STUDENT LAST NAME-Mastery #2 (Final)

IMPORTANT NOTE - SUBMIT TO “TURN-IT-IN”:

- See the following GoogleDoc regarding how to create a “Turn It In” account (if
necessary) and to register for the WS/MS class
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rVM3-IBPfp40FP_B6w439eaMwCN
wtmSm2Ls5FcZt2lY/edit?usp=sharing
- Mastery #2 Essay submitted to Schoology AND NOT ALSO “TURN IT IN”
will be given a 0% and count as the 1st of the 3 submission opportunities.

RUBRIC:
Section #1 Content Checklist-
Section #1: ​Contains clear Thesis that “effectively” connects to the content
(Enlightenment/Imperialism)

Section #1: ​Contains a Thesis Map that “effectively” sets up the entire essay

Section #1: ​Makes specific mentioned of critical texts and content such as
“Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen”, “White Man’s Burden”, “Just
Mercy”, and Freehouse.org
Section #2 Content Checklist-
Section #2: ​The Scientific Revolution impacted religious, political and cultural
institutions by challenging how people viewed the world. (CT#5)

Section #2: ​Enlightenment thinkers applied reason to discover natural laws

guiding human nature in social, political and economic systems and
institutions. (CT#6)

Section #2: ​Enlightenment ideas challenged practices related to religious

authority, absolute rule and mercantilism. (CT#7)

Section #2: ​Enlightenment ideas on the relationship of the individual and the
government influenced the American Revolution, French Revolution and Latin
American wars for independence.(CT#8)
Section #3 Content Checklist-
Section #3: ​Imperialism expansion had political, economic and social roots.
(CT#10)

Section #3: ​ Imperialism involved land acquisition, extraction of raw materials,

spread of Western values and maintenance of political control.(CT#11)

Section #3: ​The consequences of imperialism were viewed differently by the

colonizers and the colonized. (CT#12)
Section #4 Content Checklist-
Section #4: ​Utilizes specific information from autocratic countries (North
Korea, Russia, etc.) regarding violations of Enlightenment values.

Section #4: ​ Utilizes statistical analysis and historical trends regarding

freedom (political rights; civil liberties) in the world

Section #4: ​Makes meaningful and specific connections to “​Just Mercy”​ and
Enlightenment values (or lack thereof) in the American criminal justice
system

Section #4: ​(Not required but suggested):​ Utilizes

Hotel Rwanda ​to make meaningful connections to the legacy of imperialism
and its effect on “freedom” in the world today.
Section #5 Content Checklist-
Section #5: ​Effectively reviews “most major” concepts of essay

Section #5: Effectively reviews thesis with a “Mic-drop” ending

Mastery #2 Overall Rubric

Controlling Idea:
Establishes and maintains a precise, substantive claim that addresses all
aspects of the prompt. Acknowledges limitations and/or the complexity of
the issue or topic.

Selection/Citation of Evidence:
Includes well-chosen details, examples, and/or quotations from sources that
fully support the claim and supporting ideas. Consistently cites sources
using appropriate format.

Development of Sources:
Thoroughly and accurately explains ideas and source material, using logical
reasoning to support and develop the argument.

Organization:
Groups and sequences ideas in a logical progression in which ideas build to
create a unified whole. Uses varied transitions to clarify the precise
relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence.

Conventions:
Consistently applies standard English conventions, with few errors.
Demonstrates varied syntax and precise word choice.

Consistently uses language and tone appropriate to the audience and

purpose.
SUBMIT FINAL DRAFT OF MASTERY #2 ESSAY BELOW:

What is freedom? The ability to do what you want when you want? Equality? Being

unconstrained? What about the world? Is the world free? On some aspects, the world is free;

considering history, including the Enlightenment, Imperialism and Modern Day, and aspects

such as political, economic, and socio-culture, the world is free, but this depends on location.

The Enlightenment was all about freedom, liberty and man being in a natural state of

freedom. Following the Dark Ages; the Renaissance, or rebirth; the Protestant Reformation and

the Scientific Revolution, men realized that no man should be superior to another and continued

to question the church. The Protestant Reformation was a true turning point, in which Martin

Luther started Lutheranism, and the church split, providing new ways to spread religion and

ideas using press. The Scientific Revolution was a period of time in which people sought to

uncover the truth, and no longer accepted the explanation of nature and the world given by the

church. By uncovering the truth and questioning the church, it was realized that the church was

not superior and there could be thinkings independent of the church. Copernicus, for example,

theorized that the sun was the center of the universe, not Earth, but his finding were not released

until after his death. Eventually, people realized that there was no reason for the church to be

superior. Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke and Voltaire wrote books and had

beliefs on the freedoms of life, and what everyone was entitled to.

