question 1

thesis

how collective action problems drive expansion of governmental power, specifically during periods of nationalization

roadmap

1) weakness of articles of confederation 2) increase in federal authority during industrial/post-industrial era

period 1: pro-constitution and ratification era, collective action problems

economic fragmentation, national defense and foreign policy weakness, domestic unrest

economic fragmentation

states impose tariffs on one another to harm interstate commerce, lack of national currency

national defense and foreign policy weakness

states don’t help with national defense, difficulty to enforce treaties/defend foreign threats

domestic unrest

shays rebellion highlighted weakness in federal authority

period 1: pro constitution and ratification era, constitutional solutions

strong executive/judiciary, commerce clause, supremacy clause

strong executive/judiciary

addressed enforcement and conflict interstate

commerce clause, taxing powers

congressional power to regulate interstate commerce and taxes

supremacy clause

federal law now trumps state law

period 2: late 19th-20th century nationalization, modern era collective action problems

industrialization/economic regulation, social welfare and great depression, civil rights

industrialization/economic regulation

major need for standardized labor, safety regulations, anti-trust enforcement (sherman anti-trust act)

social welfare and great depression

lack of relief, uneven distribution of social programs created disparities

civil rights

southern states didn’t protect civil rights, national action was required

period 2: 19th-20th century nationalization, institutional/policy responses

administrative growth, new deal programs, judicial support for federal expansion, civil rights

administrative growth

creation of federal agencies to enforce national policy

new deal programs

social security, unemployment, welfare

judicial support for federal expansion

supreme court now upholds broad interpretations of commerce clause

civil rights

civil rights protections are now federally enforced