<p>2007 AP Free Response Questions Form B</p>
<p><a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools;
<li>Describe and analyze concepts of nobility in France over the period from the late sixteenth century to the late eighteenth century.</li>
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<p>My FIRST DBQ essay… hehe</p>
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<p>Nobility of France was simply wrong between late sixteenth century to late eighteenth century, and therefore, nothing so honorable resided behind the title. Looking back on earlier history of France, one can easily find brave and patriotic nobility with great swordmanship. As Pierre de La Primaudaye noted (Document 2), the “past” nobility was the true one to help out the France, not just the Lord. These nobilities, wherever they performed their honorable acts, distincted themselves. As in play *Don Juan<a href=“Document%208”>/I</a>, nobility’s act is the factor that made nobility. When they acted righteously, they sacrificed themselves for the good of the nation than selfish greed. Document 1 ended with rhetoric question that said, “But what feet, what heart, what purse, too, does one need/ To run, endure, and provide for this?” As I said previously, they endured the work to serve the king and people. Their work was rewarded by prestigious name and respect, not materialistic greed.
But we look at the nobility in the time period of the question. They were not the true nobility. They had the same title, yes, but their acts didn’t correspond to it (Document 3,12). Nobility no longer meant the great soldiers and patriots but just a title for ones with wealth. Thus, the truly honorable ones found no joy in their title because of other spoiled and wrong fake nobilities (Document 11). One of these furious swordsman named Henri stated (Document 4), “The prices of all judicial and financial offices have risen to excessive heights. There is no longer any reward for virtue, since all power now belongs to FAVORS, ALLIANCES, KINSHIPS, and MONEY.” Nobility was supposed to prevent this corruption in the nation but now it itself was polluted.
So, how did people come about to make sure that this wrong was “right”? They simply made up the rightness. King Louis XIII declared, “They [nobility] take pleasure in the death of a personal enemy, under the pretext of preserving their honors.” (Document 6) King’s sadness towards new nobility was evident. There were even some like Antoine de Montochrestian, who made up the land to call himself Baron of Vatteville (Document 5). To the new nobles, all they did was to create new titles. What they didn’t have came from money or influences (Document 7). Although the king sometimes appeared sad towards this corruption, the new title resulted from the king himself. Document 10 noted that the king gave title to people if they sacrifice blood or money. In other words, rich yet coward person could become nobility as other true one sacrificed his life to reach it.
Thus, this continuing difference prevented the occurrence of true soldiers, and even the ones with some dignities couldn’t be same as ones in the past. Gilles Andre de La Roque stated, “Someone who has recently received a noble title from the king may in time become a gentleman, but he can never be a member of this race of warriors, because he will always lack the ancient roots that it requires.”</p>
<h2> Simply, the French nobility in the late sixteenth century to the late eighteenth century was far inferior than nobility in past. Corruption from money and power obliterated the meaningful title of nobility, and as a result, the ancient nobility was lost. Although some acknowledged this wrongness,many, including the king, were mixed in this chaotic mistake to worsen it. All the sad and honest people could was recalling the honorable ones in the past (“He must transform himself in all things and fight his own desires./ This is the great ease of the court”; Document 1 showing code of true nobility in past)</h2>