"Exposing the Constitution and Other Illusions"

     Howard Fast's The Proud and the Free begins the job of
exposing the importance of CLASS in understanding society and
politics, by centering on the revolt of the common soldiers of the
"Foreign Brigades" -- the Pennsylvania Line -- against their inhuman
treatment at the hands of the "gentlemen officers". 

     It stresses, throughout, how this treatment of common soldiers by
officer-gentlemen mirrors the exploitation and oppression of the
propertyless working classes by the elite.

     Please read the first three chapters of Jerry Fresia's 1988 book,
Toward an American Revolution: Exposing the Constitution and other
Illusions. 

     Study these first three chapters carefully. Then, spend about 100
words on each of the three chapters, carefully summarizing Fresia's
argument.

     Finally, write about 100 words, more or less, giving an example
of your thinking about this issue of CLASS ANALYSIS as a tool
to understand the American Revolution. 

     Your whole essay will be about 400 words. Email to your group and
to me.