Give me Liberty “4th edition by Eric Foner
“Give Me Liberty! Documents history of the US from the earliest days of European exploration through the conquest of New World”. The book offers a rich history of the Country in the first decades of the 21st century. The book offer history students with a clear, concise reading with the central theme of the book being the changing American freedom. The author recognizes that a lot of changes have taken place over the years in American history since the Country attains its political independence. The author of the book recognizes that a lot of changes have taken place in society over the years since the Country attains its political independence. For instance, the definition of the West has changed over periods. During the colonial periods, the West comprised of states beyond the Appalachians to the present-day state of Kentucky, Tennessee, Western Pennsylvania, and New York City. In the first 19th century, the West came to a term used to describe states such as Alabama, Ohio, Michigan, and Mississippi, and today, it is a term used to the area to the Pacific coast. Thus, the paper looks at the changing face of American society over the years, as illustrated in the book “Give me Liberty” 4th edition by Eric Foner.
What other structures and types of government, were discussed, and why?
Fifty-five men gathered to discuss the Constitutional Convention. Some of the prominent individuals absent in the meeting included John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who both had served the Country as diplomats in Europe. Key prominent individuals who attended the meeting to discuss the content of the new constitution included George Washington, George Mason, and Benjamin Franklin. “The new constitution of the time created three arms of government (legislature, executive and a national judiciary) (p.264)”. Congress’s role was to find an alternative method of raising money without necessarily depending on states to raise funds to run the federal government. The constitution recognizes the power of both houses, and the states were prohibited from infringing on the rights of the citizens’ right to property. Other proposals included a proposal put forward by Hamilton, who advocated for president and Senate to enjoy a life term in their respective positions, though this proposal virtually received no support. The proposal was made to make senators and the king enjoy the same privileges as those of the king and the House of Lords of England.
The three arms of government formed were to ensure there is a separation of power. The three arms were to oversight role to each other should not interfere with the role of each other. Hamilton, during the meeting, reminded those who convened the meeting that they must rule for the masses and seldom judge and determine right. George Mason, who was part of the delegation, warned against going against the constitution because such a move would deny the country opportunity to have a stable and effective republic government. The need to have a stable republican government was to ensure there is balance in the government and no competing claims in power and liberty.
States that tended to support certain types of governments and states political reasons for doing so
Although the meeting went on as scheduled, the difference between state and federal government and between the interests of small and large states resurfaced. These differences emerged from what Madison had earlier presented for discussion (Virginia Plan). The Virginia Plan supported the creation of a bicameral house, with the state’s population being the determinant of representation of each state (265). The move did not go down well with smaller states that feared the populous states such as Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania would dominate them and expressed their concern by proposing a ratified plan called New Jersey Plan. The smaller states advocated for one congress where each state is equally represented. “These smaller states unanimously agreed on the need to have a two-houses Congress that consist of Senate that has two representative and House of Representatives that was to be apportioned according to the population. Other proposals included Senators to be chosen by state legislatures. The senators were to serve for six years while the House of Representatives to serve for two years but be elected directly by the people” (265).
- In the end, why did the founders decide to embrace the principles of “Federalism” or a “Separation of powers” philosophy for the United States constitution?
After four months of discussion of political principles to be used in the US, an agreement was reached. The new agreement embodied federalism, also known as division of powers and a system of checks and balances that allowed the three arms of governments to check on one another in what came to be known as the separation of power. The idea of formulating a Constitution design that split the powers of the major branches of the government ensured that none was dominant over the other. This idea made it possible that for a law to be passed, it must be approved by more than two of the three branches of government. Therefore, separation of powers was established to prevent the government (executive) from dominating other arms.
The federal government has supreme powers over the Senate indicates that they were better placed in protecting the rights of the citizens of the United States. In 1791 a bill of rights amendment was approved, and it became part of the constitution, thus ensuring all the citizens of the United States were protected by the constitution. The three arms of government were meant to ensure there is no arm of government that oversteps its mandate or interferes with the role of other arms of governments. However, the three arms of government were to work together, checking each other under the principle of check and balance.
The three critical branches of government and their functions are explained below:
Executive
The constitution vested the executive powers to the president, who was to be elected by the members of the Congress representing the House of Representatives and the Senate (248). The president to be selected for a 4-year term. The president was the commander in chief and had the final say in the passing of a new bill. His/her signature made the proposed law a part of the constitution.
Legislative
Power mandated to the Congress that composed of the House of Representatives elected for two years and senators elected two from each state to serve for a 6-year term. The purpose of the Congress having the House of Representatives and Senate was to ensure that the legislation focused on the two sides that were concerned with the law by population and the House of Representatives that supported the bill by equality.
Judicial
Granted power by the constitution and ensured all citizens of the Country adhere to the constitution. Their role was to interpret the law, and they operated within the constitution and nothing but the constitution. The executive mandate was to aid in enforcing the law based on the ruling of the federal courts that strictly adhered to the constitution.
The First ten amendments into the constitution revolved around protecting the wellbeing of the Citizens of the United States of America. It clearly defined American rights concerning their respective States as well as the Central Government (254). Additionally, the legislative function would still be intact in the individual states. Nonetheless, the Bill of rights is vital as it guarantees essential rights entitled to all human beings across the globe. However, the constitutional amendment concerning the Bill of rights was crucial in limiting the power of the national government, which had been a problem to the State governments who did fear an influential congress in the previous one state Housed government (258). Additionally, the incorporation of the Bill of rights was vital in the inception of the Federal Government backed up by a robust constitution that will unify all the states and pave the way for the current strong, willed United States of America.
In conclusion, Fear of a powerful central government was the issue that restricted the adoption of a federal government sooner. Therefore, the establishment of the constitution was the bedrock in which the United States raised to be a mighty Country with a continuous focus on protecting its Citizens that dates back to them attaining their independence. George Washington, James Madison, and other founding fathers realized how one house government restricted the development of rather multi-cultured United States. They had to protect the territorial interests of the Country as well as conforming to the Westward expansion, which would see them acquire more land in the West. It was clear that the adoption of a Federal Government will not only protect the political interests of the State Governments but as well as the Rights of the Citizens of the United States.
Works Cited
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History: One Volume. WW Norton & Company, 2016.