Overview of First and Second American RevolutionsOverview of Four American RevolutionsRevolution: A major transformation in the established order of a society producing fundamental social and political change in a relatively short time.First American Revolution (1600-1800): The First American Revolution was the transformation from 1600 to 1800 of America from wilderness colonies to a sovereign nation under the Constitution.Critical Issues:1. What form (especially theocratic or secular) would the settlements of the New World assume? What did this contribute to the 1st AR?2. Would we remain English Colonies (albeit more socially & politically democratic) or an independent new nation? What required, let alone justified, the destruction of the prevailing political order?3. What form of government would we establish for the new nation? What justified the movement from confederation to a constitutional republic?4. What in the 1st Revolution provided the "roots" for the 2nd? Second American Revolution (1801-1901): The Second American Revolution was the incomplete transformation from 1800-1901 of America from an elite-based social & political system to the World’s first mass democracy.Critical Issues:1. How would the politics of the new nation be organized? Would this be the politics of a relatively restricted political class, based on "civic virtue" which ruled on behalf of the people & served to protect the masses from themselves (Federalist); or would it be a government by a relatively more open political class which more directly represented majority preferences (Republican)?2. What was the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? Most especially—what is the meaning of "equality," the "right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and Page 1Overview of First and Second American Revolutions"equal protection of the law."3. Was this a perpetual union founded by the people, or a compact of sovereign states? Was the ultimate governmental power at the state or national level?4. Upon what basis, to what end, at what cost and to whom would the Reconstruction of the South take place?5. What in the 2nd Revolution provided the roots for the 3rd?Third American Revolution (1901-1945): The Third American Revolution was the transformation of America from 1901 to 1945 from a rural/agrarian to an urban/industrial/corporate society regulated by the national government. It brought the transformation of the United States from a continental to an intercontinental power. And, it continued the development of a more inclusive, republican government in an increasingly secular society.Critical Issues:1. What was the proper role of government in regulating the socioeconomic relations of individuals, groups, and corporations? How would conflicts between human and property rights be resolved?2. How inclusive would the politics of modern, pluralist America become? What did it mean to be an American in the modern era?3. What was the proper role for America in the world of imperialism and balance of power international relations?4. What in the 3rd Revolution provided the roots for the 4th? Fourth American Revolution (1945-present)The Fourth American Revolution is the continuing development of secularization, inclusion, and individual/group rights as definitive features of the American democratic-republic. It includes the transformation of the United States to Superpower status in international affairs and a fundamental redefinition of the role of the national government in domestic affairs.Critical Issues:Page 2Overview of First and Second American Revolutions1. What is the proper role of the national government in assuring equal rights for all Americans? What do equal rights and equal protection of the law mean in a pluralist democratic republic?2. What is the proper role for America in the post-WWII bipolar and post-Cold War multi-polar world?3. What is the proper role for government, especially the national government, in directing socioeconomic affairs?4. What is the proper role of religion, and civic virtue, in politics and government in post-modern America?Page