The meaning of the title "the revolution of sober expectations" is that the american revolution was a revolution bounded by reality. The founding fathers did not hope to create a Utopian society that would exist forever. The founding fathers therefore placed limitations on their revolution, to prevent anarchy. Of course as the article states this did not develop overnight, it came in two segments, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. The declaration of Independence is most surely a sober document, it does not even propose a plan for a coloial government, which surely reflects the reality that the revolution could fail, and that even if it succeeded there was no sure way to govern it and ensure its existence. Furthermore the declaration, anticipating the intervention of other nations, clearly outlined the causes of the break with england, this would allow other nations to support the U.S.' cause with a clear conscience. The founding fathers realized the political necessity of this. The second part of the revolution came several years after the first. The first attempt at government, the articles of confederation, had failed. The government established under it lacked any real power, and thus could not stand, the founding fathers realized this, and set out to establish a new government. The debate to establish the constitution was necessary, and the founding fathers realized this too, and allowed it to continue until they had a workable document. This to shows that the revolution was one of sober expectations, the founding fathers did not expect to produce a document that would satisfy everyone and solve all their problems, they knew they would need to compromise, and thus they had one of the greatest debates of history. It is important to note that even through this great debate the founding fathers were unable to completely deal with the question of slavery, they realized this and did not try to go beyond their limits. The document they produced was also an excellent compromise. It had the bill of rights, which was what many of the states were holding out for. But it also provided for a much more powerful government. Of course the founding fathers realized that any government could become corrupt, so they provided for a series of checks and balances. This ensured that if one branch of the government became corrupt it would not be able to unjustly excercise its power, but instead be stopped by the other two. this shows that the founding fathers knew that men would become corrupt and try to seek power, having seen this in their day. it was a reflection of their knowledge of reality that they did this. They also input safeties to prevent mob rule, such as the electoral college. This shows that they were mindful of the possibility of anarchy, which was the result of the French revolution, which had nothing to prevent mob rule, nor checks and balances to prevent Napoleon from becoming emperor. Clearly the American Revolution was one bounded by reality, or in other terms one of sober expectations.