Early American History U.S. Constitution

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History 121

June 20, 2011

           

The United States Constitution came about after the war of revolution. The Articles of Confederation were the first form of government established in America. The articles were flawed because they created a weak federal government. The articles made it difficult to raise a national army for defense also made it hard to collect taxes. The Constitution was debated in secret, the two main plans that come out are the Virginia and New Jersey plans. The Virginia plan called for a central government with three branches and a bicameral legislature. The New Jersey plan called for a unicameral assembly with one vote per state.

            The two main groups of the time were the Anti-Federalists and the Federalists. Anti-Federalists wanted a weak Federal government, while the Federalists wanted a stronger federal government. The Anti-Federalists argued that a strong federal government will become corrupt and will eventually restrict the freedom of the citizens. The Federalists said a strong federal government is needed in order to protect the states help with diplomacy and trade. Most Americans were skeptical of a strong Federal government because they had just fought a war against a country with a similar system. During the time most Americans did not see themselves as Americans they saw themselves as members of their home state.

            The Constitution was adopted with the first ten amendments to the Constitution in order to quiet the concerns of the people over the role of the federal government. Even today people argue over the role of the federal government. People who desire freedom and achieve it will always live in fear of it being taken away, so the concerns over the role of government will never be adequately resolved.

            Slaves, Native Americans, women had little to gain from the creation of America. The founding fathers did not include any language that would allow women to become active in the government many felt it was not a women’s place. The issue of slavery was debated some wanted to end slavery, but the southern states whose economy was based on slavery pushed back and the issued was eventually dropped. Native Americans were not really even considered at all most considered the natives as an obstacle to overcome to move westward. Men who did not own land were unhappy with not being given access to government. After the American government was formed men who did not own land were eventually given access to the government.

            The formation of the American government was much more difficult then is normally assumed by the general public. There were very different and passionate views that could have lead to a very different America then the one we currently enjoy. Today we think our passionate views and infighting will eventually tear us apart, but since the very beginning that is what has made American the country it is.