As a new republic, we cannot afford to make the same mistake twice when establishing the law of the land for our government. The weaknesses and flaws in the Articles of Confederation were evident when Shay’s rebellion arose not long ago in Massachusetts. How do we protect the law-abiding citizen from enemies, both foreign and domestic, who seek to disrupt the Liberty of the United States and jeopardize our security? The Constitution of the United States Article 1, Section 8, Clause 12 state, “The Congress shall have Power To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years.” We the people of the United States must ratify the Constitution in order to create a Standing Army that provide security against both internal and external threats of America. …show more content…
Shay and his men rebelled by seizing the arms at the Springfield, Massachusetts armory and creating havoc in the region. The popularity of Shay’s rebellion grew as more farmers joined the rebellion against the state. Finally, a force of militiamen stopped the rebellion. How do we insure the liberty of those who are affected by these local rebellions? An organized Standing Army would insure the security of the people in the United States. Montesquieu’s The Spirit of Laws suggests, “The armies with which it is entrusted should consist of the people, the legislative power should have a right to disband them as soon as it pleased.” Therefore, the Congress, the people’s government, has the power to create and disband a Standing Army if necessary. We must first secure the people’s liberty from internal
As seen in the earlier paper, the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation played a significant role in the development and progression of the United States of America. Although the Federalist were involved in the transformation as well, one must also have an insight as what was occurring during the time of the switch. As one knows now, both documents relate to one another, and were intended to service America and protect the people’s freedom by imposing the law. The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, because it was not stable, it limited the power of Congress, and limited the National government.
In 1786, Daniel Shays, like other farmers, was with his inability to pay high debts. So, out of anger, formed a group of farmers who were frustrated too. The national government didn’t have a right or means to raise any army, so the governor of Massachusett formed an army on his own. New laws were drafted, which offered welcome relief to all of the debtors. But in the end, the rebellion helped highlight issues with the articles of confederation.
Just as you have to look back on the past to understand the present, you must go back to the roots of Shay’s Rebellion to finalize your decision. The Articles of Confederation maintained the policy of the national government not holding more power than the states. It satisfied the worries that the people of the states had about a strong central power as they previously had with Britain before the Declaration Of Independence. There was no federal power as the people feared that giving someone that much power would be disastrous and it was decided that congress would handle all the nation’s matters. It may have seemed like an effective set of rules for the nation, but it turned down hill as we begin to see flaws in this constitution.
“Richard Henry Lee’s Objection to the Constitution” and James Madison’s “The Federalist No. 51” contend about the positive and negative effects of the Constitution. Both essays are important documents for early American history, and both contain valid points. James Madison, however, presents the better argument with his diplomatic, content, and logical approach. “The Federalist No. 51” begins with a question about how America can properly divide government power (Madison 1). Madison believes the Constitution is the answer because it gives the foundations and tools to keeping the power of the government for the people.
What were the biggest downfalls or deficiencies of the American military system during the War of 1812? What attempts were made to correct these problems? Were they successful? The American military system had three major deficiencies during the War of 1812.
The first constitution of the United States was called the Articles of Confederation, ratified on March 1, 1781. These articles gave supreme power to the states, followed by a weak central government. The central government was unicameral, meaning there was no executive or judicial branch and all federal power came from Congress. Congress was made up of two to seven members per state and each state contributed one vote each. members Congress were appointed by state legislatures and held a term of one year.
Article of Confederation was created on March 1, 1781 by Antifederalists. The government of United States was weak after the Articles of Confederation. Anti Federalists created the Articles of Confederation because they believed that the government would become to strong and wouldn’t care about people having equal rights and this gave states their power of making their own rules toward equality and taxes. This made the government a nationally weak system with bits of power in hand. After the Article of Confederation the states had much more power and ability to make their own policies.
In November 15, 1777, the Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation which served as the first Constitution of the United States and it was sent all the 13 states for ratification. It took almost 4 years before all the 13 states agreed on the ratification of the Articles of Confederation. Maryland was the last state to ratify which made the delay. The Articles of Confederation was finally ratified on March 1, 1781. In the Articles of Confederation, the states remained independent and self-governing, and the Legislative body was the last resort when the concern was the appeal of disputes.
The Articles of Confederation was the colonies first plan for government during the American Revolution. However, it weakened the unity of the government and the effects of this were events such as, the Treaty of Paris 1783, the Annapolis Convention, and Shay’s Rebellion, that caused leaders to want to revise the Articles. It separated the thirteen states into their own territory under congress and there was no real federal influence. In Article III, it states, “The States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general warfare.” The Articles of Confederation were formed around this idea, to have as little influence on the colonies
Gabriela Velazques Professor Peshkoff 28 October 2015 The Articles of Confederation: States prevail, Congress fails to The Article of Confederation was a promise for united colonies, but it did not take long for the promise to change. The colonies had no clear intentions of running as a union due to its previous history with Great Britain. Colonies wanted to remain together, just not under one authority. The Articles of Confederation remained as the first constitution of the United States for less than a decade after various disagreements arose between states, and also Congress.
The YouTube video addresses the historical period concerning the U.S. Constitution and how it was developed after the Articles of Confederation. The Government under the Articles of Confederation only lasted for ten years and the government did not have much power. The states did not have president, there was no legislation and they could not collect taxes from the states. The Government was designed to be weak due the fear that was left behind by harsh British rule. The government was able the declare war, make treaties and handle foreign affairs.
“A well regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”. While maintaining a militia to protect the country, every colonist can own a gun for protection of themselves and their families. We want to ensure the basic right to bear arms we enjoyed as Englishmen remains because we were denied this right when we began to rise up against British authority in the colonies. It is important for us to be equally as armed as the government so we can rebel against the government if they overstep the boundaries in place by the Constitution. It is the right of the people to alter or abolish the government if it becomes
But I will also recognize that our current government clearly needs more power after the rebellion of the Massachusetts farmer, Daniel Shays. With that being said, after the formation of the constitution I am implored to bring some of the issues it contains to light. If the ratification of the constitution is to occur, the framers must consider an addition of a Bill of Rights, reconsider the means of representation for the citizens, and reassess the power given to the federal government.
In need of help, the farmers sought aid from the government, which seemed to be ignored, eventually leading to intense frustration and erupting in violence. A group of farmers in Massachusetts lead by Daniel Shays, growing to nearly 2,500, rallied to demand change, but ultimately ended with the violent clash between the group and the state militia (Shea, Green, Smith 52). Shay’s Rebellion highlighted the gaping flaws of the Articles and in the months following, lead to a meeting to revise the Articles, known as the Constitutional Convention. “In late May 1787, some 55 delegates from every state except Rhode Island came together at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia for the purpose of proposing changes to the Articles of Confederation. Congress … did not expect that the Articles
Following the Revolutionary War, America had just gained independance from Great Britain and needed to form a new government. The Articles of Confederation were established as an attempt to create a government that was unlike Britain’s. Unfortunately, the Articles of Confederation had several weaknesses. When in the process of repairing those weaknesses, the Federalists and the Anti-federalists formed. The Articles of Confederation were very weak as well as useless to America and because of this, the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists could not agree on a new type of government.