Eric Foner’s (2010) “Founding a Nation, 1783-1791,” describes the events that led to the formation of a strong central government and the creation of the US Constitution in 1787. Shay’s Rebellion brought out the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which gave the federal government very limited powers when it came to raising funds to provide for the general defense of the states. Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government did not have the ability to raise funds for the national army through taxation. Rather, it relied upon voluntary contributions from the states. Shay’s Rebellion occurred as a result of sudden tax increases in the state of Massachusetts to pay off state debts and the absence of a national army. Farmers,
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In contrast, the US Constitution empowered wealthy elites, rather than the common man. One contradiction is when the founding fathers came together to form a new central government, they only gave power in the new government to wealthy elites. In most states, only landowners were allowed to vote for representatives in the houses and in their state legislatures. Prior to Shay’s Rebellion, many farmers had their land taken away along with their right to vote. This excluded many of the same men who fought for the country in the war for independence. Furthermore, citizens were not able to directly vote for members of the Senate or directly vote for the President. Alexander Hamilton, one of the supporters of keeping power in the government from the common man, substantiated these restrictions by arguing that the common man is uneducated and cannot make good decisions for the country. Hence, they should not be able to vote. I believe his argument in and of itself is a contradiction because he grew up not from wealth, but from poverty. However, he was excluding people like his former self from selecting the representatives for their government. The founding fathers were creating a government that had the potential to be just as oppressive as the one that they gained their independence
In contrast, the US Constitution empowered wealthy elites, rather than the common man. One contradiction is when the founding fathers came together to form a new central government, they only gave power in the new government to wealthy elites. In most states, only landowners were allowed to vote for representatives in the houses and in their state legislatures. Prior to Shay’s Rebellion, many farmers had their land taken away along with their right to vote. This excluded many of the same men who fought for the country in the war for independence. Furthermore, citizens were not able to directly vote for members of the Senate or directly vote for the President. Alexander Hamilton, one of the supporters of keeping power in the government from the common man, substantiated these restrictions by arguing that the common man is uneducated and cannot make good decisions for the country. Hence, they should not be able to vote. I believe his argument in and of itself is a contradiction because he grew up not from wealth, but from poverty. However, he was excluding people like his former self from selecting the representatives for their government. The founding fathers were creating a government that had the potential to be just as oppressive as the one that they gained their independence