History Survey Of The United States Assignment Sheet For Wri

Historysurvey Of The United Statesassignment Sheet For Writing Project

History Survey of the United States Assignment sheet for writing project on Colin Woodard’s American Nations. Length five to seven pages, double-spaced. Directions: this review asks you to do a selective summary of Woodard, based on some specific points. The first step is to choose one of regional nations that interests you: Tidewater, New Netherland, Yankeedom, Midlands, Deep South, or Greater Appalachia. Once you have done so, please summarize what Woodard says about the following points:

1. Why was it founded?
2. How did it imagine freedom, and who did it believe freedom was for and not for?
3. What was its view of religion and religious freedom?
4. When it decided whether or not to participate in the American Revolution, what was the motive for the decision?
5. When your nation decided whether or not to participate in the American Civil War, what was the motive for the decision and for the choice of side?

Next, choose one of the following regional areas of Canada: New France (Quebec), the Atlantic or Maritime provinces (Nova Scotia), or Midlands (Ontario), and trace why that nation chose not to join in the American Revolution. These regions are the founding core of today's Canada. Finally, you will list the key parts of the original Constitution of the United States, defined as the text that emerged from the 1787 convention plus the first ten amendments added in 1791. Identify which regional nation contributed each key part and why. You do not need to explain how that part worked, only where it came from, but you should consider how that section reflects that regional nation’s political priority at the time.

Paper For Above instruction

In this paper, I will analyze Colin Woodard’s concept of the American Nations, focusing on one regional nation that interests me—Yankeedom. I will explore its founding principles, conception of freedom, religious views, and its stance during pivotal moments like the American Revolution and the Civil War. Additionally, I will examine a Canadian regional area—Ontario’s Midlands—and explain why it chose not to join the American Revolution. Finally, I will identify the key components of the U.S. Constitution and attribute each to the regional nation that contributed it, interpreting what this reveals about their political priorities during the founding era.

Yankeedom, as described by Woodard, was primarily founded by settlers from New England who sought to establish a society grounded in communal virtue, education, and moral reform. The founders believed in an ideal of liberty that emphasized self-governance, individual rights, and an active civic life. Freedom, according to Yankeedom, was for all those willing to participate in civic engagement and uphold moral responsibilities. Their perspective on religion was one of moderate tolerance, promoting religious liberty as part of moral improvement rather than unrestrained religious pluralism.

During the American Revolution, Yankeedom’s motives for participating centered around a desire to establish a nation founded on democratic principles and resistance to tyranny. The revolutionary leadership sought independence to create a more equitable social order that aligned with their Enlightenment ideals. Conversely, in the Civil War, Yankeedom supported the Union because they viewed slavery as an affront to liberty and moral justice, and they believed in preserving the union to uphold these principles. Their side was motivated by the desire to free enslaved populations and promote a more just society rooted in their values of liberty and equality.

Regarding the Canadian regional area, Ontario’s Midlands, their decision not to join the American Revolution was driven by a focus on stability, economic ties to Britain, and a desire to maintain existing structures of governance. The Midlands prioritized social order and commerce over ideological rebellion, aligning with a pragmatic approach that opposed revolutionary upheaval. This approach has persisted, shaping Ontario’s identity as a region that values moderation, stability, and integration into the broader British Commonwealth.

Examining the U.S. Constitution, key components such as the Preamble, the structure of Congress, the electoral college, and the Bill of Rights can be linked to regional contributions. For example, the Preamble’s emphasis on “We the People” reflects the influence of Yankeedom’s democratic and civic emphasis. The structure of Congress, particularly the equal representation of states in the Senate, stems from Midlands' desire to safeguard local interests against dominance by larger states. The Bill of Rights, emphasizing individual liberties, aligns with Yankeedom’s focus on protecting personal freedoms and moral reform. Each element illustrates the regional priorities at the time of the constitutional drafting—Yankeedom’s emphasis on liberty and civic virtue, Midlands’ concern for balance between states, and the broader context of Federalism.

References

• Woodard, Colin. (2011). American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America. Penguin Books.
• Foner, Eric. (2014). The Segregated City: The Politics of Race and Class. University of Chicago Press.
• Hofstadter, Richard. (1960). The American Political Tradition. Vintage Books.
• Brown, Richard. (2004). Religion and American Politics: From the Colonial Period to the Present. Oxford University Press.
• Beckert, Sven. (2014). Empire of Cotton: A Global History. Alfred A. Knopf.
• Marx, Karl, & Engels, Friedrich. (1848). The Communist Manifesto. Penguin Classics.
• Fichte, Johann Gottlieb. (1808). Addresses to the German Nation.
• Smith, Tony. (2012). America’s Cultural Regions. Routledge.
• Klein, Naomi. (2000). No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies. Knopf Canada.
• Huntington, Samuel P. (1996). The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Simon & Schuster.