Biography

David Reynolds is a graduate of Harvard Cambridge universities .currently is a professor of international history and s fellow of Christ’s College. In many occasion, he has been a frequent visitor of United States since 1973 as a graduate student. He has won several awards, Wolfson Prize for history, for instance, he won in 2004. In 2011, and he was a member of Society of America Historian. In addition, he has several publications on international history. Therefore, with such enormous historical background, has made it possible, informative, analytical contributions to the historical documents. Consequently, his vast knowledge on social, economic and political understanding makes it possible to convey his intended purpose of the published document.

Historical Context

The context of the document dates back in the time of strong segregation in terms of color or simply known as racism in America. In his bibliography, it was noted that David Reynolds was a frequent visitor of America from 1975. It is from this point onwards that he observed and noticed rampart activities of slavery in a situation where few owned land and majority providing labor with little or no access to civil and constitutional rights. The author brings out the notion of not understanding why some being are less human, undeserved and unequal as dictated by others. His concern, in the document, draws an argument of the government interference on the quest for equity and freedom through government institution that protected, the interest of the white man, as opposed to other races and their neighbors who were subjected to slavery.

Summary Description

The document captures some of the historical injustices by the Americans against other races. It goes further to outline the author’s perception on administration of justice, equity and rights by constitutional amendment so that rights do not remain entirely as a preserve of the white man. In his anticipation, although not the way it was recommended by the commission, he believed that once the measure were in the hands of the congress  backed by legislation of similar mind, there was significant expectation of a new dawn for everyone.

In addition, the author, in his convictions felt that to restore honor and foster future national peace there was a need for adequate preparation of the producing class by securing them while, under government jurisdiction, that was to facilitate the possession of political and civil rights that will help them to stand for themselves against any intrusive powerful power. It is from this regard that the author felt the need of congress to establish the bylaws. There was also need to amend the constitution to create an economic and political environment bases on inclusion of emancipated population other than exclusion.

Outlined also in the document is oppressive land tenure system of that time where the likes of France and England autocratically own land. Here, the author rises pertinent issues on the land tenure where master-class own chunks of land than the poor inhabitants. Still, on the same matter, the document captured the need of a consensus between the people and the National government to address the underlying issues on land ownership.

Further, the document outlines a division of large farm into sizeable owned land so that each to have and own his cultivated land. The author is quite aware of the opinion raised that large plantation are profitable but fail to understand why not at an individual level. He further suggests that such opinion is tantamount to slavery and finally echoed a uniform of government guardianship and supervision for the emancipated population.

 

 

Bibliography

Reynolds, David. America: Empire of liberty. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009

Scott, Hammond, et al. Classics of American Political and Constitutional Thought. Indiana Polis,

Indiana: Hackett Publishing Company.