The Wyatt rebellion broke out for a variety of reasons. It is difficult to get to the heart of the causes due to the unreliability of the historical evidence surrounding the events; for instance, contemporary propaganda or varying motives of the rebels. Despite this, it is easy to establish three main causes of the rebellion: … Continue reading What caused the Wyatt rebellion?
Essays
A selection of essays I have written since I started studying history, including A-Level essays, essays submitted during my degree, and essays written as teaching material.
The failure of the Wyatt rebellion
The Wyatt rebellion failed for a combination of reasons including the actions of Mary (remaining calm and level-headed), the failings of Wyatt's army and other factors. The most significant reason as to why Wyatt's rebellion failed was the actions of the Queen. During the rebellion, Mary kept her cool and refused to leave London or … Continue reading The failure of the Wyatt rebellion
To what extent were the religious developments put in place during the reign of Mary I significant, in light of those of the rest of the Tudor period?
To a certain extent, Mary I's religious changes were significant in that she managed to alter the country in the five years that she held the crown. She did not aspire to satisfy anyone, but, dedicatedly aimed to revert England to Catholicism in order to honour her mother and follow her true faith. Mary's changes … Continue reading To what extent were the religious developments put in place during the reign of Mary I significant, in light of those of the rest of the Tudor period?
Reasons for the increase in voter turnout in the 2008 United States presidential election
Voting behavioural theory states that voters vote based on a number of key factors – region, race, gender, age, etc – meaning that any if these factors could explain the increase in voter turnout in the 2008 presidential election. Whilst neither presidential candidate was a woman, the vice presidential candidates offered some choice. However, in … Continue reading Reasons for the increase in voter turnout in the 2008 United States presidential election
How important is ‘issue voting’ in the US?
De-aligned voters are more likely to vote for candidates because of their views on specific issues, particularly in the age of single-issue politics, with economic issues usually being the most significant. Policies can be an important determinant of voting. Which policies they are tends to vary from one election cycle to another. The state of … Continue reading How important is ‘issue voting’ in the US?
What is the difference between aligned and de-aligned voting? Answer with reference to the USA
The term ‘aligned’ or ‘de-aligned voter’ refers to partisan alignment; the party identification of most voters with the two main parties is strong, and it is difficult to establish new alignments. Partisan alignment places emphasis on primacy or long-term factors, whereas a de-aligned voter may focus on recency factors. Primacy factors include income, race, religion, … Continue reading What is the difference between aligned and de-aligned voting? Answer with reference to the USA
What is the impact of democratic overload in USA elections? (Short essay)
It has been a little while since I posted something with a bit more meat to its bones, so here is a short essay on US politics - What is the impact of democratic overload in USA elections? It is paradoxical that in the country that is the world’s greatest advocate of democracy, turnout at … Continue reading What is the impact of democratic overload in USA elections? (Short essay)
The Modern Day Slave Ship
Might be a little behind on the times with this one, since it was an issue from mid-September 2014, however, I thought it was worth a little note. A Pennsylvania newspaper, the Lancaster New Era, ran a cartoon comparing the appalling conditions that African men and women were exposed to. The International Slavery Museum explains … Continue reading The Modern Day Slave Ship
The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
James Weldon Johnson's novel describing a young boy's discovery that he is black on his path to adulthood is truly moving. I have just begun reading this 100-page marvel and am already fascinated by the journey that this anonymous narrator will take. In a fascinating and unexpected turn for someone with no prior knowledge of … Continue reading The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
In 1,000 words, write a comparative essay discussing how two history books written by different authors can fit within historiographical categories. Define these categories, discuss any overlaps and uncertainties and reflect on what we can learn from locating books in their historiographical context.
This is a draft version of a recent essay. I have no idea where the completed one is... Probably lost in the university computer system. This is an unedited version, therefore, and may be a little waffley or mistake-ridden. History is a vast subject, spanning thousands of years of wars and conflicts, the lives of … Continue reading In 1,000 words, write a comparative essay discussing how two history books written by different authors can fit within historiographical categories. Define these categories, discuss any overlaps and uncertainties and reflect on what we can learn from locating books in their historiographical context.
The Historian's Apprentice 