James Wilson utilized an intelligent approach to develop ideas that would largely influence the establishment of the Constitution. In Miracle at Philadelphia, when discussing the debate over a federal or national government, Catherine Drinker Bowen writes, “James Wilson of Pennsylvania saw the problem at its heart. Was this government, he asked, to be over men or over imaginary beings called states?” Wilson’s analysis of the contrast between a federal and national government as well as the effect it had on the Convention illuminates how he notably impacted the beliefs of the delegates and thus, impacted the results of the Convention’s votes on the subjects that would be included in the Constitution. Similarly, James Madison also applied logic and reason as well as the analysis of previous governments to form and express opinions that were essential to the formation of the Constitution.…
In this document, James Madison explains the reasoning of the Continental Congress’s decision to revise the Articles of Confederation. Many events such as national bankruptcy, tension with the British and problems in Massachusetts occurred and showcased the weaknesses of the current Articles. Madison is quick to proclaim the futility of those Articles unless a provision is placed on them. A solution which various leaders, including Madison, supported was the idea of a centralized government rather than the separate ones in each state.…
In this short essay, I will briefly discuss Elitism and how the Federalist argument for a stronger central government uses the idea of pluralism. The way I view the Constitutional Convention and the debate over the ratification of the constitution in 1787 is a struggle between two points of view. On one side you have the Federalists and on the other Anti-federalists. Leading the Federalist enterprise was Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay who wrote eighty-five essays that were to convince the people of New York to vote for the newly written Constitution. The new…
John P. Roche gives his case that proposes that the form of the Constitution was simply a representative development involving a compromise of the interests of the state, economy, and governmental concentrations. In John P. Roche’s argument he states that the government was as democratic as possible: “My concern is with the further position that not only were they revolutionaries, but also they were democrats. Indeed, in my view, there is one fundamental truth about the Founding Fathers…: They were first and foremost superb democratic politicians…”[1]. He continues by stating that what they did was create a practical compromise that would support both the national interest and be something that the people would agree with. They started with the Virginia plan that proposed a bicameral legislative branch.…
From the process of creating The Declaration Independence to today’s politics, there have always been conflicts and compromises. This is exactly what happened in the creation process of the Constitution. Both Federalist and Anti-Federalist had to make compromises to make the Constitution and today’s politics possible. In order to understand the compromises made in the Constitution by both sides.…
Even at the author’s introduction, he juxtaposes “the Honorable George Mason/Mr. Gerry” to himself, a “Freeman of Connecticut”. Freeman depicts his lack of influence to relate to the citizens; his own essay is evidence of a regular man contending against all the opinions of the more intelligent. Emulating a citizen of the country, Freeman presents the fears of a republican government with questions such as whether the country will be “happy in a good or wretched in a bad form of government?”, and if all the greatness and freedom of America will be “squandered away?” All these concerns reiterate the thoughts of the citizens about the constitution and the potential new government, and they provide a sense of urgency for the citizens to take action. Freeman portrays himself as a model to persuade his audience to stop conforming to others’ opinions, so he can prevent ignorance being the cause of the constitution’s…
The emotional and dramatic debates of 1787 initiated an event turning change in the structure of the United States government. The passion of James Madison’s ambition to create an equally powered federal government through the division of government branches have set foot to what the modernized American system is seen today. Rakove elaborates in great detail of the trials and errors which the delegates of the 1787 Convention had to endure. However, without the strenuous debates, contemplating opinions, and theoretical views of the Virginia Plan delegates against the New Jersey Plan delegates, the American nation would fail to stand on the strong values of equal government power. From the various attempts to create an organized federal government power and Constitution, the intentions of the delegates of the 1787 Convention were centered upon the values of theory and philosophy rather than…
