One of the most influential countries of the world, the Unites States has only appeared on the global stage as a superpower in the last hundred years or so. Their economic decisions resonate through the world market and their navy keeps the seas shipping lanes free for all nations usage. They are looked to as enforcer of peace and freedom, from fighting communism in Korea to counteracting terrorism in the Middle East. However, this was not always the case. To see how these wonders were eventually achieved it is necessary to look into the past, more specifically their first hundred years as a nation, 1776 to 1876. This successful foundation century should be lionized for overcoming near impossible foreign and domestic obstacles, expanding …show more content…
The first task set before the fledgling nation was to create a government, from scratch, not seen in two thousand years. The leaders had no model for which to base the new government off of and most did not want a strong government because of the fear that it would become a tyranny like England’s had. Regardless of these setbacks in November 1777 the delegates of the Continental Congress ratified America’s first constitution, The Articles of Confederation( History.com). From the beginning sectional differences were apparent and arose because of the multiple regions of the country. The south’s economy relied heavily on cash crops such as cotton and tobacco while the North contained 85% of all factories in the US( Civil War). Thus bringing about the issue of slavery and unfortunately the Civil War when an agreement could not be reached. This war would tear apart the nation pitting family members against each other and leaving behind a swath a destruction. By the end, 620,000 people had lost their lives, but America overcame the …show more content…
Without it is possible that they would never have emerged as a superpower. The Louisiana purchase and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo purchase were acquired in 1803 and 1848 respectively. These two land purchase were the result of strong negotiations and a dominate win by a growing military over Mexico in the Mexican American war. Between the two of them they account for a little over a third of the United States current land coming in at 1,353,000 square miles(Office of the Historian). The population was still continuing to double about every twenty five years and with this influx of people the land would have been over crowded (Bailey, Cohen, Kennedy 308). However, with the purchase of land from other countries people were able to spread out westward. To further increase settlement Congress passed the Land act of 1820 allowing for eighty acres to be bought at a dollar twenty-five per acre.( Bailey, Cohen, Kennedy 259). As more settlers moved west the population center also shifted westward showing the migration trend away from the coast. Furthermore, expansion unlocked a plethora of natural resources. The fertile soil of the Midwest has made it known as America’s breadbasket. The food coming out of the region allowed for the population growth and industrialization in the north by providing enough food so that they only need to work in factories. Along with soil the land provided swaths
Before the U.S. Constitution there was the Articles of Confederation. The document could declare war, negotiate treaties, and control foreign affairs. It couldn’t enforce laws, tax, and raise its own army. What the Articles Of Confederation lacked was a strong central government. Alexander Hamilton called for a constitutional convention in 1786, and it took place in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787.
After fighting for America’s independence the nation was faced with the situation of developing their own government; with that idea the Articles of Confederation were made as a way to define the government’s structure. With the articles came dysfunction, and a lack of authority. Consequently the dysfunction caused division in the nation, separating the people into two political parties, Federalist and anti-federalist. The parties developed over time and discord, with the development of the Constitution into the Federalist Party and the Democratic Republican Party. The two parties, the Federalist, and the Democratic Republicans, based on their backgrounds and means of income, opposed each other with differing political and economic views.
To understand the American politics and culture today, it is important to know the countries story. The years 1846-48 are some of the most important years of its history and geographical changes. To fully understand this, you must have some prior knowledge.
Before the Articles of Confederation and their problems, America was (somewhat) whole. Because of the Articles of Confederation, the population was split into two groups: federalists, and antifederalists, both with differing views. The political, economic, and social views of the nation were quite different. Because of the Articles of Confederation, the Great Compromise was created, and, consequently, Congress was made.
When the thirteen colonies declared their independence from Britain, they no longer had a government or authority to rule. So, the Articles of Confederation was created and became the first constitution to govern the United States. This plan was created in order to organize the nation and fight the Revolutionary War for independence. The Articles of Confederation had many weaknesses such as the government only had one branch that only created laws and did not have branches to execute, interpret, or enforce the laws. As a result, the Confederation failed the nation and it was abolished then a new constitution was created entitled the U.S Constitution.
