1.) What kinds of disputes did the various Founders and Framers have when they began envisioning the Constitution (i.e. Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist debates? congressional representation? etc.) What did various writers fear? And what did various writers hope for? How did this shape what eventually took place?
2.) In what ways were the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights exceptional and new documents? What did they draw from that we read about in class?
3.) In what ways did the new Republic fail to live up to its mission of being exceptionalistic or different? (hint: Lemuel Haynes, Abigail Adams) In what ways did the new nation fail to live up to nobler and arguably more exceptionalistic notions such as “all men are created equal”?
Your essay should have two parts:
1) An introduction that introduces the topic of the Constitution and exceptionalism and includes your main argument.
2) A longer body that discusses specific examples from readings and class. Make sure to show me that you have done the readings.
I will not be grading you on grammar and spelling, but your essay should be comprehendible and well argued. It should refer to specifics from the assigned readings, lectures, and activities in this class, and not other sources such as Wikipedia, old textbooks, things you found on Google, etc.
Ideally I would like to see this essay be comprised of somewhere between 470 and 700 words, although a longer essay does not necessarily connote quality. Make sure you are not just populating your essay with filler unrelated to readings and class, but are using your space and time effectively. This is an assignment where you will want to “put your best foot forward” with argument, spelling, grammar, formal academic language, and other components.
