...The Articles of Confederation provided an effective form of government to a limited extent inasmuch of many causes. What I imply by this is that, there are two opinions: support and refute, each have a great responses. The Articles of Confederation did mark a turning point in the U.S Constitution by eliminating the articles form of government and building a actually new form of government. In my opinion I believe that The Articles of Confederation were ineffective because of many reason that is why it only took place for ten years, One reason for this is that it had no National Supreme Court which wasn't much a framework just a friendship. Another reason is that the articles set up a “government” that consisted of a one house body of delegates...
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...The Articles of the Confederation were the first set of laws in the newly formed United States. They spelled out the rules for the first government. The Articles of Confederation did not provide an effective form of government from 1781 to 1789. The Articles of Confederation had several problems. They had no foreign policy to help regulate trade with Britain or Spain. They gave the states too much power. States started to behave like small countries. The Articles of Confederation gave the states the option to set up their own foreign trade policies. Therefore, the government had no control over trade. The Articles also had a weak domestic policy. The states, no matter their size, were given only one vote in congress. Furthermore, the states needed a unanimous vote if any amendments were to be made to the Articles. The Articles of the Confederation did not provide an effective form of government. Congress, because there was no National court system could not settle disputes between states. The Articles provided the states with the enforcement of their own laws. States could refuse to recognize laws of the other states and this allowed criminals to escape the laws by fleeing across state lines. The Articles gave the states the power to print their own money. The states printed more bills to pay off their own debts overseas, which eventually resulted in inflation and financial chaos. The National government was not given enough power and the states were given too much...
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...essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.”(Madison, 1787) The Federalists, writing under the pseudonym Publius, advocated a strong central government in the new nation. They argued against the Anti-Federalist writers like Brutus, whose ideas of an effective government resided with stronger state governments. Both views of the Federalists and the Anti-federalists were justified in unifying the newly emancipated American colonies. While there is much debate on who theoretically won the political battle that resulted in the ratification of the constitution in 1789, it is clear that the modern American government no longer represents James Madison ideals of a balanced federal...
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...The Articles of Confederation was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777 and ratified March 1, 1781. The result was thirteen states in a “firm league of friendship.” The articles resulted in a loose confederation of sovereign states. Lacking an executive branch, the Articles of Confederation formed a weak central government. As a result, most of the power was left to the states. Most powers were given to Congress, including the authority to make treaties, coin money, and maintain armed forces. However, it had no power to regulate commerce or to levy taxes. Even though Congress was the dominant force in the government, it was purposely weak. Each state, regardless of size, had a single vote. For a bill to be passed, it...
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...There were many differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. At the end of the American Revolution, the free states needed some of control that would generate to a unified country. Issues were that the people want equal rights, and a new government. Their first attempt at solving this issue was the Articles of Confederation, which was a failure for the most part, but not completely. After the failure of the articles, the state delegates tried to revise the articles, but instead, constructed the Constitution. There were so many changes made and very little remained the same. Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution had a greater sense of central government. In the Constitution a president was the executive. The president was the person that can approve or veto the new rules. After gaining independence from Great Britain, the United States was operating under the “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.” Under the Articles, the states retained sovereignty over all governmental functions that were not relinquished to the federal government. The American Revolution did not overturn the social order, but it did produce substantial changes in social customs, political institutions, and ideas about society and government. Among the changes were the separation of church and state in some places, the abolition of slavery in the North, written political constitutions, and a shift in political power from the eastern seaboard toward the frontier...
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...The United States Constitution The United States Constitution was the first form of government. The Bill of Rights was later added. The United States Constitution and Amendments were established to fix the problems stated in the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. The phrase “We the People” is one of the first fixes between the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. These three words affirms that the government of the United States will serve its citizens. The Constitution has remained in force to this day, because its framers successfully separated and balanced government. The United States Constitution supports and reflects the idea of the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution also addressed the complaints in the Declaration of Independence. The US Constitution created a government of three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial, granting unique powers to each branch. “He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.” (Declaration of Independence) The king of Great Britain refused to set laws for the common good of the people. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievance.” (United States Constitution; Amendment I) So according...
