Creating the Constitution

2111 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: the dispute between the federalist and the anti-federalist

The words spoken by man have the power to shape and ratify everything in its path. These following questions will do just that. Is not the strengthening of our federal government essential to the maintaining of a stable bureaucracy? Must we forego the strong fundamental structure that will ensure that every man will benefit immensely from a nation governed by those of the utmost intelligence and experience? We as a nation must procure a stance that will enforce and implement the necessary laws by any means possible. This can only be obtained only if all parties are on one accord with an understanding that the rights of the people and their protection are our governments’ only concern. The strong structure of a government can only promote strong commercial growth and prosperity (Constitution). The Anti-Federalist, who oppose the governments full induction and running of the lives and functioning of each state, desiring to create a framework that will eventually promote discord on a potentially catastrophic level. They believe the Constitution only supports the wealthy; that it suppresses liberty and the rights of man, (Anti-Federalists versus Federalists 1) those words hold no truths. As stated by our comrade Alexander Hamilton, “Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint” (Famous Quotes). The Federalist Party was one of the first two political parties to form in the United States history. The Federalist name was applied to the group that favored ratification of the Constitution. Their members favored a strong central government which supported a more consolidated government rather than a loose “confederation” of semi-soverei... ... middle of paper ... ...89-1860." Academic American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2011. http://www.academicamerican.com/research/democracy/parties.htm. Semonche, J. “The Debate Over the Constitution: Federalists vs. Antifederalists” n.d. Web. 6 Sept 2011. http://www.dlt.ncssm.edu/lmtm/docs/fed_vs_anti/script.pdf. ThinkQuest. “Federalists and Anti-Federalists.” N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Sept. 2011. http://library.thinkquest.org/11572/creation/framing/feds.html. "ThisNation.com--Ratification." ThisNation.com-American Government & Politics Online United States Federalists N. p., n.d. Web. 9 Sep 2011. http://www.law,jrank.org/Constitution-United States-Federalists. U.S. History. "Federalists." United States American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2011. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h375.html. Wills, Garry. Explaining America: the Federalist. London: Penguin Books, 1982. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Hamilton and Limited Government

    1634 Words  | 4 Pages

    ·Despite the Federalists’ effort to associate themselves with the Constitution they actually favored a “consolidated” (Centralized) national government instead of a truly federal system with substantial powers left to the states

    Read More

  • Dbq The Beliefs Of The Federalist And Anti-Federalists

    576 Words  | 2 Pages

    This party developed because of the ratification of the constitution process; one way the Federalists tried to persuade people that their views were right about a strong central government during the ratification process was through several articles, which became known as The Federalist Papers. The Federalists argued that the people needed a strong central government to keep order and protect the union (Doc 1). They believed that this form of government was needed because the Articles of Confederation was proof that the union needed a strong central government. They argued that the Articles of Confederation gave the central government too little power and as a result the Union, faced economic difficulties, foreign problems and state quarrels (Doc 3). They processed Checks and Balances, which was a system designed so that the central government would not get more powerful than the other would, and was intended to counter arguments being made by the Anti-federalists (Doc

    Read More

  • Political Party System: The Federalists vs. the Republicans

    1439 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the Constitution of 1787 was introduced, two political parties were present in Congress. One of them was the Federalists and the other was the Republicans. The Federalists were led by George Washington and John Adams. They were composed of elites and favored trading with Britain. Their supporters were mainly merchants, farmers, lawyers, and established political leaders. They believed that freedom “rested on the deference of authority” (Foner 288). The Republicans were led by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. They believed in democratic self-government and favored agricultural. Their supporters composed mainly of farmers. Their goal was to establish a “limited government [that] allowed its citizens to be ‘free to regulate their own pursuits’” (Foner 303). According to Foner, “[The Republicans] were far more critical than the Federalists of social and economic inequality, and more accepting of broad democratic participation as essential to freedom” (Foner 289).

    Read More

  • The Inevitable Two-Party System in the U.S.

    1535 Words  | 4 Pages

    The first political parties in America began to form at the end of the 18th century. "The conflict that took shape in the 1790s between the Federalists and the Antifederalists exercised a profound impact on American history." The two primary influences, Thomas Jefferson a...

    Read More

  • George Washington's Two Political Parties

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    After the creation of the United States Constitution, George Washington was elected as the first president. During Washington’s two terms, two political parties emerged: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. In determining the catalyst for these parties surfacing, it is important to look at the viewpoints each group held in areas including the economy, politics, and foreign affairs. Political parties rose in the 1790s as contrasting opinions on economic plans and foreign affairs ultimately led to opposing political perspectives.

    Read More

  • Republican Attacks Against Alexander Hamilton

    767 Words  | 2 Pages

    From the inception of the Federalist Party founded by Alexander Hamilton and the Democratic Republican Party spear headed by Thomas Jefferson, both parties had rarely discovered common ground on an issue that they could agree upon. Hamilton and his Federalist Party believed in a strong National Bank, a strong army and navy, and that the Articles of Confederation were weak and should be eliminated. The Republicans believed the opposite. They argued that the strong national government would limit democracy and limit the powers that states could have. The Federalists ideas were supported by urban citizens because of the economic stance that the party took which would benefit the industrial growth of the United States. The rural inhabitants were the main supporters of the Anti-Federalists due to the parties backing of an agrarian nation. Ha...

