...“Liberty” has always been a highly contested and contradictory terrain throughout American history—and nowhere is the contestation more prevalent than in the formation of the Constitution in the late 18th century. During the Revolutionary period, both common and elite Americans alike sought to define the ideals of liberty that would be incorporated into the new nation. But the realization of these ideals of equality in politics and universal rights necessitated the formation of a centralized Republican government in order to become a practical reality, thereby ensuring the success of the nation by implementing basis of lasting, effective systems of maintaining political order. In doing so, the constitution realizes revolutionary aspirations for independent government that guarantees the rights and common good of its citizens. The ratification of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights ensured that the ideals of independence, accurate representation in politics via a republican system, and the protection of natural liberties birthed during the Revolution could survive practically within the new nation. The ratification of the Constitution was critical for the success of the nation, thus realizing the revolutionary dream of...
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...been “placed on hold”. Those in favour of abolishing the Senate argue that it is a flawed body of government, which is carrying out its legislative functions inadequately. While the Senate may not have the support of the entire Canadian population, abolishing it may not be the most effective course of action. Rather, this paper will argue that instead of abolishing the Senate due to its...
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...Political revolutions have a prolonged history of drastically altering the societal, political, and economic conditions of the states they take place in. The American Revolution was no exception to this rule. Thus, the events that took place within the war and subsequent political metamorphosis, from the defeat of the British to the final ratification of the Constitution, all work to restructure much of the characteristics of the states. The American Revolution revolutionized the states and the world by organizing the states together into a national republic and by proving globally that a colony could successfully gain and maintain its independence from its ruling state. However, the Revolution did not significantly alter the individual rights of many citizens, including those of African Americans and women, which largely stayed the same in the years immediately following the revolution. Initially, the most massive change to both the social and...
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...The American Revolution is best described, with a parallel to the Gettysburg Address given many years later, as a revolution of the people, by the people. This social revolution took place in response to the neglect shown toward the American colonies by the British government. Many final decisions were made and imposed upon the colonists without taking their opinions into account. The slogan of the time, “no taxation without representation”, was indicative of the colonist’s feelings toward these decisions. Although there were many peaceful pleas and bargains offered by the colonists, the British government failed to meet the needs of their citizens in the New World. These colonists responded aggressively to the British policies in an act to fulfill the very dream that led them to the Americas: escaping lives of deprivation and inequality. Because of the ample peace offerings and pleas of the American colonies, the American Revolution was absolutely avoidable. If Parliament had decided to take the colonists’ opinions into consideration by providing them with equal representation, the American Revolution could have never been a part of history. However, because of Britain’s failure to respond in a cooperative fashion, the only remaining question was how much longer would the colonists put up with subordination before revolting. Some of the policies that the colonists voted against were the Navigation and Intolerable Acts – policies that restricted the transportation of the colonists...
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...The American Revolution: The American rebellion known as the American Revolution has many different factors. A lot of political influences existed, it was primarily an economic rebellion, because of conflict over taxation and representation in Parliament. The colonists had strong beliefs that the English government was unfair and often tyrannical. The conflicts over trade, taxes, and government representation brought about the revolution that began shaping the United States as it is today. There were many economic influences on the American Revolution, these were not the primary causes. The colonists believed that the king, King George III controlled the colonies more than he should.. The Declaration of Independence shows this, declaring the United States free from "absolute Tyranny over the States." To add to this conflict, British forces were attempting to intimidate the colonists into submission. The colonist's attitude towards this policy was that it only gave them more cause and justification for violence.. In 1775, the colonists took up arms against the British troops in the colonies. They met at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Although these political conflicts were occurring simultaneously, the economic influences were greater.. The colonists couldn't even afford to pay many of the taxes imposed on them. The Stamp Act, for example, taxed practically everything imaginable. The British finally repealed the Stamp Act in 1766, but they immediately replaced...