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...On March 1st, 1781, the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation in Independence Hall. They served as the basis of the national government of the U.S. during the American Revolutionary War. It was the first written constitution of the United States and unified the thirteen colonies. Its purpose was to keep every new formed state as independent as possible leaving the United States only responsible for common defense, security of liberties, and the general welfare of the new nation. It was meant to keep the national government as weak as possible, but in turn had many problems as it became active and was only in effect until March 4th, 1789. Because the Articles of Confederation’s main purpose to keep the individual states as independent as possible, it led to three wide-ranging limitations being economic disorganization, lack of central leadership and legislative inefficiencies. There was little respect and support given to Congress from the states. By the end of the war, the nation had accrued a large debt and the states were refusing to financially support the national government. Congress was not allowed to impose taxes or raise revenue. Each state had printed its own currency. Congress could not regulate trade. Each state had its own trading agenda and...
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...The United States Constitution was the first form of government. The Bill of Rights came later but proved to fix many problems. The United States Constitution and Amendments were established to fix the problems stated in the Declaration of Independence. It is amazing to say The Constitution is not only the nations but the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. The famous phrase “We the People” is one of the first fixes between the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. These three words affirms that the government of the United States will serve its citizens and the people are what matters to the government. The Constitution is still in forced to this day, because it successfully separates and balances our government. The United States Constitution not only supports but truly reflects the idea of the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution addressed the many complaints of the Declaration of Independence. The US Constitution created a government of three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial, granting unique powers to each branch. “He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good” (Declaration of Independence). The king of Great Britain rejected and refused the idea of setting laws for the common good of the people. The king never had the interest of his people at heart. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom...
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...system of government, the new nation needed to form a governing body and begin to rebuild the colonies after the Revolutionary War. The first attempt at providing the new fledging nation with such a government was established around The Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation were developed and written in Philadelphia at the second meeting of the Continental Congress in 1777. The Articles were ratified and became effective in 1781. However, their existence was short lived as major flaws, limitations and discrepancies were mounting. These gave way to the Articles being scrapped altogether and a new governing document being written called the U.S. Constitution. Many have called the Articles of Confederation America's first failure at government. Unification The articles of the confederation was a weak attempt at best, by a new country to try an unite itself and form a government of its own after overthrowing the British tyranny of the previous decade. Under the Articles of Confederation each state had the right to make its own rules and laws, separate from the central government. There was no taxing powers given to Congress, Congress had no power over interstate or foreign commerce. Each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of the states size or population. That in itself was a problem for the larger states who had bigger populations, who were expected to contribute more but still only had one vote. Any amendments to the Articles must have...
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...Branches of Government Michael Mousaw His/301 April 25, 2011 University of Phoenix Ric Hulshoff Branches of Government The founding Fathers of America divided the United States government into three branches of power in order to maintain a system of checks and balances. They did not want a government where one person or one body of government had all the power. The founding fathers of these United States wanted to step away from the totalitarian system of governance imposed on colonial America by the British (Trethan). Three Branches of Government With this thought in mind the founding Fathers of the United States came up with what Americans know now as the Federalist governing system. This Federalist government consists of the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Each of these branches has its own distinct and essential duties to perform in the function of the United States government (Trethan). Executive Branch The executive branches of the United States government consist of the president, vice-president, and 15 cabinet level departments. These 15 cabinet level departments include the State, Defense, Interior, Transportation, and Education. The chief point of power is in the hands of the president. The president chooses his vice president, cabinet members, and appoints the Supreme Court Justices. The primary function of the executive branch is to ensure the laws are carried out, the constitution is followed, and that the day to...
