New York and Virginia, two major states with a massive impact, were hesitant to ratify. These states were filled with Anti-Federalist, who feared strong central government, as well as the president becoming dictator or king. In order to persuade the Anti-Federalists, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay created the Federalists Papers. Then finally, enough states had ratified for the Constitution to go in effect, although Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island had not yet ratified. The Anti-Federalists felt that the Constitution needed a Bill of Rights to protect personal freedoms.
In the coming years, severe economic difficulties, foreign problems, state sovereignty, limited central government and rebellions urge the United States to construct a new government. Important figures such as Alexander Hamilton himself, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison and many others worked towards forming and instituting a new and more sustainable system of government. Ultimately the Constitution was created-- which divided the United States government into three equal branches that worked in an equal system of checks and balances. Considering the failure of the A.O.C it was in part the foundation the Constitution-- it gave the Founding Fathers a clear guideline for what not to do. The Constitution provided the legitimacy and power the federal government desperately needed while also allowing the citizens of the United States to have a significant role in how they are
Even though this document made a great impact on our nation at the time of its writing, the path to ratification was not straight forward. In the summer of 1787, debate was waged in the newspapers, articles, and state conventions regarding the division of power among groups. The Federalists favored a strong national government and therefore, supported the Constitution. The opponents, however, named themselves the Anti-Federalists, and they argued that the new plan handed too much power to the central government. Ultimately, before it could go into effect, nine of the thirteen states needed to ratify the document.
Thomas Jefferson’s and Alexander Hamilton’s viewpoints during the 1790’s and the 1800’s were very different but sort of similar. Jefferson wanted the government to be run by the people of the U.S. while Hamilton wanted the wealthy class to run it, Jefferson wanted strong state government, Hamilton wanted strong federal government. But one thing that stood out to the people was Hamilton wanted a loose/lenient interpretation of the constitution as Jefferson wanted a strict one. During the 1700’s-1800’s, despite the fact Philadelphia was the nation’s temporary capital, U.S. Congress met difficulties and fears that tested the strength of the Constitution and the republic it built.
During the 1760s and the 1770s, there was a major problem growing between the two countries: Great Britain and America. The founding fathers of America were in a confusing situation about the tension between the two countries and had to come up with something to do to solve the problem. The major problem at that time was how the colonists were getting treated by Great Britain, and regardless of whether the colonists should declare their independence from Britain. With the creation of Common Sense written by Thomas Paine and the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson, both documents explain why America pushed to declare their independence from Britain. Many people say that Thomas Jefferson used no books, documents,
The Republicans and Federalists had many disputes over various topics. One of the most heated arguments took place while George Washington was president. Most Federalists chose to support Great Britain, while Republicans decided to support France. How were we supposed to stay united as a country if we were torn about two other fighting country 's? “British bootlickers!”
Although the Progressive movement was highly influenced American politics, it was only effective during the terms of certain presidents and over certain people. Presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt were all presidents that used the Progressive movement to influence American politics. They all believed that moral reform, an expansion of democracy, and regulation of the economy was the goal for America. Throughout all of their terms, each president changed and added to American society and politics based off of the Progressive view. Theodore Roosevelt was the first Progressive president who made huge adjustments to the American political system while in office.
The purpose to call the Constitutional Convention, at first, was to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the framers later decided to create an entirely new government. This was introduced to the nation though the Preamble. The Preamble showed how the government takes authority from the people rather than the states. The Preamble also highlights a major difference between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution having a more stronger central government.
Since the United States was relatively a new nation, it needed some form of organization to hold the states together and keep its government and society stable to build a stronger economy (Knoedl, 2003). The first and foremost inherited weakness of the Articles came from the fact that it replaced sovereign power in the hands of the states. This started after the American Revolution, when the American people feared that the colonists would form a new government that could function similarly to King George III’s monarchy after having dealt with the British Crown for years. Since then these states would start creating their own set of rules and laws and because of some states, creating their own constitutions and each state can rule itself, it gave more power to them than the actual Federal Government.
Since the founding of the United States, there have been two main parties. Disagreeing on whether the constitution should be ratified, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton helped in founding the first political parties while serving on George Washington’s cabinet (ushistory.org). Starting with the Federalist and the Democratic-Republican parties, then Democratic Party and the National Republican Party, and then the Democratic and Whig Parties, and finally to the now well-known rivalry between the Democratic and Republican Parties, the two-party system is a long-standing tradition in the United states (Blake). The two-party system definitely has some advantages. It allows for political stability, a smaller pool of candidates for public office, a simplified version of political information, and the representation of multiple political ideals (“9 Advantages and Disadvantages”).
The Republicans were now the only political party in America and the one-party dominance led to the name the Era of Good Feelings. During this time, politicians worked together to better the country. The permitting of the Second Bank of the United States showed how aspects of the Federalists were now supported by the Republicans and how partnership could increase the speed of economic growth
In the 1790s, there were two men who had different beliefs regarding how the United States should function. The two men were Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was the leader of the Republican party and Hamilton was the leader of the Federalist party. The political parties were created by Hamilton and Jefferson based on their differences in opinion on how the country should run. For example, Jefferson believed that the government should be self-governed and all of the power should go to the individual states.
Transportation Revolution The transportation revolution is believed to have begun in 1807 when the government seemed it was going to become active in growing infrastructure. The treasury secretary, at the time, Albert Gallatin was asked to develop “a plan for the application of such means as are within the power of Congress, to the purpose of opening roads and making canals” (W&R). This plan was not to happen and throughout this revolution the government was only responsible for a few projects. Without much government aid, entrepreneurs took matters into their own hands, creating competition.
The early beginnings of the British colonies as the United States of America led to the passing of laws and the development of precedents that have governed the American people to present day. Despite having declared their independence in 1776, the colonies did not truly get to exercise this freedom until General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown five years later and the British finally recognized their independence as free states. Since the Articles of Confederation and the Continental Congress were deemed ineffective, it was time for a new governing force- starting with the Constitutional Convention. Intellectual powerhouses and future political players such as George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton met and created the famous document we know today as the United States Constitution, which outlined the fundamental rights all citizens deserved and the basic structure of the government. In the following months, the judicial branch was created, Madison’s Bill of Rights was
The beginning of the United States brought together a variety of competing ideas and interests. It was a time of wide-scale conflict not only in the revolutionary realm, but the political sphere as well. In no two people is this better exemplified than Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Yet despite their differences, it is arguable that both of them made equal contributions to the country which they helped create. (1) Hamilton’s hardworking nature and can-do attitude became the driving force behind his varied amount of accomplishments.