Oxford History Students and Applicants

Hey,
on question 1c I wrote about a single governmental act, rather than a period like everyone else seems to have done. I looked at The Enabling Act in Germany 1933 and how it was perceived by the people, why it was thought of this way and the governments actions in ensuring it was supported by the governed.
Does this sound reasonable? Everyone else here seems to have discussed a period of time

I'm not sure if I was right but for the second question I concluded that the source did not tell us that much as it was only about one tribe and you can't generalise that to the whole of the society in that area. Did anyone else do that?

I did indeed. I wrote about harnessing popular resentment of Versailles, the backdrop of the great depression, and then how the government took control of the interaction itself with fear and intimidation.

I wasn't sure about the first half of my essay, but I'm pretty confident about the way terror/intrigue linked back to the question.

A lot of you seem to have been discussing a single event - did anyone talk about government/governed relationship and the effect/relationship it had on (or with) a particular change? (I believe this was an option)

I.e. I talked about 1930 Germany and the Great Depression's effect as acting as a catalyst for the change from democracy to dictatorship, as tensions which had been building up in the 20s came to a boiling point and popularity of the Weimar Republic diminished in some sectors of society. However, I came to the conclusion that, although this was the base of change, there was a large, complex interaction of factors which led to the eventual Nazi Dictatorship including political intrigue, propaganda, terror etc.

I wrote about the Iranian Revolution in mine. Specifically how Muhammad Reza Shah's personal desire to mould Iran into a modern, secular, Westernised nation conflicted with the wishes of the majority of his people, who were deeply religious and very traditional. I tried to argue that it was this contrast in ideas between the government and the governed that was the foundation for the Iranian Revolution, as it was very much a clash of opposing ideologies, East v West, Persia v Islam, Secular v Religious etc

But I'm pretty sure nothing I wrote made any sense.....
At least my topic is original....? *Clutches at straws*

I seemingly had a moment of delusion during the HAT and wrote my essay about the 1903 Land Purchase Act. Fail >_<

well if it is any consolation my question on the government thing used stalinist russia as an example. that doesn't really count as it was a dictatorship. i didn't even mention the politburo and instead tried throughout the essay to convince the reader stalin and his advisors were a form of government as they governed the people. FAIL.

well if it is any consolation my question on the government thing used stalinist russia as an example. that doesn't really count as it was a dictatorship. i didn't even mention the politburo and instead tried throughout the essay to convince the reader stalin and his advisors were a form of government as they governed the people. FAIL.

There is no problem with the Stalin example itself. I used the relative absolutism of Louis XVI as my example.

The problem with the Stalin example is the part of the question that said 'views of the governed'...the general public didn't exactly display many open honest views

well if it is any consolation my question on the government thing used stalinist russia as an example. that doesn't really count as it was a dictatorship. i didn't even mention the politburo and instead tried throughout the essay to convince the reader stalin and his advisors were a form of government as they governed the people. FAIL.

well if it is any consolation my question on the government thing used stalinist russia as an example. that doesn't really count as it was a dictatorship. i didn't even mention the politburo and instead tried throughout the essay to convince the reader stalin and his advisors were a form of government as they governed the people. FAIL.

i think i did pretty **** in it

According to Wikipedia, surely the source of all thoroughly accurate information, a dictatorship is technically a kind of government too, so don't worry about it.

There is no problem with the Stalin example itself. I used the relative absolutism of Louis XVI as my example.

The problem with the Stalin example is the part of the question that said 'views of the governed'...the general public didn't exactly display many open honest views

Yes, I think your example should be fine, I used Alexander II myself, so an autocratic ruler.

Well I think by government the question meant The Boss(es), whatever form they might take - you'll be fine
I had the TOTALLY OBVIOUS option of doing Irish nationalism. But no. Nono. Obscure land reform had to be gone for instead...

The problem with the Stalin example is the part of the question that said 'views of the governed'...the general public didn't exactly display many open honest views

cheers guys. makes me feel better now. and after all can't change it now so time to keep calm and carry on.

I am going to be so peeved if I spend these 3 weeks reading my personal statement books and then don't get an interview!