First & Second Founding & Federlism

Key Events Leading to Revolution

  • Boston Tea Party:

    • Triggered by the Tea Act (which established monopolistic control over the tea trade via the British East India Trading Company).

    • Resulted in wealthy colonists dumping 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor (equivalent to £18,000 or roughly $5 million today).

  • Declaration of Independence Importance:

    • Symbolizes the birth of a nation and expresses universal rights ideals, though originally only applicable to white, property-owning men.

    • Influential for modern human rights discussions, written in 1776, citing grievances against British authorities (e.g., taxation without representation).

Philosophical Underpinnings

  • Natural Rights:

    • Concept promoted by John Locke, stating all humans have rights to life, liberty, and property; adapted by colonists to include the pursuit of happiness.

  • Sovereignty:

    • Definition: The right of a government to govern itself or make its own choices.

    • Political sovereignty includes choosing government form, implying that every country has control over its territory.

Articles of Confederation

  • Creation and Structure:

    • Crafted in 1777 as the first governing document.

    • Main goals: prevent tyranny by limiting central government power and ensuring state sovereignty.

    • Resulted in a weak national government unable to enforce laws or treaties effectively.

  • Key Weaknesses:

    • No executive branch; only a Congress.

    • Equal representation, regardless of population, leading to governance challenges.

    • Difficulty in passing laws and implementing them across varied state interests.

  • Shays' Rebellion as a Catalyst:

    • Armed uprising by disgruntled soldiers over unpaid debts and tax burdens after the Revolutionary War, highlighting the weakness of the Articles.

Constitutional Convention

  • Need for Revision:

    • Articles did not address political discord effectively; led to calls for a new system of government.

  • Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan:

    • Virginia Plan: Bicameral legislature based on state population; favored large states.

    • New Jersey Plan: Unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states; favored small states.

  • Great Compromise:

    • Resulting agreement led to the creation of a bicameral legislature with:

    • Equal representation in the Senate (2 senators per state).

    • Proportional representation based on population in the House.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

  • Context: Addressed representation of slaves in Congress.

  • If a state had five enslaved individuals, only three would count for representation and taxation.

  • This compromise was critical for states with large enslaved populations, essentially increasing their political power despite ethical concerns.

Federalism Defined

  • Federal System vs. Unitary System:

    • Federalism: Power divided among federal, state, and local governments.

    • Unitary: Central government holds primary power with authority over the entire nation.

  • Advantages of Federalism:

    • Corrects previous weaknesses by distributing governmental powers while maintaining local autonomy.

  • Laboratories of Democracy Concept:

    • States can experiment with different policies, influencing national decisions (e.g., legalization of marijuana, gambling laws).

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

  • Federalists: Advocated for a stronger national government, supported the Constitution, mostly from wealthier classes (merchants, landowners).

    • Concerns over the inefficacy of the Articles of Confederation and potential for mob rule.

  • Anti-Federalists: Wanted to preserve state powers with fears of tyranny from a distant national government; comprised of common folk (farmers, debtors).

    • Less organized, ultimately losing out to Federalists during the ratification process.