Caging the Beast: How America put Tyranny in its Place
George Washington once said, “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” These wise words were drawn from his experience, the many years that he had spent immersed in the aspirational courage and ardency of the newborn United States. Its citizens were a people that hungered for freedom, thirsted for it, and they could not be satiated by trailing a monarch like obedient puppies. This was recognized; the Articles of Confederation attended to this innate desire for freedom. These Articles, however, placed far too much power in the hands of the people, and the heavy weight of this power provided them with a mace with which to carve their own individual paths. The government, …show more content…
Because the people were afraid of living under a tyrant, they transformed into a disjointed society of tyrants themselves. The desperate need for a new government arose. And thus, the Constitution was born. But how did the Constitution serve as a loyal guard dog against the great ugly beast of tyranny? For tyranny is indeed like a power-hungry monster; when a concentrated amount of leadership, privileges, and governorship falls into the claws of one person or even a group of such people, they are transformed into the ugly tyrannous beast. The Constitution, however, nips fiercely at the heels of tyranny, bringing the beast swiftly and effectively down to its knees. The three primary manners in which the Constitution does such a thing are federalism, separation of powers, and, of course, with the aid of the brilliant minds of its framers. One of the many locks on the beast’s cage is Federalism. According to Dictionary.com, Federalism is defined as: “the nature of a union of states under a central government …show more content…
“...(L)iberty requires that the three great departments of power should be separate and distinct,” explains James Madison in Federalist Paper #47. By this he means that, similarly to the division of powers between federal and state governments, each branch of the federal government has its own responsibilities, separate from those of the other branches. This ensures that no one branch gains authority over another. For example, if a man were to serve in the House of Representatives, he would not be allowed to serve in the Supreme court, and vice-versa (Document B). If this were possible, one man could then hold sway over multiple branches, allowing him unfair superiority over his intended equals. This frighteningly resembles tyranny, and is defended against by simply separating the powers of the three branches. For example, the executive power is “vested in a President of the United states,” and no other (Document B). It is not the responsibility of the Supreme Court, nor is it the responsibility of Congress. Only the President holds this power, ensuring that he is fully in charge here. Furthermore, the President must not become wrapped up in legislative matters or serve on the Supreme Court. This ensures that the power in his fist does not grow too great. [closing
George Washington once said, “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” These wise words were drawn from his experience, the many years that he had spent immersed in the aspirational courage and ardency of the newborn United States. Its citizens were a people that hungered for freedom, thirsted for it, and they could not be satiated by trailing a monarch like obedient puppies. This was recognized; the Articles of Confederation attended to this innate desire for freedom. These Articles, however, placed far too much power in the hands of the people, and the heavy weight of this power provided them with a mace with which to carve their own individual paths. The government, …show more content…
Because the people were afraid of living under a tyrant, they transformed into a disjointed society of tyrants themselves. The desperate need for a new government arose. And thus, the Constitution was born. But how did the Constitution serve as a loyal guard dog against the great ugly beast of tyranny? For tyranny is indeed like a power-hungry monster; when a concentrated amount of leadership, privileges, and governorship falls into the claws of one person or even a group of such people, they are transformed into the ugly tyrannous beast. The Constitution, however, nips fiercely at the heels of tyranny, bringing the beast swiftly and effectively down to its knees. The three primary manners in which the Constitution does such a thing are federalism, separation of powers, and, of course, with the aid of the brilliant minds of its framers. One of the many locks on the beast’s cage is Federalism. According to Dictionary.com, Federalism is defined as: “the nature of a union of states under a central government …show more content…
“...(L)iberty requires that the three great departments of power should be separate and distinct,” explains James Madison in Federalist Paper #47. By this he means that, similarly to the division of powers between federal and state governments, each branch of the federal government has its own responsibilities, separate from those of the other branches. This ensures that no one branch gains authority over another. For example, if a man were to serve in the House of Representatives, he would not be allowed to serve in the Supreme court, and vice-versa (Document B). If this were possible, one man could then hold sway over multiple branches, allowing him unfair superiority over his intended equals. This frighteningly resembles tyranny, and is defended against by simply separating the powers of the three branches. For example, the executive power is “vested in a President of the United states,” and no other (Document B). It is not the responsibility of the Supreme Court, nor is it the responsibility of Congress. Only the President holds this power, ensuring that he is fully in charge here. Furthermore, the President must not become wrapped up in legislative matters or serve on the Supreme Court. This ensures that the power in his fist does not grow too great. [closing