The American colonists were the first to apply Enlightenment principles, and the French

citizens were inspired by the American Revolution. The French citizens were unhappy with their
treatment, taxation, and representation and wanted to break free from the monarchy; this is called

the French Revolution. Some French citizens wanted to abolish social classes, specifically those

in the lowest social class, and developed the Rights of Man and Citizen. John Locke had the

belief that all people are born equal and the French citizens, specifically those in the 3rd estate,

the lowest social class, wanted to be treated equally to other people. The abolishment of social

classes was a social impact that changed French society. One such idea shared by the

Enlightenment Philosopher and the Rights of Man and Citizen is freedom of speech and religion.

This is a belief of Voltaire and stated in the Rights of Man and Citizen in multiple ways

including “the free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights

of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be

responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law.” (11) Freedom of Speech

and Religion are both rights that are found throughout the world, and are the basis for basic

human rights.

Countries were drawn to imperialism due to economic, political, exploratory and

religious reasons. On the economic aspect, the draws of cheap labor, raw materials, and a new

market for selling goods all influenced choices and helped draw countries to imperialize. On the

political aspect the draw of expanding territory which added to a country's power; on the

exploratory aspect the draws of research and exploration; and on the religious aspect the draw of

spreading religion and values impacted interactions and the lives of those living in imperialized

countries. However, the views and consequences of those living in imperialized countries was

vastly different than those in imperializing countries. Richard Kipling’s poem, “The White
Man’s Burden” shows justification for imperialism, stating, “In patience to abide, to veil the

threat of terror and check the show of pride” (2) The speaker is saying that the white man is the

best form of human and is superior and responsible for removing the terror of the native people

who were thought of as wild animals. Clearly, those living in Imperalized countries had

restricted freedom.

Imperialism has left a lasting impact. Despite Belgium leaving Rwanda in 1962, lasting

impacts have been seen. When Belgium left, they left the Tutsi ethnic group in charge. However,

the two ethnic groups were very similar, but Hutu extremists built up, and after the death of the

Rwandan president, a genocide started and the Hutus began a mass genocide killing Tutsi. The

movie Hotel Rwanda illustrates the genocide along with portraying a manager at Hôtel des Mille

Collines, who was a Hutu, housing refugees, including Tutsis and bribing Hutu soldiers to stay

away. Unfortunately, even after the genocide, Rwanda is not free. As described in the 2017

Freedomhouse.org report for Rwanda, “The government imposes legal restrictions and informal

controls on freedoms of the press and expression” and “The Law Relating to the Interception of

Communications, enacted in 2013, authorizes high-ranking security officials to monitor e-mail

and telephone conversations of individuals considered potential threats to public security. Social

media are widely believed to be monitored, and the law allows for government hacking of

telecommunications networks.” Both examples just some of the restrictions on freedom of press

and speech.
 Freedom is something that many Americans take for granted, believing that the United

States is almost perfectly free. However, looks can be deceiving. As shown by Bryan

Stevenson’s book “Just Mercy” injustice, including racial and economic discrimination, is still

occuring in the United States, more specifically in the South.

Lack of freedom and injustice isn’t just limited to the United States. Countries throughout

the world have a lack of or almost no freedom. Of 195 countries evaluated by Freedomhouse.org,

45% of countries were rated free in 2018. Comparatively, out of 120 countries, 37.5% of

countries were rated free in 1998. However, 27.5 percent and 35 percent were rated partially free

and not free in 1998, while 30 percent and 25 percent were rated partially free and not free in

2018. Although the percent of not free went down, and the percent of free went up, the amount

of partially free rose, showing that the world is still not free. For example, countries such as

Saudi Arabia and North Korea have almost no freedom, and citizen’s rights are severely limited.

In Saudi Arabia, Enlightenment values such as freedom of speech and religion are not given, and

there are harsh punishments for breaking laws regarding religion, assembly and speech.

Throughout the world and history freedom has been given and taken away, fought for and

promised. History has shown that in some places once freedom is taken away, it is hard to earn

back, and in other places after freedom is earned, it tends to stick. The world most likely will

never be totally free, and hopefully will not be totally unfree, but only time will show how free

the world will become.

 Bibliography

“Declaration of the Rights of Man.” ​Avalon Project ​, Lillian Goldman Law Library,

avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rightsof.asp.

“Freedom in the World 2018.” ​Freedom House​, 14 Feb. 2018,

freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2018.

Stevenson, Bryan. ​Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.​Random House Publishing

Group, 2015.

“"The White Mans Burden": Kiplings Hymn to U.S. Imperialism.” ​HISTORY MATTERS -

The U.S. Survey Course on the Web,​historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5478/.