Chp 9 What were the basic features of the new Constitution, and how did they differ from the government under the Articles of Confederation? How can you relate this to the Federalists and the anti-Federalists? Why did the Federalists win?
Clemmer  
 

The new Constitution was an improvement on the Articles of Confederation by providing a solid, universal government for the entire country. Improvements that the Constitution made allowed the Federalists to win out over the anti-Federalists because the reality of having a structured Federal government was essential to the success of the new country. In the Articles of Confederation, there existed a loose confederation of states. Only one vote was allowed for each state in Congress (one house) and a 2/3 vote was required to pass all important measures. The laws were executed by a committee of Congress, and more importantly, commerce and the power to levy taxes was under the control of Congress. The lack of federal courts and unanimity of all the states was required to amend. Under the Constitution, there was a system of checks and balances with a firm and strong central government. Congress was separated into two houses, the Senate and the House. Only a simple majority was required to pass laws. Composed of the dominate legislative branch, combined with the executive and judicial branches made the new Constitution a more realistic structure for government.

            Debate between the Federalists and the anti-Federalists centered on the new Constitution and its ratification. Those who favored the Constitution (Federalists including the founding fathers), were the more respectable people, settled down in the civilized urban areas of town. Conversely, the anti-Federalists were a motley crowd of illiterates who still believed in the revolutionary idea. They were under the impression that the upper crust of society was going to put one over on them and establish a situation not dissimilar from the colonial days. Their main argument was that the sovereignty of the states was at stake with the Constitution. Being trapped again was not a popular option. Hot debate would wage on forcing the decision onto the people, forcing them to make the decision of changing their revolutionary standards to those conducive of a successful nation.

            This great dilemma aroused great debate between the two sides. Each state had their own forum pitting a Federalist against an anti-Federalist. Deciding whether or not the state would ratify the new Constitution depended greatly on how convincing each side presented their case to the people. After Delaware’s ratification, Pennsylvania and some smaller states ratified. The great test came with the second most populous state, provided the greatest test of all. If they couldn’t ratify the new Constitution that was created by those who claimed to be the home of some of the most renowned Federalists, the entire ratification process would be doomed for failure. At first, the Shaysites and the anti-Federalists held the majority. They didn’t want to change and give a central government another opportunity to dominate states’ rights. Only after assurance of the creation of a Bill of Rights did the ratification process go forth. This triumph marked the victory for the Federalists, the new Constitution and the United States of America.
Fodor  
 

The Articles of Confederation was created just after the thirteen colonies gained their independence from the British.  Although it did link the thirteen states together, it was relatively unstable, with only one central power.  The new Constitution was then created to replace the Articles of Confederation.  The population did not all agree with this constitution.  From this difference in belief emerged the federalists and the ant-federalists.  In the end the federalists were able to succeed and the Constitution was adopted by all thirteen states.

            The new Constitution had a few basic characteristics.  One part of the Constitution granted a strong executive to be the president.  The president would also be the military commander in chief and would have the power to appoint people to different offices.  Another basic part of the Constitution was the rule that presidents would be elected by the Electoral College, instead of by direct methods.  The Constitution also stated that a slave would count as three-fifths of a person.  This “three-fifths compromise” was put into place because of the South’s desire to have slaves, the majority of their population, be included in their population count.  The democratic part of the Constitution stated that the only true government was one established on the people who were being governed.  This part also declared that every branch of the government, or the executive, judiciary, and legislature were all necessary to represent the people.  Checks and balances would control these three powers in order to keep one of them from becoming too powerful.  The Articles of Confederation were different from this new Constitution because they had the Congress be the center of the government.  Also it gave each state one vote, rather than a vote that corresponded with the population of that state. 

            The antifederalist and the federalist groups emerged after the creation of the new constitution.  Antifederalists were those who did not agree with the new constitution and its principals of having a stronger federal government.  Federalists were the people who supported this new Constitution.  The anti-federalists mainly consisted of the poorer classes and of debtors who believed a stronger central government would force them to pay their debts.  A large amount of these people held the general belief that the upper classes were conniving against the poorer, common people since the aristocratic groups mainly drafted it.  The federalist groups were more respectable, wealthy people who supported the new Constitution.  Some of these people were even former loyalists. 

            The Federalist Party in the end won and the new Constitution was put into action.  Before this, each state had to decide if they were going to accept the Constitution or not.  Some of the states, for example, Massachusetts, decided to ratify the Constitution because it was either this new Constitution, or the weak Articles of Confederation.  The one part that alarmed the people was the absence of a Bill of Rights.  By June 21, 1788 the Constitution was adopted by nine states.  The other four states had heavy debates and conventions in order to decide if they would also accept the Constitution.  Eventually every state ratified the new Constitution in place of the Articles of Confederation.   

Ortiz  
 

The new Constitution was basically a Conservative victory. It made the executive, judiciary, and legislature strong so that there could be a system of checks and balances between them. It also deliberately created safeguards against the “mob.” Federal judges were appointed for life. The president was indirectly elected by the Electoral College and the senators indirectly by state legislatures. Only the House of Representatives officials were elected by direct vote. The new Constitution created a strong federal government when compared to the loose Articles of Confederation.