James Madison, on the other hand, reasoned that the best government of the time, as it existed in Britain, and all of the colonies already practiced the same overlapping of powers that was found in the proposed constitution. In Federalist 48, Madison argues that it is this very overlapping of authority that preserves the separation of powers; “The conclusion which I am warranted in drawing from these observations is, that a mere demarcation on parchment of the constitutional limits of the several departments, is not a sufficient guard against those encroachments which lead to a tyrannical concentration of all the powers of government in the same hands” (Hammond, Hardwick, & Lubert, 2007, p. 494). He believed that his opponents had read Montesquieu but had not understood his notion of separation of powers clearly. According to Montesquieu, tyranny results when one branch of government simultaneously holds the powers of another branch. However, Madison argues that Montesquieu "did not mean that these departments ought to have no partial agency in, or no control over, the acts of each other” (Hammond, Hardwick, &…
The Role of the Citizen in a Constitutional Democracy Despite major conflicts and social changes, the American Constitution has offered a framework of governance for over two hundred years. The Framers of the American constitution sought to create a government free of tyrannical rule—where power derives from the consent of the governed. The US constitution outlines a form of national government that aims to serve the American people by protecting their rights and liberties. The US constitution is succinct and difficult to amend; congress has only passed twenty-seven amendments since the ratification of the constitution. In this essay, I will analyze the arguments Robert Dahl’s presents in his book “How Democratic is the American Constitution”…
During the Constitutional Convention of 1786, one of the most important compromises of the early United States was the Great Compromise. Another compromise that happened at the Constitutional Convention was the Three-Fifths Compromise. These two compromises helped to establish the early government issues of the nation. Together these compromises allowed America to become united.…
In 1786 the federal government realized that America would not survive with the articles of confederation (“Articles of Confederation”). In the summer of 1787, 55 men gathered to amend the Articles of Confederation (“Constitution”). The Constitution had to have compromise for it to pass(“Constitution”). One of those compromises was the Bill of Rights (“Constitution”). There were two sides the federalist and the anti-federalist (“Constitution”).…
Logical Appeals Essay In Federalist 51, by James Madison, there are several examples of the classical appeals ethos, logos, and pathos that strengthen the Madison's point and allow him to get across his point far easier. The appeals not only pull the reader further into James Madison's opinion with emotion, but with common sense, and logic. Federalist 51 explains the importance of separation of powers, checks and balances, and what each branch needs to do in order to be successful. James Madison, displays the classical appeal logos, when, in the first sentence of the second paragraph he states that the different and distinct powers of government are "essential to the preservation of liberty." (Pg. 113)…
Federalist paper 70 The federalist paper 70 is an important document that talks about the welfare of the people of the state of New York based on administration of the laws the government. This paper tries to explore the definition of a good government, for it is important for the protection of property against those irregular practices at that time which sometimes interferes with the normal course of justice; to the security of independency against the enterprises and assaults of goals, of faction, and anarchy. To be specific, the federalist paper 70 is a piece which was written by Alexander Hamilton explaining about the unified executive provided for in the United States Constitution.…
After America’s long journey of seeking freedom from governmental oppression, the newly formed nation was skeptical when it came to the discussion of new government authority. Many Americans were still uneasy about consolidated power, while others were aware of the prevalent national instability caused by the lack thereof. Though, in the end, the Constitution prevailed and has become the cornerstone of American government, the path that led to this enduring document was gradual and filled with apprehension and debate. Both sides of the issue had very clear and valid notions about either their support or opposition to the Constitution, and in the end were able to find common ground through patience and compromise.…
Compromise is crucial to the stability of a Union, especially one as new as the states were in the 1800s. Without compromise there is no unity throughout the states which causes complete chaos, which we knew even back then. Despite of how crucial it was for the leaders in the North and South to find compromise were unable to find that vital common ground that they could use to come up with a neutral decision about aspects in and out of the government. The conflict was made up of the pro-slavery southerners and the anti-slavery northerners, and both sides felt very strongly about their position, and refused to see the opposite point. Failure of leadership on both sides led to the lack of compromise between the North and South and eventually…