Federalists such as Hamilton supported ratification. But Anti-Federalists, who feared that the document gave too much power to the federal government, worked to convince the states to reject it. Hamilton believed that the ratification was necessary because giving more power to the central government was essential for the nation's survival. In The Federalist Papers Hamilton sets the stage for those that would follow, entitling that "The vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty." The essay... ... middle of paper ... ...details of the new government and its different parts.
This document, created in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, was to become the foundation for our country and is still the chief document that the America of today follows. Nevertheless, there were still some people opposed to this document. The Anti-federalists, as they were called, believed that if the constitution was enacted then the central government would become too powerful. They believed America would then become a tyrannical government, which is what America fought so hard to get away from. The anti-federalists said a bill of rights was needed to stop the national government from being tyrannical.
The thirteen states assembled in an alliance they termed a “…firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare” (Articles of Confederation). The Articles, however, created ec... ... middle of paper ... ...ights, the Founding Fathers achieved their goals. They had fought a war to free the United States and created a system of government to rule that country, called the Articles of Confederation. The Articles, however, created an unstable government. The Nationalist party called a Constitutional Convention with the aim of creating a new government that would peacefully establish national sovereignty, ensure adequate representation, protect the country from tyranny, and allow freedom for those with minority viewpoints.
Madison's Twenty-nine letters have proved to be the most memorable in their balance and ideas of governmental power. It is not clear whether The Federalist Papers, written between October 1787 and May 1788 had any effect on New York's and Virginia's ratification of the Constitution. Encyclopedia Britannica defines Federalism as, "A mode of political organization that unites independent states within a larger political framework while still allowing each state to maintain it's own political integrity" (712). Having just won a revolution against an oppressive monarchy, the American colonists were in willing to replace it with another monarchy style of government. On the other hand, their experience with the disorganization under the Articles of Confederation, due to unfair competition between the individual states, made them a little more receptive to an increase in national powers.
The Bill of Rights During the Revolutionary War the rebelling colonies needed to find a way to govern the new nation and created the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation created a weak federal government with most of the power given to the states. The weak federal government was unable to address a number of primarily economic and diplomatic problems facing the nation. A Federalist movement started in order to create a stronger federal government that could better handle these problems. In 1787 delegates were called into Philadelphia to write a constitution with more power granted to the federal government.
The Anti-Federalist were also comprised of prominent men who ferociously supported the ideals of the Revolution and protecting liberty even though the Federalists would often accuse them of abandoning these principles. The debates at the Philadelphia Convention were rooted in principles deeply held by both groups. ... ... middle of paper ... ...only a small republic could produce the voluntary obedience of the people to submit to the authority of the new government and its laws. The Federalist believed a republic, in the truest sense, could not exist in a post commercial world. Anti-Federalists did see the need for a union between the states to provide a defense against foreign enemies, promote, and protect commerce, and maintain order between the states.
James Madison of Virginia wanted a solution to the economic and political problems plaguing the new nation. He was convinced that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate, weak and in need of replacement. A strong centralized government, Madison believed, would provide greater stability and structure for the American economy. In 1786, Madison invited delegates from each of the 13 states to attend a Constitutional Convention. It was here that he hoped to create a plan for a stronger national government.
The Preamble outlines the broad purposes of the Constitution and establishes the constitutions overall goal, which “ is to form a more perfect Union.” This is the primary reason why the Constitution was drafted- to correct the flaws of the Articles of Confederation. The Preamble also included Locke's contention that people have the right to over throw their government, when the governmetn abuses their fundamental rights. These documents are what whipped American government into what it is today. The Preamble, Declaration of independence,Articles of Confederation, Common Sense, and much more, each had it's own impact on our society enough to know that, that's not how a government should be. Through time we've taken the past governments and extracted the good aspects out of them to get our government.
Now that I had the chance to understand both points of views, I see why the Anti-Federalists were not thrilled to be pushed aside by the new constitution. There were illegal actions taken, leaving many people wondering if the Federalists were the best group of people to decide what laws the states had to follow. James Madison and other’s changed the constitution for the better. The Federalists were right in creating a new constitution because the nation needed and still needs a central government for each state to respond too and keep the
The nature of the convention was to revise the articles of Confederation. The Confederation congress wanted the Constitution to be changed in a way that would render the federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union. (Daniel, P.14, 2010) The Articles of Confederation do vary from the New Constitution of 1787, Changes were made, and many felt the changes needed and would be the key to the success of the United States of America. (Daniel, P.239, 2010) Where these changes needed, or would the United States be fine without them? Are the changes significant enough to achieve the goals the Confederate Congress were reaching for?