Final answer:
Land played a significant role in thwarting the promise of the American social contract, according to Cedric Robinson. American Revolution's trend towards greater democratization and decentralization of power. Lastly, the Freedmen's Bureau, which aimed to redistribute land to former slaves.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Cedric Robinson, the role of land in thwarting the promise of the American social contract can be seen in several ways. Firstly, the belief in limited landowner representation in government resulted in a system where only landholders were allowed to vote, thus restricting the democratic rights of many.
Additionally, the creation of the Constitution represented a reversal of the American Revolution's trend towards greater democratization and decentralization of power. Lastly, the Freedmen's Bureau, which aimed to redistribute land to former slaves, struggled to fully implement its plan due to lack of authority and the reinstatement of land to ex-Confederates.