The first government of the United States was outlined in the Articles of Confederation written in 1871. Under this system, the states operated as sovereign nations. The weak national government, which consisted of nothing more than a unicameral legislature, did not have the authority to tax the states, settle interstate disputes or effectively support a military. Following the Revolutionary War, the inadequacies of the national government became apparent. This led to the drafting of the Constitution in 1787.
The Articles of Confederation were drafted and written between the years 1776 and 1777. The main issue that the new nation experienced under the Articles of Confederation was that there was a central weak central government with the majority of the power being held individually by each state. Additionally during this time period, American Colonists were still fighting for their independence. As with any governmental system, the more separation there is between ruling powers, the more distance and conflict there will be. Unlike today where there are separate branches of the government, the Articles of Confederation didn't provide any separation between the different parts of the government.
There was no regulation of trade and each state printed its own currency. This resulted in an un-stable and inconsistent economy. In 1787 55 delegates from the states met with the purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation. What actually took place that day was the creation of something that would remain our governments foundation for many years. The question facing the delegates was what should the new government be based on? There were two plans that were considered, the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan.
The Federalist Papers were, and still are, very important to American History. These series of essays, mostly written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, were published to persuade Americans to ratify the new constitution. The new constitution would replace the Articles of Confederation, what the American’s had been living under at the time. The constitution highlighted an issue that the articles did not; empowering the central government like never before. Allowing the central government to act in the interest of the United States.
Brittany Morrison H340- Professor Cappello October 30, 2017 Letter to James Duane Alexander Hamilton September 03, 1780 The American Constitution is a vital segment of the United States’ foundation-- it was the premise of a unique government that did not exist before its time. Although, prior to the Constitution The Founding Fathers of the United States sought to establish a government that would not exploit the American people the way the British government had done so. With considerable fear of corruption, standing armies and lack of representation the Articles of Confederation was enacted. At the outset, the A.O.C had achieved exactly what it was written to do-- supply the governed people with the power over the government.
Slavery in the U.S. Constitution After the Unites States declared Independence from Great Britain in 1776, they greatly feared a strong national government that would be like a monarchy like the one Great Britain had. To prevent this tyrannical government from happening in the U.S., a convention of delegates from all thirteen states were brought together to create the U.S.’s first written constitution: the Articles of Confederation. This convention was called the Continental Congress. The Articles of Confederation focused on having a federal government, or a loose alliance of the states.
The new constitution, a document granting the framework for a new democratic government, replacing the Articles of the Confederation. This new document gained approval from some of the citizens, but also raised questions and concerns from others. There was a constant back and forth between the two groups on whether or not the constitution should be ratified. This editorial provides historical background on the issue and expresses my opinion on which side I would’ve chosen.
US History Test #2 The United States Constitution responded effectively to the weaknesses of the Article of Confederation, and provided important “checks” on power distributed among the three branches within the new, more powerful federal government. The Articles of Confederation left out very important powers that were later added in the United states Constitution like “Checks and Balances” which allow the three branches to almost have equal power. Each of the branches have the power to keep a bill from becoming a law. These “Checks” can also be a bad thing when a government becomes gridlocked.
Throughout the era between the years 1790 to 1840, the United States withstood numerous involvements in their political system by both factors within their country and as far as an ocean away. These various influences immensely contributed to moulding and creating America’s government system. The political affairs that occurred within the United States were in one way or another connected to the unsolved issues of political parties within the country. For example, after the War of 1812, Jackson introduced what is known as the Spoils System, which specifically targeted the political supporters of the Democrats and rewarded campaign contributors with positions in public office rather than to those who were qualified for the position.
The United States has undergone major transitional phases in order to become the country it is today. One of its greatest periods of change occurred in the years 1865 to 1940, in which the U.S.’s growing emphasis on strong economic policy changed its interactions with foreign countries, its image to foreign countries, and what role it’s willing to play in the world. These tireless efforts to become an economic powerhouse was a major driving force in the U.S. actions during this time and ultimately allowed it to change its image on the global stage from a new. To begin to understand what caused these dramatic changes in the how the U.S. interacts with the rest of the world, it is imperative to understand the origins of its more capitalist roots,