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...of American government, whereby the states are not merely regional representatives of the federal government, but are granted independent power and responsibilities” (USA, Constitution). However this definition is constantly changing and took a long bumpy road to get where it is today. The United States constitution was drafted on September 17th, 1787 and ratified on June 21st, 1788. The United States became a sovereign nation on July 4th, 1776 at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but they needed a Constitution. The Articles of Confederation were drafted on November 7th, 1777 and ratified on March 1st, 1781. This document was signed by the thirteen original colonies that made up the United States of America and served as its first constitution. After becoming sovereign nation it became clear to many that the Articles of Confederation would not be able to hold a nation together. Under the Article of Confederation there was a unicameral legislative that provided no separation of power. The central government appeared to be too weak because under the Articles of Confederation most of the power was retained by the states. Congress had no power to tax therefore, they were unable to finance their operations. It was also extremely difficult to amend the Articles of Confederation because it needed unanimous approval from all states. Federal laws had to be approved by nine of the thirteen states which proved to be difficult for everyday business of government. Congress did...
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...A strong believer in a strong national government, Washington led the country under the Articles of Confederation, the first form of federal government created for the new nation. Adopted in 1781, the Articles were written when the colonists were revolting against an absolutist ruler. Since they witnessed the tyranny that could occur with a powerful central government, the founders of the Articles of Confederation ensured that the government was weak. Taking advantage of the weak government, Shays’s Rebellion broke out in 1786 when farmers’ land was being taken away due to mortgage foreclosures. This rebellion terrified the colonists, who were afraid this unbridled democracy would lead to a mobocracy. Washington recognized the need for a stronger central government so situations like Shay’s Rebellion would not get out of hand. Washington was a Federalist, a political group that agreed a stronger government was needed. During the summer of 1787, fifty-five delegates gathered in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, they ignored the Articles and started to draft the Constitution. Washington was elected as president of the convention and approved of the content. The Constitution was not easily ratified, mostly because it strengthened the power of the central government. But the Federalists had influence over many colonists because “they enjoyed the support of such commanding figures...
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...The United States Congress: The Legislative Branch of United State’s Government Ilhan Abdi Class title: Date: 10/29/2012 To write anything about the history of the United State’s Congress, one must illustrate the entire formation of the American Republic. Because, this was the first branch of the US government, where the formation of the rest of the institutions will stem from. This is a big topic that requires much time and resources. However, in this essay, I will briefly look over the major events and milestones that led to the formation of the United States, as a nation, while at the same time focusing on the history, the role, and the transformation of the United States congress. In 1770, what has begun as a simple...
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...accountable and that, conversely, the greatest threat to freedom was/is a powerful central government relative to state governments. Thus federalism is seen as the key constitutional device to protect liberty and any dilution of federalism is seen as undermining freedom. However, other Americans argue that the consistent application of the Bill of Rights can only be done/monitored by the national government and point out that, under the banner of ‘States Rights’, local communities have been guilty of fostering tyranny of the majority – especially the white communities in the South. The United States Constitution has secured an unprecedented degree of human freedom, upholding the rule of law, securing the blessings of liberty, and providing the framework for the people of America to build a great, prosperous, and just nation unlike any other in the world. George Washington thought that it was “little short of a miracle” that the delegates could agree on the Constitution. Americans had stumbled on this road before. The United States had established an earlier constitution in 1781, the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles, each state governed itself through elected representatives, and the state representatives in turn elected a weak central government, one so feeble that it was unworkable. This league of states, hastily crafted during wartime, had to be replaced with a real government. The challenge was devising stable institutional arrangements that would reconcile...
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...democratilizing effects of the Revolution and the Articles of Confederation. The American Revolution was not a radical transformation like the French or Russian revolutions, but it produced political innovations and some social change in the direction of greater equality and democracy. The American Revolution did not overturn the social order, but it did produce substantial changes in social customs, political institutions, and ideas about society and government. Among the changes were the separation of church and state in some places, the abolition of slavery in the North, written political constitutions, and a shift in political power from the eastern seaboard toward the frontier. The first weak government, the Articles of Confederation, was unable to exercise real authority, although it did successfully deal with the western lands issue. The Confederation’s weakness in handling foreign policy, commerce and the Shays Rebellion spurred the movement to alter the Articles. Instead of revising the Articles, the well-off delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a charter for a whole new government. In a series of compromises, the convention produced a plan that provided for a vigorous central government, a strong executive, the protection for property, while still upholding republican principles and states’ rights. The Federalists met strong opposition from Anti-Federalists, especially in Virginia and New York, but through effective organization and argument, they succeeded...
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