History of American Government - Essay Example

1 Government While the Declaration of Independence served as the definitive document to depose King George III from his colonial American perch, the colonists were stuck with the inadequate Article of Confederation, which did not address the macro affairs of the United Colonies. The prevailing thought in the mind of James Madison, was that there were presently only thirteen colonies, but all things considered, the numbers were destined to grow. "James Madison was born in Rappahannock, Virginia on March 16, 1751. He began the study of law in the spring of 1773, but political affairs attracted his attention and in the spring of 1776, he was a member of the convention which formed the first constitution for the new state of Virginia. He was also elected to the state legislature in 1776. He was named a member of the executive council until 1779, when he was elected to membership in the Continental Congress. He advocated the separation of Kentucky from Virginia; opposed the introduction of paper money, and supported the laws codified by Jefferson".(Madison) James Madison became a student of colonial history and political theory in his search for a solution to the political and economic dilemmas which beset the colonies at the time. Madison felt the Articles of Confederation were too weak to serve the needs of the United Colonies. He reasoned that the state autonomy clause, precluded the perpetuation of a strong central government, which Madison felt was necessary to adequately regulate commerce. 2 This inadequacy left the central government with little ability and left the Confederation coffers inadequate to wage war. Meantime, inflation began to engulf the country; a pound of tea could cost as much as $100. Of course this inflation resulted in a contraction of business activity; some small farmers were arrested for bad debts and many farmers were forced to sell their farms to pay their taxes. Madison solicited the assistance of the elder statesman, general George Washington.. Washington initially found a number of reasons to lay suspect to the idea proposed by Madison, and was reluctant to accept Madison's offer for assistance. Washington dealt with the issue of credibility; " what if the new experiment did not work What light would be cast upon his reputation After a considerable amount of soul searching, Washington wrote to Madison. "Wisdom and good examples are necessary at this time to rescue the political machine from the impending storm". (Madison) George Washington understood that Madison envisioned a strong central government to provide order and stability. Madison responded to Washington with; "let it be tried then whether any middle ground can be taken which will once support a due supremacy of the national authority, and providing state power only when subordinately useful" This was a mighty issue, one which would generate much debate. It became so fervent until the labels of federalist (those who supported a strong central government and anti-federalist (opposed to watering down of state sovereignty), created substantial followings. James Madison and John Tyler served together in the Virginia General Assembly. They devised a plan for a states convention to be held in Annapolis, Maryland 3 in September 1786. At this convention the two men proposed that macro commerce be controlled and regulated by the Continental Congress. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton issued a report of the Annapolis meeting. The meeting amplified the urgency to reverse the economic trends. In their report to Congress (Madison and Hamilton), included an appeal addressed to Congress, to have the states appoint delegates for a gathering in Philadelphia. Further, that the announcement of purpose to all delegates, was to be "a revision in the Articles of Confederation". (Madison) "Alexander Hamilton was a native of St. Croix and was born in 1757. He accompanied his mother to New York at the age of sixteen and became a student at Columbia College. At the age of 18 he entered the American army as an officer of artillery. In 1777 George Washington selected Hamilton as an aide, with the rank of lieutenant Colonel. Throughout the campaign which terminated in the capture of Lord Cornwalls, Colonel Hamilton commanded a battalion of light infantry".(Columbia) Congress initially considered the request of Madison and Hamilton to be a minor infringement on their domain, but in the long run they acknowledged the need for action. Rhode Island developed a case of "the view is already nice from where we sit". "The men of the state had a strong attachment to paper currency, they had low taxes and a state government which was supportive. Rhode Island viewed the gathering as an attempt to circumvent their strong state sovereignty. They sent no delegates to Philadelphia. Many other Americans also had misgivings, which were aligned with the men of Rhode Island. Patrick Henry was rumored to have said, 'I smell a rat'. Patrick Henry articulated his belief in the "sanction of place". It was the precursor of the adage or phenomenon of 4 "states rights", in that the local government served the rights of the individual better on personal liberties, than a central government can and would".