    Read More

  • political views of federalists and republicans

    357 Words  | 1 Pages

    The federalists view saw the republicans view as a weakness. They insisted on a stronger common government. The federalists had an understanding that there could only be one sovereign in a political system, one final authority that everyone must obey and no one can appeal. They thought this was the only effective way in creating an effective central government. The independent states seemed to think it was clear that each one of them were independently sovereign, although based on history only small countries were suitable for the republican government. With history proving the republicans wrong for trying to create a republican government in the states the federalists were slowly trying to create a stronger central government. There first step was making the sovereign states agree to the Articles of Confederation which established a close alliance of independent states. The federalist central government was referred to as a “confederacy”.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Difference Between The Federalist And Federalists

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Federalists worked to create a stronger national government, supported British in foreign affairs, and favored a national bank. The Federalist Party was the first to appear and it was formed around Alexander Hamilton, who served as secretary of the treasury in the new government organized by George Washington and by John Adams who was the first Vice-President of the United States. The Federalists were a powerful and wealthy party; some of their supporters were in the north and among the merchant class, large planters, bankers, and professionals. The Federalists were most influential in the North where they loved Britain and all things British. The Federalists felt that there should be a loose constructionist interpretation of the constitution. They believed that there were things implied by or simply understood by the wording of the...

    Read More

  • Federalist Vs Anti-Federalist

    912 Words  | 2 Pages

    John Adams stated that “Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.” Federalists believed this, and fought verbal and written battles against the Anti-Federalists, who disagreed with John Adams. Anti-Federalists believed that in an elite democracy, the elite’s would get greedy and selfish, and only worry about themselves. As I’m on the Federalist side, I believe that John Adams was correct in his statement, and that the government is only trying to uphold the rights and liberties that each citizen ought to have.

    Read More

  • Factionalism in America

    1750 Words  | 4 Pages

    Following the failure of the Articles of Confederation, a debate arose discussing how a centralized government ought to be organized. The prevailing opinion ultimately belonged to the Federalists, whose philosophy was famously outlined in The Federalist Papers. Recognizing that in a free nation, man would naturally divide himself into factions, they chose not to remedy this problem by stopping it at its source; instead, they would limit its effects by placing strict structural safeguards within the government's framework. The Federalists defined a facti...

    Read More

  • Drafting the Constitution

    2555 Words  | 6 Pages

    By the late eighteenth century, America found itself independent from England; which was a welcomed change, but also brought with it, its own set of challenges. The newly formed National Government was acting under the Articles of Confederation, which established a “firm league of friendship” between the states, but did not give adequate power to run the country. To ensure the young nation could continue independently, Congress called for a Federal Convention to convene in Philadelphia to address the deficiencies in the Articles of Confederation. While the Congress only authorized the convention to revise and amend the Articles the delegates quickly set out to develop a whole new Constitution for the country. Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the new Constitution called for a national Executive, which was strongly debated by the delegates. There were forces on both sides of the issue trying to shape the office to meet their ideology. The Federalists, who sought a strong central government, favored a strong National Executive which they believed would ensure the country’s safety from both internal and external threats. The Anti Federalists preferred to have more power in the hands of the states, and therefore tried to weaken the national Executive. Throughout the convention and even after, during the ratification debates, there was a fear, by some, that the newly created office of the president would be too powerful and lean too much toward monarchy.

    Read More

  • Federalists

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    The ideals of Federalists and Republicans were almost at the extreme opposite of the political spectrum. Federalists were cautious, strict, and focused on elite leadership, while Republicans were more willing to change, incorporate the whole of the people, and rebel. Linda K. Kerber's article on Federalists, “The Fear of the Federalists” gives a suitable reference for the perspective and beliefs of the Federalists during the early 19th century.

    Read More

  • The Creation Of The Constitution

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    In creating the Constitution, the states had several different reactions, including a rather defensive reaction, but also an understanding reaction. As a document that provided the laws of the land and the rights of its people. It directs its attention to the many problems in this country; it offered quite a challenge because the document lent itself to several views and interpretations, depending upon the individual reading it. It is clear that the founders’ perspectives as white, wealthy or elite class, American citizens would play a role in the creation and implementation of The Constitution.

    Read More

  • Anti-Federalist vs Federalist

    2017 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to the Federalists in the early stages of the American republic, a strong central government was necessary to provide uniform supervision to the states thus aiding in the preservation of the Union. This necessity for a more organized central government was a result of the ineffectiveness of the Article of Confederation’s government that was without a unifying government body. One component of this philosophy was the creation of an executive and other federal branche...

    Read More

  • Essay On Federalism

    1180 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion Federalism is a big part of our country. Federalism does have its pros and cons but it’s safe to say that it has so far worked out fairly well. Still, we must keep in mind that federalism does affects our everyday lives and many times we take for granted that the individual in political parties will make the right decisions for the well-being of the public, though at times it is not always be the case. We must remember that for change to happen we must be involved and ready to learn and see and understand ways that we can make a difference, for at the end of the day it is our lives that are affected with every single decision that is made.

    Read More

More about Creating the Constitution

Open Document