & Sources:​This is not a research assignment, and students may not use any sources other than the assigned texts for this class to write this essay. Quotations should be kept to a minimum.
Grading Criteria:​(1) Insight into the issues presented by the assignment; (2) Reading; and (3) Style in presenting the facts and in analyzing and discussing them. Pursuant to the syllabus, this assignment will constitute Ten Percent (10%) of the final grade for the course.
Warning concerning Academic Honesty: According to the Norwalk Community College Student Handbook:​“Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to…Plagiarizing, including the​submission of others’ ideas or papers (whether purchased, borrowed or otherwise​obtained) as one’s own work.” Plagiarism is a very serious offense. Violations of the​College’s plagiarism policy are likely to result in the grade “0” on this assignment, as​possible disciplinary action by the College. Please be exceptionally careful!
Guiding Principle:​According to Justice Louis D. Brandeis, who served on the United States Supreme ​Court from 1916 to 1939: “There is no great writing, only great re-writing.”
UNITED STATES HISTORY I ONLINE
Instructions for Essay Writing
• Read the assignment very carefully; In particular, read the directions and technical requirements carefully and follow them precisely
• An essay generally should begin with an introduction that states a good, clear thesis
• Organize your essay carefully, dividing the discussion into paragraphs. Consider making a detailed outline before you begin writing and revise the outline as necessary while writing the essay
• If the assignment has two or more parts and, therefore, poses two or more issues, be certain to address each one
• As a general rule, each paragraph of discussion should be confined to a thorough examination of one issue
• As a general rule, each paragraph of discussion should have a topic sentence, followed by one or more sentences of analysis and detailed, factual support
• Use the essay to demonstrate what you know: Support your argument with facts and specific examples
• Good historical writing begins with and focuses on facts. Avoid vague, unsupported generalizations
• Clarity of expression is one of the greatest virtues of good writing in the social sciences
• Get to the point
• Stick to the point: Everything you write should be addressed to the question and the issue(s) it raised. Avoid rambling and digressions
• Academic writing strives for balance and objectivity. An essay generally should not be vigorously argumentative. Although the introduction should state a thesis, the approach to essay should be balanced, offering factual support for the thesis but acknowledging facts that are contrary
• Be cautious about offering personal opinions: Do not make personal statements such as “I believe” and “In my opinion”. Avoid substituting emotion for depth of analysis and thoroughness of discussion
• You must express ideas in your own words. Plagiarism is a very serious offense: Please be careful!
• Direct quotations should be kept to a minimum, but, when necessary, they must be accompanied by a citation to the source with complete bibliographic information
• The conclusion should briefly summarize the most important points made in the essay
• Be careful about spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. They are very important! Always proofread essays very carefully
• Please consult the instructor whenever you have questions about matters of content or style
• Do not procrastinate. Essays written at the last minute rarely succeed