Ratification of the American Constitution

Ratification of the American Constitution

With the Constitution, the elite society protected rights for every

American that would secure and ensure our nation's existence for hundreds

of years. Under the Articles of Confederation, the United States'

government was in a state of chaos. To end the existing chaos and build a

stronger democratic society for the future, the government would need to be

more powerful and centralized. Thus, the elite class established the rules

and boundaries that would protect the rights of all citizens from a

suppressive government.

The Articles created a weak, almost nonexistent national government

that was in complete control by the states. The newly formed government

had neither an executive or judicial branch, which meant that it lacked

enforcement powers. There were three problems that existed under the

Articles of Confederation that would spawn an act of change. First, under

the Articles of Confederation the government could not protect property and

other rights of the citizens. Second, the society created under the

Articles of Confederation lacked a means of advancing commerce and

interstate trade. Third, government lacked the money and power to provide

an adequate national defense.

Traders and commercial men found their plans for commerce on a

national scale impeded by local interference with interstate commerce. The

currency of the states and the nation were hopelessly muddled. Creditors

everywhere were angry about the depreciated paper money which the agrarians

had made and were attempting to force upon those from whom they had

borrowed specie. Poor, small landowning farmers could not sell or trade

goods that they produced on their land to other states.

The "muddled currency" in 1786, led to the loss of land in

Massachusetts. During this time Continental army veterans were unable to

pay their debts with the paper money that they were supplied with by the

Continental Congress. This bankruptcy led to the loss of land and a great

rebellion led by Daniel Shays. The Shay's rebellion was ended easily enough

but it was the lack of national government that frightened people.

Had Daniel Shays gathered a larger number of people and had more fire

power the small amount of farmers and townspeople might not have been able

to squash this rebellion. Anarchy in the States could not be tolerated.

However it was James Madison that stated that the way to abolish the rule

by faction is to abolish liberty but that liberty is essential to a faction