Whether changing the Articles of Confederation was necessary for union preservation

American History

The objective of this work is to answer the question asking whether or not it was necessary to change the Articles of Confederation? Examined will be the factors that led to the drafting of the Constitution. The region represented will be identified as well as priorities notes along with noting concerns. Expressed will be the compromises that would be acceptable in order to preserve the union.

The United States of America was formed over time, through shared experiences and step-by-step working and focusing toward the Constitution. Many considerations, concerns, and viewpoints as well as opinions, standards and beliefs were that which formulated first the Articles of Confederation and ultimately the U.S. Constitution. When considering that which led to the changing of the Articles of Confederation one must consider that change from many perspectives. The Articles gave the government very little powers and no jurisdiction over the citizens in the country. No authority to tax the citizens was given but instead revenue generation was upon the shoulders of the individual states at the government's request. Laws were difficult to change under this forum and the agreement of all thirteen states was a requirement if amendments were to be made to the governing Articles.

Essay: Viewpoint of Virginia (Jamestown) Citizen

The rebellions shaking each of the 13 states and the country at large as well are overshadowed by the fact that the government as a whole is under threat to be usurped by individual states. However, the rebellions wracking individual states threaten the country at large. It is known that not all states are holding up their end of revenue generation. Trade is wild and uncontrolled. The laws that need to be changed cannot be changed under this structure of government.

Who can dare state that the Articles of Confederation are all that this country needs for find cohesiveness, for surely this country is coming apart from within. The citizens of Virginia remember the original dream of what this country would be. The winter of near starvation after a long journey across the waters to claim this land runs in the Virginian's blood.

While all of the proposals for the new agreement are failing in some aspect, and indeed are short of being the perfect plan of action, surely there exists some such agreement that if abided by will serve better toward preserving that which was so hard-won and which required so much be sacrificed in pursuit of. The issue has arisen in relation to the number of votes assigned to each state. This issue is naturally of real concern to those in smaller and less populated states. However, it is fortunate that the 'Great Compromise' has been attained whereby each of the states receives one delegate for each 40,000 citizens as of July 5, 1887, under the direction of the special committee.

American History

Essay Questions

Essay: The Founding Father's Intentions

This Country was founded on principles, standards and beliefs held by those who were the founders referred to as the Founding Fathers. These individuals include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others. The pilgrims traveled across treacherous unknown waters to land in Jamestown and begin their effort toward building this nation. The standards and principles held by those first settlers were inclusive of faith in God, responsibility to self, family and home. It was a give and take society of inherent fairness and justice as each individual stood forth to do their part in the interest of all concerned....for the sake of America. While freedom should have meant for one and all, it is unfortunate, but as well expected in the human condition that the standards and beliefs of the Founding Fathers as to freedom failed to consider independence and its' meaning in reality to women in the country, to black slaves and poor white farmers, and the Native American individual. Yet, the standard of belief held by the Founding Fathers was superior than the standard held in England, at least to some extent.

Consider the statement of Thomas Jefferson (1790):

Every man, and every body of men on earth, possess the right of self-government."

Surely this statement did not intend to leave out the independence of the black slaves, poor white farmers, Native American, or the women in the country at the time. Consider independence and its meaning to the black slave of that time in history. Independence meant that the bad or mediocre home of the master was suddenly no longer home and in fact independence meant no where to go, no education to utilize, no food, lack of sufficient clothing. No family formation on which to rely. Independence to the black slave was introduction to worse horror than the live of a slave.

Consider independence and its true meaning to the poor white individual, many times a farmer or agricultural worker. Independence to the poor white individual meant very little as well. Free to be poor, free to be cold, hungry and shoeless and freedom to die young were the most available options for the poor white individual.

Consider the independence affect upon the life of the Native American. Independence meant they must leave their land, their family, their home and indeed their very way of life. Independence granted as well the freedom to watch the herds of animals die and it meant to be forced to worship God in the way of the white man. The Native American gained independence to travel the trail of tears toward the reservation chosen for them and independence granted these people suffering and mourning of what was lost to them or that which was once a pure and majestically proud way of life. This was independence to the American Native.

Independence to women meant very little as well as their lives were regulated and governed by their husband or father and they were allowed very few decisions for themselves much less a real say in their lives or even the lives of their children.

We are led to believe that America is a democracy, however, in a true democracy each individual has the right to have their vote counted on the issue at hand. Independence in the view of the Founding Fathers was independence viewed by their standard, from their own individual perspective and formulated perhaps unknowingly without having considered that which independence might represent to the black slave, the poor white farmer, or the displaced Native American, or indeed to each of their own mothers, wives, daughters and sisters.