American Revolution and the establishment of a new republic

To what extent was the American Revolution and the establishment of a new republic, first with the Articles of Confederation and then the Constitution, a radical break with the past and to what extent was it a conservative attempt to preserve the status quo? Write an essay that sets out the strongest case for the view you find most persuasive, and defend your position with evidence from the readings, lectures, and multimedia sources. In your essay, be sure to also defend your position by discussing why you do not find the other perspective persuasive. Remember to examine such issues as slavery, the status of women, issues of representation, individual freedoms, and democratic rights between 1770 and 1800.