(Quinn) Of the 55 original attendees at the convention, 19 were never present. In addition to lawyers, the attendees were soldiers, planters, educators, ministers, physicians, financiers and merchants. Though most of the popular men of the day were previously committed to other places, the people were well represented. "There were issues throughout the deliberations that spawned three plans; the Virginia Plan, The New Jersey Plan and The Alexander Hamilton Plan. The then governor of Virginia, Edmund Randolph, presented the Virginia Plan, Randolph's plan was in favor of the large state plan. "His plan was more aligned to the central government idea but he originally opposed the proposed format of the constitution as presented, he later recanted". (Columbia) "Randolph was born in Central Virginia in 1753. He studied law under his father. He served briefly in the Continental Army as an aide-de-camp to George Washington. He was a member of the Virginia Constitution Convention in 1776, State attorney general, and a delegate to the Continental Congress". (Columbia) "William Paterson who was born in county Antrim, Ireland on December 24, 1745; Immigrated to the United States in 1747 with his parents. He attended private schools; graduated from the College of New Jersey (later became Princeton), studied law, admitted to the bar in 1768. 1775-1776 delegate and secretary to the Provincial Congress, 1776-1777 member state legislative council, 1776 delegate to the state constitutional convention, 1776-1783 attorney general of New Jersey, and was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1780". (Columbia) "The New Jersey Plan as presented by 5 Paterson, called for a mere revision in the Articles of Confederation, providing Congress with additional powers to easily raise revenues and regulate commerce. (this plan was actually in accord with Madison's stated purpose for the gathering) Additionally the New Jersey plan proposed that each state would retain its autonomy. Unfortunately, the New Jersey plan would not resolve the fragmentation and would still render the union ineffective in areas of trade and taxes".(Congress) The Hamilton plan presented on June 18 was well presented. It contained a macro-view. However, "Alexander Hamilton felt the British rule (monarchy) was the best in the world and he sought to set the colonies in reverse, when he proposed that a king rule the colonies. The plan of Hamilton was totally rejected by the delegates. Nonetheless, Alexander Hamilton later became an ardent supporter of the constitution. (Of the 81 federalist essays, Alexander Hamilton is credited with authoring at least 52)".(Madison) "By the end of May, it was clear that the concept of a central government, supported by three branches of government was favored by the forum. However before the end of June, another situation surfaced. The issue was representation between small and large states became a bone of contention. The large states sought representation in the House of Representatives to be decided solely on the basis of population. Of course, this would result in disproportionate representation, which would render the small states powerless on consensus and majority based issues. The small states were insisting that they at least have the same parity, which was afforded them under the Articles of Confederation. large states delegates were unwilling to compromise on the issue. LutherMartin was catapulted to the forefront of the small state advocacy. His position 6 was that they (smals states) were currently in possession of equal representation and why would they now be asked or be expected to accept less. By July 12, after two days of heated debate, it became obvious to all delegates (large and small) that a compromise was in order. All of the southern states feared the government would extend its long arms into its precious and profitable slave trade. The delegates from two of the largest slave holding states (South Carolina and Georgia), struck a compromise with the New England delegates".(Quinn) Oliver Ellsworth proposed that representation in the lower House (of representatives), be based on the number of free persons and three-fifths of "all other persons". The New Englanders also agreed to another 20 years of slave importation. It was commonly held by all the delegates that the compromising was necessary to keep the convention afloat. On this note, the delegates appointed a "Committee on Detail", which consisted of John "Rutledge, who was born at or near Charleston, S.C., in 1739. Studied at London's Middle Temple in 1760. Returned to Charleston, established a lucrative law practice and made a fortune in plantations and slaves" (bio) Oliver Ellsworth was born in Windsor Connecticut, on April 29, 1745. He pursued preparatory studies; attended Yale College and graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1776; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1771; member of Connecticut general assembly from 1773-1776; appointed state attorney in 1777; member of Continental Congress 1778-1783; 1780-1785 member of governors' council and judge of Connecticut superior court 1785-1789". (Castro) "Nathaniel Gorham was born in Charleston, Massachusetts, May 27, 1738. He received an excellent education and possessing uncommon talents, and was naturally formed for 7 public life. Chosen representative from Charleston in 1771 and every year up to the Revolutionary War. In 1779 he was elected delegate to the state constitution convention. In 1784 he was chosen as a member of Congress and elected president of the body". (Marshall) "James