Identify Two Secondary Sources From Your Selected Topic

Identify Two Secondary Sources From Your Selected Topic The Secondary

Identify two secondary sources from your selected topic. The secondary resources will review two historical events that impacted your research topic. Complete the Historical Context Chart (linked within the rubric below) to explore the how these events inform the historical context of your topic and support your thesis statement. Download and complete the Historical Context Chart. Save this chart as a file on your computer. Submit this saved file for instructor grading and feedback. To complete this assignment, review the Learning Block 5-3 Historical Context Chart Rubric document. Topic: Drafting Of the United States Constitution.

Paper For Above instruction

The drafting of the United States Constitution is a pivotal moment in American history, reflecting a complex interplay of political, social, and economic factors influenced by significant historical events. To understand the context surrounding this transformative period, it is essential to examine two secondary sources that analyze key historical events shaping the Constitution's development. These secondary sources provide a critical review of events such as the American Revolution and the Articles of Confederation's limitations, which significantly impacted the framers' decisions.

One secondary source that explores the impact of the American Revolution on the drafting of the Constitution is Gordon S. Wood’s "The Radicalism of the American Revolution" (1992). In this work, Wood argues that the revolution was a radical upheaval that fundamentally transformed American political thought and institutions. The revolution created a new sense of national identity and a desire for a stronger federal government, which influenced the framers’ efforts to craft a constitutional framework that balanced state sovereignty with centralized authority (Wood, 1992). This source emphasizes how the revolutionary ideals of liberty and self-governance motivated the need for a new Constitution that could effectively govern the diverse and expanding nation.

The second secondary source pertinent to this context is Jack P. Greene’s "Peripheries and Center: Constitutional Development in the Extended American Polity" (1988). Greene discusses the weaknesses inherent in the Articles of Confederation, which served as the initial governing document following independence. According to Greene, the Articles created a decentralized government that lacked sufficient authority to address national issues such as economic regulation, defense, and interstate commerce (Greene, 1988). The inability of the Articles to provide stability and effective governance made it clear that a new constitution was necessary, directly influencing the debates at the Constitutional Convention. Greene’s analysis highlights how the failures of the Articles prompted calls for a stronger federal structure, culminating in the drafting of the Constitution.

The historical context gleaned from these sources informs the understanding of how revolutionary ideals and governmental failures compelled the framers to draft a new Constitution. The revolutionary fervor inspired a desire for independence and self-rule, yet the practical deficiencies of existing government structures necessitated a new framework. By analyzing these events through secondary sources, we gain insight into the complex motivations and challenges faced during the Constitution's drafting process. This context supports the thesis that the United States Constitution emerged as a response to both revolutionary principles and the tangible failures of earlier governance structures, reflecting an evolving national identity committed to creating a sustainable and effective government.

References

  • Greene, J. P. (1988). Peripheries and Center: Constitutional Development in the Extended American Polity. University of North Carolina Press.
  • Wood, G. S. (1992). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books.
  • Beeman, R. (2009). Plain Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution. Random House.
  • Rakove, J. N. (1996). Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. Vintage.
  • Lutz, D. S. (1988). The Origins of the American Revolution: The Impact of the Stamp Act Controversy. University of Wisconsin Press.
  • Rakove, J. N. (2010). James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic. Routledge.
  • Farrand, M. (1937). The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787. Yale University Press.
  • Bailyn, B. (1992). The Debate on the Constitution, 1787-1788. Harvard University Press.
  • Morison, S. E. (1964). The Oxford History of the American People. Oxford University Press.
  • McDonald, S. (1985). Novus Ordo Seclorum: The Intellectual Origins of the Constitution. University of Kansas Press.