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...Nathaniel Sellis American & Wyo Government Dudley November 12, 2011 How Democratic is the American Constitution Summary Robert Dahl explains in the beginning of the book that he is not proposing changes in the American Constitution, but suggests changes in the way we think about our constitution. In this essay, I will explain the history of this American constitution, what Dahl suggests about the American Constitution, and my opinion about this book. In the history of the United States, there are two factors that mark its constitutional history. For one thing, the rights of citizens were organized through limits to power, linked to a libertarian conception of liberal viewpoint. For another, the original structure of the constitution is influenced by the fear of the "framers" to a popular majority government could oppress the rights acquired as Alexis de Tocqueville considered that the democratic government incorporated elements that endure to this undemocratic, preventing the formation of compromise. The result of this misunderstanding between democracy and fundamental rights did not allow equality. The author acknowledges the obstacles to achieving political equality are related to institutional distortion and sacred morals of citizenship to the constitutional system, which increase the distortion and hope, are two obstacles to any reform. The focus of their criticism revolves around the unequal representation in the Senate. The tension between the need and right...
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...Analysis of Democracy in Brazil and Chile Hagopian vents her frustration towards the democratization of Latin American countries by describing it as “flawed both because it does not take account of differences across the region and because it is overly static” (pg.125). The clarity in transitioning into a democracy in Latin American countries has not been defined uniformly that there are clear differences amongst the effectiveness of democracy in specific countries. Hagopian specifically uses Chile and Brazil as her examples of “the dimensions of Democratic quality.” She uses these two countries as a comparison to distinguish the characteristics of a “good” democracy, which would include both the participation and satisfaction of the citizens of the country. Amongst most of the Latin American countries, Chile and Brazil has become amongst the strongest democratic countries and can become a lot stronger with improvements. However, both countries vary in strengths between different dimensions of quality that defines a “good” democracy. These variances are analyzed by Hagopian to determine the degree of effectiveness by considering accountability, participation and responsiveness between governance and individuals as a reciprocal relationship. Recommendable changes are necessary for both Chile and Brazil to continuously prosper politically, civilly and together economically. Although both Chile and Brazil are developing predominant democratic reputations, their contrasts in democratic...
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...The American Revolution The Declaration of Independence is considered one of the world’s greatest persuasive documents ever written. Adopted on July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress in America, the Declaration listed the tyrannical acts committed by King George III of England and proclaimed the natural rights of mankind and the sovereignty of the American states. The immediate origins of the American Revolution were in British-American disputes over taxation. After the Seven Years War with France, Britain was left with double its national debt and in severe need of money to repay loans and to defend its territories. Britain attempted to rebuild its finances by issuing the Stamp Act, which levied taxes on selected items ;such as commercial and legal documents, diplomas, pamphlets, newspapers, almanacs, dice, and playing cards ;and monopolizing the tea trade between China and America. These brought about severe protests and riots, however, which Britain punished by imposing the Coercive Acts, closing the Boston port and stopping local elections and meetings. After negotiations between the First Continental Congress and the British Parliament proved unsuccessful, the American Revolution began. During the war, many were inspired by the works of philosophers such as John Locke and the baron de Montesquieu. Locke believed the function of a government was to protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property of the people, and if it fails to do so, it becomes a tyranny...
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...Acts restricted free trade with all nations which went against Paine’s beliefs. Paine was anti-mercantilist, and did not believe government should have a strong role in regards to trade. Paine did believe that the colonies should have representation in the Parliament. Paine wrote the CS which influenced many people to fight for their independence and fight for their representation in the Parliament. In CS, Paine fights for American independence. In his argument, Paine began by comparing both government and society and gave his opinions and views on both. According to Paine, society is everything constructive that people join together to accomplish. Whereas government, is an institution whose only purpose is to protect us from our own misconduct. Paine believed that the people would be much happier if they were responsible for their own creation laws and rules. Paine argued that this type of system of representation would benefit the American colonists. He wanted a...
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...dream of racial equality has taken great steps towards becoming a reality in the past 50 years. The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the election of the first black President are counteracted by events such as the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012 and the fact only nine African-American senators have ever been elected to the Senate. In this way although on the surface racial equality appears to be achieved, the reality is that with economic discrimination increasing during the recession, and instances of white flight increasing, racial equality has not yet fully been achieved in the USA. There were many formal attempts to establish civil rights in the USA from 1950s onwards. Before this the passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments created to guarantee the rights African-Americans had been ignored by many states, especially in the deep South, meaning that for most blacks racial equality was a distant dream. However, the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the creation of affirmative action policies under JFK began to change things. For the first time government policy began to make up for years of historical discrimination against the African-American population. Affirmative action ensured that members of all previous disadvantaged minorities were given a head start, specifically in areas like education and deployment. With all federally funded projects from the 60s onwards applying policies of affirmative action disadvantaged groups finally began...
