The Early United States: A Two Sided Coin

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Recommended: Common sense, the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution

The topic(s) that will be discussed in this paper include Laws and Federal Policies during early American history. The material discussed in this paper comes exclusively from Exploring American Histories by Nancy A. Hewitt and Steven F. Lawson. This paper will cover documents within the text that pertain to the topic. The aim of this paper is to argue that from even the earliest points in American history, there was an opposing and supporting standpoint to each law and federal policy. Since its start, the United States has been a two-sided coin of support and opposition. Issues such as Independence, Slavery, and Succession are three of the many that show the United States to be a country that does not always come to a consensus.

From the beginning, the United States has been a country at least somewhat divided by political differences. Even in the late 1700s when the Colonists began to consider becoming an independent nation, there were many citizens who were vehemently aghast at the idea of breaking away from their mother country. These two opposing forces were known as the Colonists and the Loyalists. Colonists, such as Thomas Paine, were massive supporters of American independence. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense used biblical references to appeal to the common people and convince them that becoming independent of Britain was the right choice. Paine wrote that the King of Britain was a “brute” and there should be no such leader of a free country such as America. Paine also wrote that in free countries such as America, the Law should be the ultimate King, and no other ruler should go before the Law. Paine also stated that it is a natural right for the colonists to create and uphold their own government. Finally, Paine implored h...

... middle of paper ...

...tes to be a country that does not always come to a consensus.

Works Cited

Notes

1Thomas Dew. “The Proslavery Argument, 1832.” Exploring American Histories: A Brief Survey with Sources. Volume 1: To 1877. ed. Nancy A. Hewitt and Steven F. Lawson. (Boston, Bedford St. Martin’s, 2013), page 305.

2Dew, Exploring American History, page 305.

3Robert Toombs, “Debating Secession in Georgia: Two Views.” Exploring American Histories: A Brief Survey with Sources. Volume I: To 1877. ed. Nancy A. Hewitt and Steven F. Lawson. (Boston, Bedford St. Martin’s, 2013), page 396.

4Toombs, Exploring American History, page 396

5Ibid.

6Ibid.

7Alexander Stephens, “Against Secession, 1860.” Exploring American Histories: A Brief Survey with Sources. Volume 1: To 1877. ed. Nancy A. Hewitt and Steven F. Lawson. (Boston, Bedford St. Martin’s, 2013), page 397

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