Founding Fathers Essay
- Submitted by: proudwolverine
- Views: 344
- Category: History
- Date Submitted: 12/17/2014 07:07 PM
- Pages: 7
- Report this Essay
Name Here
Teacher Name Here
Founding Fathers Essay
October 15, 2014
After gaining their freedom from Britain, colonists feared strong national government that was powerful enough to suppress individual state governments. As a result, the Articles of Confederation were drafted. However, because it restricted the power to collect taxes, regulate trade, and conduct foreign policy, the central government was weak and ineffective, and it became clear that changes were necessary. In 1787, delegates from the colonies met at the Constitutional Convention to discuss the problems, develop an effective plan of government, and resolve divisive issues regarding governmental power and democracy.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention knew the Articles of Confederation made a weak government and understood revision was necessary, but they were divided on whether authority should be given to the national government or if power should remain in the state governments. Alexander Hamilton proposed a powerful national government and argued that competing governments would result in bad government or no government at all (Thomas Ladenburg, pg 42). He said that state governments should not make laws, merely administer those made by the government. James Wilson agreed and added that a strong national government was necessary to prevent states from asserting their independence, and James Madison said a powerful national government would serve to control states from pursuing their individual interests, which would result in disagreements and disputes among the states, weakening the nation. (Thomas Ladenburg, pg 43).
Alexander Martin, John Lansing, and George Mason were opposed to a powerful central government. Martin pointed out that the purpose of a national government was to protect the states, and abolishing their governments would be contrary to that objective. He believed the job of national government was to defend the states against foreign enemies and...
Teacher Name Here
Founding Fathers Essay
October 15, 2014
After gaining their freedom from Britain, colonists feared strong national government that was powerful enough to suppress individual state governments. As a result, the Articles of Confederation were drafted. However, because it restricted the power to collect taxes, regulate trade, and conduct foreign policy, the central government was weak and ineffective, and it became clear that changes were necessary. In 1787, delegates from the colonies met at the Constitutional Convention to discuss the problems, develop an effective plan of government, and resolve divisive issues regarding governmental power and democracy.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention knew the Articles of Confederation made a weak government and understood revision was necessary, but they were divided on whether authority should be given to the national government or if power should remain in the state governments. Alexander Hamilton proposed a powerful national government and argued that competing governments would result in bad government or no government at all (Thomas Ladenburg, pg 42). He said that state governments should not make laws, merely administer those made by the government. James Wilson agreed and added that a strong national government was necessary to prevent states from asserting their independence, and James Madison said a powerful national government would serve to control states from pursuing their individual interests, which would result in disagreements and disputes among the states, weakening the nation. (Thomas Ladenburg, pg 43).
Alexander Martin, John Lansing, and George Mason were opposed to a powerful central government. Martin pointed out that the purpose of a national government was to protect the states, and abolishing their governments would be contrary to that objective. He believed the job of national government was to defend the states against foreign enemies and...