The Conglomerate Constitution Essay Example

With the dawning of a new age in America, the call for unity and central authority to strengthen the states is greater than ever. As we move away from British rule and continue to establish ourselves as a nation and a people, I feel we must look on our previous conditions and ruling power to get a sense of who we want to be. The overarching monarchy was the source of a lot of indignation for the American people even with the figurehead of a state government put in place by the monarchy only to pay taxes to the crown. So, with separation from Britain, we need to make clear that our central government does not have ultimate power if formed, but yet is there to unify the states and serve the people. For these views, many would call me a Federalist, but be sure this idea wasn't a hasty realization, many events in our history have led me to this conclusion with our very own Constitution on the rise. 

Peering into the past to consider our future is a very imperative part of making newly informed decisions on how to proceed. For this, I looked back to many defining eras as a people and the significance of the enlightenment hit me first. This philosophical movement that occurred in 18th century Europe centered around the ideas of reason, skepticism, and individualism. The enlightenment advocated for constitutional government, separation of church and state, liberty, and progress, Hamilton himself even recounting finding enlightenment ideas everywhere he traveled. These ideas pushed forwards that the government should promote the good of the people, that a “good political order could prevent the rise of tyrants”(Norton 108). Enlightenment itself holds a very imperative view on liberty and freedoms but also detailed the advocacy benefits for a constitutional government that was for the people.

Keeping the interest of the people was a hot topic and as a result, republicanism soon started to take place among the common people. John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon wrote that political power was always to be feared in their essay called, Cato’s Letters, only creating a larger distaste for the tightening British powers instead of all government. Republicanism is the idea that the people, whether it be directly or indirectly, are the main source of decision-making and authority, electing representatives to make laws in their best interests. Republicanism has proved to be an excellent asset as well as a horrible opposition to the constitution, advocating for smaller state powers instead of a central government, but eventually taking the core ideas and applying them to what would be an overarching governmental power. 

Thomas Paine was another notable figure that helped the idea of American independence, getting the attention and educating the American people. In 1776 he published a pamphlet titled, Common Sense, which promoted the idea of American separation from other powers, stating that American colonies needed to break with England to survive. “[D]o We aim at independence? or do We only ask for a Restoration of Rights putting of Us on Our old footing?”(Norton 153). This push to separate from England was another point in history that led us to the influential Articles of Confederation which declared the United States independent from Great Britain, stating the functions of the national government. American people were on the same page, experiencing the nation as an independent entity and being able to witness their own national government for the first time. 

Newfound independence for the American people would soon lead to the formation of our ideas on government, bringing the idea of the new constitution into the forefront. This held the idea that no singular person had the right to posess too much power or authority in the government, keeping our previous monarchy rule in mind. For this to be achieved, there would be a separation of powers within the government, being split into three different branches of power. There is the legislative, executive, and judicial branch, splitting it up this way is to ensure that the citizen’s rights are protected and have a decisive structure of the government. With these so-called checks and balances put in place to protect the people, having a larger centralized government can enable unity and create a stronger nation, but that does not mean each state should not have some of its liberties. Having overall laws and rules, but allowing each state to make limited decisions within its own boundaries is a good idea to keep powers balanced.

James Madison then made the Bill of Rights, being the first ten amendments of the Constitution., outlining the specifics of governmental rule. This is pivotal for the creation and advocacy of the Constitution, coming together with inherent rules and liberties given to all of the American people is very influential in the petition to ratify. There was some quarrel between the Northern and Southern States about the slave population and how it would be counted for in deciding direct taxation. We all came to the 3/5ths agreement, agreeing that 3/5sths of the slave population would be counted. It wasn't what we had wanted, but it was a compromise that would push the ratification of the Constitution much further.

To ratify the Constitution would be a huge step in the right direction for the independence of America, but many would argue that we would be falling back into the same patterns with Britain and the monarchy. A central power that uses the people for taxation was a larger fear, to give up the freedom that they had only just gotten, but there is a solution to all of this. Implementing a government that was for the people by the people with a series of checks and balances to promote the well-being of the people is something we can all agree on, taking away the stand-alone states’ power to unify as a nation.