Replacement of Articles of Confederation

Vivian Cruz

Period 3

The replacement of the Articles of Confederation with the new Constitution brought on a much heated debate in the United States. It divided the people into two groups: Federalist and Antifederalist. The former believing that the Constitution was of vital importance in creating a new stable united nation while the latter believed that this new Constitution was a plot by the upper classman to steal the power gained by the common people. The Constitution though was not just a conservative act or even an enshrinement of the revolutionary principles that the citizens of America had fought for. With conservative ideas such as strong central government but still consisting of revolutionary democratic view like limited power to the government, the constitution was a combination of both.

Under the Federal Constitution conservative acts like strong central government where asked for, in addition congress would be given extended power to levy taxes and regulate both foreign and interstate commerce and a president would be elected indirectly by the Electoral College. To many middle and lower class people this seemed like scheme by the upper class to take away their power and swallow up state sovereignty, they were afraid that a powerful central government would soon become a tyranny like Britain. However the constitution also stood foursquare on revolutionary principles, that the only legitimate government was one based on the consent of the governed and that the powers of the government should be limited and controlled. It did this by allowing the people to elect the members of the House of Representatives and having checks and balances among all three branches of the government. The amendments of the Constitution could also be seen as revolutionary acts for they protect individual’s rights such as the freedom of religion and speech and the right to a trial by jury. The most innovative and revolutionary acts passed by the Constitution could...