Federalism was an influential political movement that supported ratification of the US Constitution and was discontent with the Articles of Confederation that limited the central government’s power. The outlook and vision of the Federalist Party called for a stronger national government, a loose construction of the Constitution and a mercantile, rather than agricultural, economy. Leading Federalists Alexander Hamilton and Chief Justice John Marshall helped shape the development of our nation’s government branches with their views that they expressed about ratifying and interpreting our Nation’s newly drafted Constitution. For Federalists during this time period, upholding and honoring the United States Constitution was extremely important in order to safe guard
The Articles of Confederation was an agreement among the thirteen original states of the United States that served as the first constitution. The Articles had first been introduced by Richard Henry Lee in the Second Continental Congress. Although the Articles of Confederation has made its contributions throughout history, the Articles, however, did not last very long and had been proven inadequate from the very start. I agree with this statement based on the examples and analysis of the Constitution I will soon provide. The Articles of Confederation were written during a time when the American people feared a strong national government.
Thomas Hobbes also had a significant impact on political thought (Sorell, 1996). For example these ideas that the people were selfish and brutal and also his ideas regarding the role of government and resulted in more investigations by other philosophers like John Locke. After the Revolution, the ideas of Thomas Hobbes also had considerable impact on Federalists in their arguments to adopt the Constitution (Hobbes, 1986). Hobbes believed that all the people should have equal rights and therefore no person should have more power as compared to others (apart from the King, who should have absolute power). As a result of the ideas of Hobbes, it was believed that the people cannot survive if a strong central government is not present to protect them.
Breaking the law for a cause is definitely justifiable, if that cause is being pushed by people working for a greater good. The foundation of America was built on civil disobedience. If it wasn’t
It is easy to see that civil disobedience can have a positive outcome and help peoples causes. Civil disobedience can be used in different ways to spread the news about an issue. In Malala Yousafzai’s speech and in Martin Luther King Jr.’s A Letter from Birmingham
United States proved the Court’s abridgment of First Amendment protections of political speech. Similar to the Schenck case, Mister Debs’ criminal conviction for advocating against joining the draft was upheld by the Court. In this case the Court explained that the defendant “attempted to cause and incite insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny and refusal of duty” to the arm forces during wartime. Mister Deb’s dissemination of the message “you need to know that you are fit for something better than slavery and cannon fodder,” was construed as harmful speech based on the “clear and present danger test.” Justice Holmes delivered the Court’s opinion once again.
His speech made others do the same and be responsible against authority of a powerful organization controlling them to do immoral things against their
This lead to the writing of the constitution. The first weakness of the Articles of the confederation is that the federal government had very little power over the state government. This was true when it came to the federal government requesting med for war efforts, resources but was epically true when it came to the financial side. Although the federal government could request these things form the states they could not force them to do so. (U.S. History Pre-Columbian to the new Millennium, n.d.)
Having to live under a tyrannical government that does not protect one’s rights is in no way better than having to compete with other people for survival. In competing with other people, at least everyone is on equal footing. However, when competing against a government, then there is a power imbalance and the government can use its power to oppress the people. Therefore, the people should have the right to rebel against such a government. Citizens should not be forced to live under a government that transgresses their
The English bill of rights was created in late 1689. The bill limited the king/queen’s powers, it gave people the right to vote, and give people freedom of speech without revenge (negative things from the king/queen). The English Bill of Rights also gave people the right to make a petition to change something in the Parliament without the fear of revenge. This challenged the Parliament giving separation of powers so that the king couldn’t make huge decisions against everyone’s will. This influenced the American Bill of Rights, by allowing separation of powers, freedom of speech and even influencing us to have
The Articles of Confederation was one of the first official documents of the United States. From the beginning of the American Revolution, Congress felt the need for a stronger union and a government powerful enough to defeat Great Britain. During the early years of the war this desire became a belief that the new nation must have a constitutional order appropriate to its republican character. However, after a few short years the Articles were replaced by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Articles were a stepping stone which led to the Constitution however the Articles contained more weaknesses than strengths which forced the colonists to get rid of them and create a new document.
Madison began discussing the most famous Federalist papers by saying that one of the most grounded contentions for the Constitution is the way that it sets up an administration well-appointed for controlling the violence and harm created by factions. Madison characterizes groups as gatherings of individuals who assemble to secure and advance their exceptional monetary hobbies and political feelings. According to the text, Madison has only two ways to control a faction. The first was to remove its reasons and the second way was to control its outcomes.
Knowledge is undeniably important to everyone in the world, and especially to a political leader, like James Madison. Containing knowledge of failed governments or tyrannical dictators is useful in preventing future governments that are synonymic in comparison. Madison had the knowledge that a monarchy was not to majority of the colonists’ liking, which allowed for him to make the conscious choice, backed up by knowledge, to form a government that was revolutionary and beneficial. James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and the other composers of the Declaration of Independence acquired the knowledge, from personal experiences, that the United States should have different laws and civil liberties than what was given in England. James Madison, with
“I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous.” (Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist #84) The Bill of Rights, which were constructed by federalist, James Madison, are the first ten amendments in the constitution. During the New Nation era, when the Constitution was being ratified, the anti-federalist deemed it gave the central government too much power, very much so like a king. They wanted something else to ensure their rights and liberties were being protected, so the Bill of Rights comes in because it gave them extra security they sought.
Federally issued paper currency was rendered worthless as there was no way to regulate interstate commerce and the law-making process was nearly impossible seeing as it required two-thirds of state votes. All of the aforementioned nonsense called for a particularly bitter nation, and this lack of fondness towards the government led to an equally problematic and especially violent country, most notably in Shays ' Rebellion of 1776. Enter the supreme law of the land, otherwise known as the United States Constitution. In 1788, this document officially replaced the Articles of Confederation, and is still currently the basis for all American law. Its goal was to make the nation more republic-like, while also maintaining peaceful relations between states.