1. Explain the foundation and evolution of the United States as a nation, during this time period, focusing on the struggle between centralized and localized authority as resolved in the Constitution.

The revolutionary war which was as a result of the Americans’ search for independence led to the need for a constitution.  According to Berkin, the present social, economic and cultural developments rely on the political history of the nation as their framework. The formation of the American constitution resulted from the compromises and failures experienced in the United States under the governance of the confederation articles as well as all the known failures of the existing European governments at that time. It was based on the system of the common law which primarily focuses on the principle that of fair treatment of similar facts on all occasions hence it binds future actions.  It accounts for the foundation of United States as a nation and its subsequent progress towards achieving its goals.

2.  Examine the process of government creation, including the Articles of Confederation and the constitutional Convention, and how that process both included and excluded certain people.

The making of the United States was triggered by the realization of the shortcomings of the British colonialists. Policy making aims at decision making so as to arrive at a solution for a certain problem. Since the articles of confederation failed tremendously in their intended purposes, it was necessary for a constitutional convention to be held so as to discuss the way forward. It is this convention that led to the drawing of the first American constitution. The federalists proposed the first constitution whereas the anti- federalists opposed it. Nevertheless, it was adopted and has effectively guided the nations undertakings and contributed to its numerous achievements.

References

Berlin, carol (2002) a brilliant solution: inventing the American constitution.p310

Neville, Barry Paige (2009) for God, King and the Country: Loyalism on The Eastern Shore of Maryland During the American Revolution. Vol 84

Topic: American history

Order Description
Required reading: The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People, Vol. 1; 7 th ed.

While the United States emerged largely from the English colonial empire, the Spanish, French, and Dutch also had empires in the New World. The Spanish were the first Europeans to colonize the Americas . Discuss the evolution and development of their empire in North America from the time of Christopher Columbus forward to the 1520s. What was the Columbian Exchange? In your analysis, to what degree are historians correct in contending that the Spanish were motivated by three factors: gold, glory, and God?

Then trace the development of the French and Dutch empires. To what degree were they successful? How were their empires different from that of the Spanish?

Topic: American history

Order Description
Required reading: The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People, Vol. 1; 7 th ed.

While the United States emerged largely from the English colonial empire, the Spanish, French, and Dutch also had empires in the New World. The Spanish were the first Europeans to colonize the Americas . Discuss the evolution and development of their empire in North America from the time of Christopher Columbus forward to the 1520s. What was the Columbian Exchange? In your analysis, to what degree are historians correct in contending that the Spanish were motivated by three factors: gold, glory, and God?

Then trace the development of the French and Dutch empires. To what degree were they successful? How were their empires different from that of the Spanish?