Essay Topics:

1. Before the United States Constitution, the Articles of Confederation served as the national government of America.
   First, discuss two of the powers that the Articles had that helped create the idea of a federal government. Explain what it was and why/how it was significant in establishing a federal principle/authority.
   Second, discuss two powers that the Articles did not have, and explain how the absence of these powers affected the country or national government. Then, using at least two specific examples, explain why/how the Constitution emerged and for what purpose.
   Finally, in your opinion, what was the most important factor present in the US Constitution, that was not present in the Articles, that has had the most sustained impact on the stability and strength of the Constitution as a federal government and why. Please use concrete reasoning rather than patriotic expressions.
   
   
2. Jeffersonian Republicanism had a big impact on the early Republic.
   First, explain what the Revolution of 1800 was/refers to and then identify and discuss two of the impacts of the Revolution of 1800 on national politics and the early Republic.
   Second, discuss two examples of Thomas Jefferson's goals for his administration as President, one that reflects his strict construction view and one that reflects his loose construction view.
   Last, give your opinion as to what Jefferson's greatest accomplishment and greatest failure were as President and why?
   
   
3. Assume that you are an American woman in 1850, looking back at the first half of the nineteenth century.
   First, identify and discuss at least two major changes in each of these areas (six total), (1) gender roles/social relations, (2) reform, and (3) the economy, that have affected you and other women during this period. For each area, describe what each change was, provide a specific example of this change as it affected women, and explain its impact on American women and why this change occurred. Be sure to specify which women were affected by or benefited from these changes. These may be positive or negative changes.
   Second, what was the greatest challenge in each of these areas still faced by American women as of 1850? Need one specific example of these challenges for each area--must be a concrete reason.
   
   
4. The Market Revolution played a vital role in altering America from 1815-1850.
   First, identify the difference between a barter economy and a market economy. Be specific.
   Second, discuss two specific examples of how the Market Revolution impacted the economy of the United States (What kind of changes were made and how? What impact did this have for workers/employers/business?)
   Third, discuss two specific examples of how the Market Revolution impacted the society of the United States (How did economic changes reflect in everyday lives? Who and what were affected socially and how?)
   Last, in your opinion, what was the greatest triumph/success of the Market Revolution and what is its greatest failure/negative aspect and why?
   
   
5. The debate over federal power versus state power was a constant theme in US politics, especially from the 1780s to 1850.
   First, discuss two specific examples of the application of both federal power and state power (two examples for each) in three of these areas: (1) Commerce, (2) Land/Property, (3) Minority Relations (Women, African Americans, and Native Americans primarily), (4) Law/Legal Cases, or (5) Political Control/Representation.
   Second, by 1850, what was the status of federal power versus state power? What were the most lasting roles established for each of these power bases (at least one reason for each) and why?