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...power of Congress is “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers.” This compliments Lee Hamilton’s statement as the power allows Congress make laws for the people as new situations arise. From this, it is agreed with Hamilton that “Congress is the most important link between the American people and their national government.” Congress takes new opinions and problems from citizens and applies them when making laws. Also, the stipulations for a member of the legislature ensures the bond between the people and the government. Members of the House have short two-year terms, while Senators have six-year terms, allowing new members to appeal modern policies to Congress to service recent...
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...Constitution Paper Constitution Nequia Covington Christopher Powers Abstract The American Revolution creating the ideology that all men are created equal failed to connect with the new United States’ form of government. Americans attempted to define the meaning of American equality by holding several constitutional conventions that defined how the government would operate and who could participate in political life. The basic principles of democracy, giving majority the rule, struck fear into those who believed this would bring ruin of the hard-fought struggle for independence. The forming of a republic, which constructed a government where the important affairs would be entrusted only to representative men of learning and refinement, eased several minds. Constitution Paper The American Revolution creating the ideology that all men are created equal failed to connect with the new United States’ form of government (OpenStax, 2014). Americans attempted to define the meaning of American equality by holding several constitutional conventions that defined how the government would operate and who could participate in political life (OpenStax, 2014). The basic principles of democracy, giving majority the rule, struck fear into those who believed this would bring ruin of the hard-fought struggle for independence (OpenStax, 2014). The forming of a republic, which constructed a government where the important affairs would be entrusted only to representative men of learning and...
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...suppression of the British Government that started assault on the colonists’ political and economic rights and as well as the unnecessary taxation imposed on them. Thomas Jefferson was one of the American political leaders who was known for his authorship of the Declaration of Independence. Without Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, there would have been no revolution in the history of United States. The U.S war for independence took place between 1765 and 1783, and the thirteen American colonies rejected the British aristocracy. “The conflict arose from growing tensions between residents of Great Britain’s thirteen North American colonies and the colonial government” (Sadosky). Thomas Jefferson always believed that the colonies should be independent, they should not be suppressed and must be free. He did not use any books or journals to write the Declaration of Independence, rather he discussed with people. He collected the ideas from different peoples and linking those collected ideas, he wrote the declaration and there it is stated that everyone has the rights to life, and freedom. He is considered the founding Father of the United States as...
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...reaction and explain why you changed your mind. Anticipation Reaction _____ 1. _____ 1. _____ 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____ 6. _____ 7. The British government usually left American colonists to make their own laws pertaining to local matters. American colonial trade was severely crippled by British trade laws. The European Enlightenment had little influence on the thought of American colonists. Because they were part of the British empire, colonists were constantly involved in England’s imperial wars with France and Spain. Parliament taxed the American colonists as a way to express its authority over them, not because it needed. the money. Colonists protested the Sugar Act and Stamp Act as violations of their rights as Americans. Colonists protested the Tea Act because it threatened to raise the price of tea. _____ 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____ 6. _____ 7. LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading Chapter 3 you should be able to: 1. 2. Define the basic assumptions of the British colonial system and describe its operation. Assess the impact of the Great Awakening and Enlightenment on the spiritual and intellectual life of the colonies. 42 3. 4. 5. Describe the relationship between the French and Indian War and the coming of the American Revolution. Trace the course of key events...
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...constitution in the entire world. In creating the Constitution, the states were both defensive and understanding. Although the document provided rights that were very much needed to the American citizens of this world it pointed out all of the problems That were wrong with our country. The United States of America has been ran under two different constitutions, the first being the Articles of Confederation. With the way the Articles of Confederation was created the Constitution was very much needed. The Articles of Confederation was put in effect on March 1, 1781 due to the Continental congress who were acting on behalf of the Americans which they had no right to do. Not too long after came the Constitution which has been in place since June 21, 1788. The Constitution was developed in order to replace the Articles of Confederation and fix a few issues the founding fathers found needed to be corrected over the short time it was established. There was a ton of weaknesses in the Articles of confederation that the Constitution addressed one being only allowing the state and central government to have only certain rights and powers. The Constitution addressed these weaknesses by balancing powers between the state and federal government. Also they created three branches of government which helped in balancing the...
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