When students are asked what the Constitution is, most responses talk about personal freedoms, protection from government, and a great living document. However, earlier this semester, my fellow scholars and I received a different lesson on the Constitution from Dr. Cayton. In Dr. Cayton's view, the Constitution is a counterrevolution. Through his seminar and readings, Dr. Cayton compared the Constitution to the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration, he asserted, was a revolutionary measure. It was a call for war, America rising up against Great Britain. On the other hand, the Constitution did the opposite. It set governmental boundaries in order to prevent such a revolution from occurring again. This view of the Constitution was unlike the views taught in school and was a thought producer for all of the students involved.
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