            The Articles of Confederation were very different from the Constitution. They provided a “firm league of friendship” rather than a central government. The Federal government was so weak under the Articles of Confederation that they couldn’t even collect taxes or regulate commerce. These things were bad for the states because taxes would have paid for roads and other federally funded projects. Also, since Congress couldn’t regulate commerce, the states were left to establish conflicting laws regarding tariffs and navigation. Congress was seriously crippled by the fact that each state had one vote and that amendments of the Articles required a unanimous vote. A unanimous vote is impossible, and the amending process was rendered completely useless. “All bills dealing with specified subjects of importance required at least a two-thirds vote.” (172)  

            Although quite pathetic, the Articles of Confederation were “a landmark in government.” (173) They were a large step forward from European governments and Thomas Jefferson hailed the Articles of Confederation. Although this was praiseworthy, America’s difficult beginnings required a federation. States had to give up their rights in order to have a strong federal government that would work in the people’s best interests. The Articles of Confederation also laid a great foundation for today’s Constitution in that it outlined the general powers that were to be exercised by the central government, such as making treaties and establishing a postal service. It also kept the ideal of union alive until a permanent solution could be found. The Articles of Confederation also took a lot of power from the states and without this document, they would have never accepted the Constitution of the United States (which completely limited states’ power to local affairs.)
Ponder  
   
Proto  
 
  In 1776, the Continental Congress incited a democratic fervor to create a government throughout each of the old colonies.  With the exception of Rhode Island as well as Connecticut, the desire to create governments was the main focus of this new nation.  Massachusetts allowed its citizens to ratify their own constitution.  This was a remarkable leap for the new country as well as other nations alike.  The creation of a strong legislature established written law that represented fundamental law that was far superior to the prior legislation.  The power was then left in the hands of the legislature but was soon shifted into a keener balance much later on.
                  There were many substantial changes in the economy.  The economic democracy did precede political democracy, which was a fact that led the United States to avoid excess as much as possible.  Though America was forced to make many of the formally imported goods themselves, they kept the notion of soil tilling.  Drawbacks ranged from looking for new customers and dealing with the navigation laws.  This opened up new market and in 1783; the empress of china gave a large amount of ginseng into the Far East Asian market.  Insane inflation resulted in horrible economic conditions after the war than prior to it.
                  With absolutely no help, the Americans had a very hard time getting started with the political structure inclined to start experimenting and innovating.  There was no commonality between the common people, which made the task of forming a government even the more difficult.  In 1786, the surpluses that Britain flooded the American market with were overwhelming.  The leadership of Adams, Washington, Madison, Jefferson, as well as the political inheritance of the British promised much better living conditions.
                  The Second Continental Congress had no power what so ever and was little more than a meeting of executives.  The creation of The Articles of Confederation paved the way for a real government by persuading the French at the battle of Saratoga. The main dilemma was over western lands, with six states being completely without any new territory.  These states wanted the central government to control this land, but since it was under the articles of confederation, this was impossible without the approval of each of the 13 states.  Finally, in 1781 Maryland succeeded and the central government promised to distribute everything for the good of the people.  This pledge was later taken back by the northwest ordinance of 1787.  This reinitiated the national belief as people looked to the nation’s capitol rather than the individual state capitals.
                  The Article of Confederation provided for a loose confederation as a result of what they felt was the tyrannical rule of England.  Each state had an equal part, and all bills were required a unanimous approval.  The only good thing that came of this was force the country to change its whole policy.  The two weaknesses of congress included a lack of regulating commerce, which allowed different states to create conflicting laws and tariffs.
Schepman  
 

The newly formed United States of America was faced with a challenge.  They had to quickly establish a unique form of government that would appeal to as many Americans as possible.  Officials, including Ben Franklin, met for many long hours, and drafted the Continental Congress.  This was a tentative form of government that was based on basic self-ruling principles.  It wasn’t, however, a concrete, lasting form.  It was revised, however, and replaced with the Constitution.  The Constitution focused on God-given freedoms, and reverted back to the classic philosophers’ ideals.  This newly-drafted Constitution was much different from the Articles of Confederation, in that it was much more structured, and logical. 

            The Federalists were Americans who wanted to have one solid government, as opposed to separate state-run governments, as the Anti-Federalists preferred.  The Federalists were able to have their way in the newly formed democracy, however, compromises were made.  A system of checks and balances was created, so that none of the three branches of government had too much power over the other.  State governments were also established; however, were overseen by the executor, or President.  These newly formed stipulations, as stated in the Constitution, were based upon man’s free will, (a revolutionary philosophy aroused during the Great Awakening.)

            The Constitution was a revolutionary document, and is the most revered document in American history, largely because of its focus on human rights and God-given freedoms.  The Constitution was created because the Articles of Confederation were not firm enough a foundation for a strong government to be built upon.  They did not focus on the rights of man, nor did they formulate a plan for any type of division of powers.  The Articles of Confederation were rightfully re-thought, in accordance to proper proceedings.

            The new Constitution applied many aspects of classical government, such as the Greeks and the Romans.  John Locke’s principals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were also strongly implemented, by Jefferson, who wrote the piece.  It also included such revolutionary ideals as “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”  Although at the time, “all men” meant white landowners, it has become an elastic definition throughout the ages, and is now perceived as meaning, “… all men and women of all colors and creeds are created equal.”  The thought, however, of anyone being equal to another during this time, however, was truly remarkable, and quite advanced.

            The Constitution was, and still is, a remarkable piece of American culture.  It is a constant reminder of the forefathers who fought and died to save America’s integrity and honesty, as well as American ideals and values.  The Americans needed to break off from the stifling British rule in order to procure a government which they so desperately wanted.