Rip Van Winkle Summary
Sophia Ferrara <3
Setting:
Time Period – 1838-1860’s
Location – North Carolina moved to Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Alabama,
Missouri, and until 1840. Mississippi.
Characters:
Main- James K. Polk, Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson- Immigrated from NC
Archibald Debow Murphey- Reformed the sleepy slate policies.
Secondary- Rip Van Winkle- (Fictional Character), David L. Swain- Argued that the NC
constitution needed to be reformed. Nathaniel Macon- Served as president for the
convention.
Events
Main Event- Archibald Murphey comprehensive plan for the state urged the
establishment of a public education system, construction of canals and turnpike roads, as
well as a general public welfare system.
Main Event- Archibald Murphey proposed a system of public education.
Secondary Event- First Public school didn’t happen
Main Event- Archibald proposed a system where each county was divided into townships
and each was required at least one public school, and made sure that poor children had an
education.
Main Event- The reason it is called the Rip Van Winkle state is because Rip Van Winkle
slept for 20 years. We also say that the government slept for 20 years as well because we
made no changes.
Secondary Event- Article 32 was changed to allow all Christians to hold public office.
(Catholics, Jews and Quakers)
Main Event- In 1860 North Carolina saw the need for publicly funded transportation
improvements.