Wilson was born near St. Andrews Scotland on September 14, 1742; attended the universities of St. Andrews, Glasgow, and Edinburgh; immigrated to the United States in 1765; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1767; member of the provincial convention of Philadelphia in 1774; member of the Continental Congress 1775-1777; 1783 and 1785-1786; chosen colonel of the fourth battalion of associators in 1775; advocate general for France in America; member of the board of war; brigadier general in the state militia". (Smith) And Edmond Randolph. These men commenced a ten day task to fashion the document; On Monday, August 16, 1787, the delegates reassembled and accepted the first draft of the constitution. The nest five weeks saw many discussions and debates on the articles. There were many issues of note; the primary issue (commerce), which precipitated the convention, was at the top of the list. The southern states feared the ideology and power of the New England states. Southerners advanced the argument that the Congress, given the New England Majority, if given the right to regulate commerce, they (southerners) would be relegated to being overseers of the north. Of course, this argument had its basis in the larger issue of "slavery". On August 21, 1787, a proposal was made for the taxation of slave import. The proposal sparked the discussion of the institution and its moral and economic relationship to the new government. Coming to the aid of the slave holding states and the institution of slavery, was John Rutledge of South Carolina, who offered his convoluted assessment 8 of the issue when he said; "slavery had nothing to do with morality". (Madison) There were considerable insecurities among the delegates on whether the outlined document which they prepared would in deed be the beacon of hope and the center of refuge for all persons in need or in dispute, of any rights assured all citizens within its scope and jurisdiction. "The deputies debated proposed plans until January 24, 1787, substantial agreement having been reached, a "Committee on Detail" was appointed. On August 6, 1787, the committee reported a draft, which included a preamble and twenty- three articles, embodying fifty-seven sections. Debate continued until September 8, when a new "Committee on Style", was named to revise the draft".(Madison) This committee Included "Samuel Johnson, who was educated at Yale College where he took the degree of bachelor of art in 1744. In 1766 he was sent to England by the legislature of Connecticut, to argue before the royal council. While in England, Oxford University conferred upon him the degree of doctor of civil law, and he was elected as a member of the Royal Society. He was appointed as one of the leaders of the superior court of Connecticut. He also represented the State for some years under the old Confederation. In 1792 he was elected president of Columbia College". (Marshall) "Rufus King was born at Scarborough, Massachusetts in 1755. He stands high in American history as that of a; statesman, orator, and diplomat of rare powers. He entered Harvard College in 1773, but left in 1775 to participate in the Revolutionary war. He was a member of Congress from 1785 and 1786". (Marshall) Guverneur Morris was a very able man of privilege. He graduated from Kings College in May 1768. In 1771 he was licensed to practice law. In 1775 he was chosen a delegate to the provincial congress 9 of New York. In 1776 he acted as one of the committee for drafting a constitution for the state of New York. In 1778 he wrote the patriotic and successful pamphlet called Observation on the American Revolution. In 1781 he accepted the post of assistant superintendent of finance at Robert Morris College. In 1880 he entered the United States Senate". (Marshall) The "Committee of Style also included. Alexander Hamilton of New York and James Madison of Virginia. They reported the draft in its final form on September 12.The actual literary form is believed to be largely the pen of Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, and chief testimony for this assertion is in the letters and papers of James Madison. The document was built slowly and laboriously, with not a piece of material included until it had been shaped and approved. The preamble was also written by the "Committee on Style".(Madison) Works Cited Castro, William, R. Dictionary of American Biography; Oliver Ellsworth and the Creation of the liberal republic, New York; seconf circuit committee on history and commerative events, 1997, Retrieved on line on April 16, 2006, from www.bioguide.congress.gov Marshall, James V., Luther Martin, The United States Manual of Biography and History. Philadelphia: James B. Smith & Co. 1956, Retrieved on line on April 25, 2006, from www.archives.gov Quinn, C. R., Vigilant Discourse: A history of America 1621-2003 Randolph, Edmund, The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Columbia University Press, Retrieved on line on April 15, 2006, from www.encyclopedia.com Revolution to Reconstruction: Biographies: John Rutledge, Retrieved on line on April 15, 2006, from www.odur.let.rug.nl Smith, Charles, James Wilson, Founding Fathers; Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1956 Washington, George, The James Madison Papers, Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress, Retrieved on line on April 15,2006, from http://lcweb2.loc.gov Read More