Many political thinkers during the late 1700’s were inspired by Radical Whig ideology. Patrick Henry was an American politician and Governor …show more content…
The Constitution functions to allow three branches of national government; legislative, judicial and executive and establishes a system of checks and balances between the branches to prevent what Radical Whigs feared most. While the Constitution does give more back to the federal government, it still has the fundamental value of preventing power for being distributed unequally. The checks and balance system separates the powers between each branch so that one branch “checks” another to make sure they do only what is meant for them to do, preventing branches from overpowering the other two. For instance, the legislative branch is able to override presidential vetoes, approve of various appointments and declare war. The executive branch can check the legislative branch with vetoes and calling emergency sessions of Congress. The executive branch appoints members of the judicial branch, which can also be considered a check. Given the checks and balances and the ability for the people to be represented through voting are main reason states still have significant power under the Constitution. The radical whigs would be proud of the constitution regarding the separation of powers, considering the Framers believed Radical Whig …show more content…
The Radical Whig ideology is the basis of Republicanism; the reason people wanted representation is because the direct fear of an oppressive form of government. Political thinkers, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution leave a Radical Whig footprint in American History. Famous speeches from intellectuals like, George Washington and Patrick Henry represented the presence of fear in a government that could transition into a tyrannical system of governance. The Articles proved to be an unreliable form of government as well but, was an initial safeguard for states to be protected form an overpowered federal government. The Constitution provided a balance for government that separated powers to ensure the rights of an individual and the state. Salutary Neglect does not account for the rising tensions between the two, while the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution inherently prove Radical Whig Ideology caused rising tensions between Great Britain and the