Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution

Assignment 2

Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution

For this assignment we will be examining the ethical questions surrounding the formation of the U.S.Constitution.

1. First, students will identify the thesis of Unruly Americans. This will need to be clearly stated in the introduction of your paper. What, according to Holton,were the primary motives of the Framers of the Constitution?
2. Second, when considering the experiment of American democracy, what were the arguments for, and against, both limiting and expanding democracy in America? (Discuss fears of “excessive democracy”, who should be enfranchised and why,etc)
3. Take a position. Using the assigned book (and, optionally, any other assigned readings from the course) consider if the arguments at the time for limiting democracy were convincing, or was arguing for limited democracy unethical? Likewise, consider the often violent reactions of the middling and lower classes who felt they were being disenfranchised ( Shay’s Rebellion, etc.) . Was their violence understandable and justified, or is political violence always unethical?

Format:

12 pt Font

Times New Roman

Double spaced

1” Margins

Chicago Style footnote citations

No cover sheet necessary

Include a bibliography if using more than one source.