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The constitution vs articles of confederation
The constitution vs articles of confederation
The story of American freedom
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The longing for freedom has long been the blood that flows within the veins of Americans. The cultural elements of the eighteenth century that led to the American desire to separate from England are as follows: Religion, government, and economic systems. The American focus and longing for freedom through these cultural elements is what contributed to the desire to separate from Great Britain in the eighteenth century.
The cultural element of religion contributed to the desire to separate from Great Britain because the colonists wanted to experience religious and spiritual freedom. The Anglican Church was the most dominant religious establishment in the colonies. The Church of England was rooted in both national and local governments. The King
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Each individual colony had their own local government. They did not take to working with others or being ruled by an established authority. For example, the colonies did not want to unite under a government of accountability when Benjamin Franklin drafted the Articles of Confederation. It obvious that the individual states did not want any outside influence, let alone an outside ruler known as Britain. For example, George Washington, who would become our first President and head of government, did not respect the rules of the King even in his personal affairs. He wrote a letter asking surveyor William Crawford to find him 1,500 or 2,000 acres of land that laid beyond the Proclamation Line. This was land that the King had forbidden colonists to settle after the Seven Years War.
The cultural element of economy contributed to the desire to separate from Great Britain because the colonists wanted to profit for themselves and not for the British. The British set up colonies used to gather resources for Britain’s economic development. The American colonies were no different. A large portion of colonist’s resources and yield was sent to the mainland, never to be enjoyed by the colonists who grew it themselves. Therefore, many colonists wanted America to not be a farm that benefitted the inhabitants, not a farm that benefited the
Since the founding of the Thirteen Colonies, the colonists enjoyed a degree of autonomy and self sufficiency from the mother country, England. The colonies had colonial assemblies, which were more democratic than England’s and were independent governments. British mercantilist laws were not strictly enforced due to the policy commonly referred to as salutary neglect. However, as the British increasingly ignore the problems the colonies faced, the colonies began to look for a common government to lead them. This eventually led to three distinct efforts at intercolonial cooperation and union: The New England Confederation, Penn’s Plan of Union, and The Albany Plan of Union. Therefore, although there were unsuccessful attempts to unite the colonies, there was a strong desire for a common government.
First of all, each of the different colonies’ founders all expressed sentiments to establish a solid and uncorrupt government. One that would honor God. This government would be made up of a Governor, and a general Assembly and/or provincial Council where most political and judicial decisions would be made and agreed on together. In the Mayflower Compact, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania, men were given the right to vote and choose the officials and representatives who would have a place in the government. These first colonies also promised the people that justice would be restored, it would not be sold, or withheld.
Before Great Britain became more active in the colonies, they had been independent and established representative assemblies and a form of self-government. As the British tried to tax them to gain revenues, they were only angered by the lack of representation they had in the decision. No taxation became the symbol for democracy throughout the fighting of all the acts imposed, and the same idea would drive the colonists to revolt against the British and gain their independence.
After the Revolutionary War, Washington was sick of seeing bloodshed and wounded soldiers; he missed the philosophical retreat of his home in Mount Vernon. According to Wulf, “the commander-in-chief saw the future of America as a country peopled not by soldiers but by farmers - an agrarian society that would be industrious and happy” (Wulf, 16). As a soldier, Washington fulfilled his duty to his country but as this quote clearly conveys, Washington idealized an agrarian society for the future of America’s economy. Washington believed that an agricultural society was vital to a nation that sought to define a national identity and was much more than just a profitable endeavor at the time. According to Wulf, “ploughing, planting and vegetable gardening were more than profitable and enjoyable occupations: they were political acts, bringing freedom and independence” (Wulf, 10).
The thirteen American colonies were under the British control until they declared their independence from British in 1776. A year after the declaration of independence, the continental congress established the Article Of Confederation, which was the first constitution in the United States. According to manythings.org, “During that war, the colonies were united by an agreement called the Articles of Confederation”. It was later ratified in 1781, but it had many negatives because it was very weak. According to manythings.org, the Articles Of Confederation did not: organize a central government, create courts or decide laws, nor provide an executive to carry out the laws, and all it did was just create a Congress. This congress was very useless
their time. They developed confederations and other styles of ruling that greatly differed from the iron fist of the absolutist monarch of Britain. Among these colonies, Connecticut was the forerunner. Among three major towns, Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield, Connecticut formed what is today known as a federalist government. Within Connecticut’s federalism, the ideas of many modern governing techniques were applied, such as a written constitution and popular sovereignty. Because of this, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was a blueprint for the modern day Constitution because it contained a central government linked to local governments, three separate branches of government, and a representative government unlike the one of Britain.
The Puritans who were seeking religious freedom were the first to affect New England religiously. Therefore, religion was heavily influential in the New England colonies. This area was strictly Calvinist, and there was little to no tolerance for any other religion. This homogeneity allowed for a rigorous sense of local order. The church was an equally-important partner with town governance in preserving social order (Church and State were not separate!) In every colony except for Rhode Island, law required everyone to attend worship services on the Sabbath and every taxpayer to contribute to the support of the
There were a myriad of differences between Great Britain and her American colonies in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but these differences can be divided into three basic categories: economic, social, and political. The original American settlers came to the colonies for varied reasons, but a common trait among these settlers was that they still considered themselves British subjects. However, as time passed, the colonists grew disenfranchised from England. Separated from the king by three thousand miles and living in a primitive environment where obtaining simple necessities was a struggle, pragmatism became the common thread throughout all daily life in the colonies. It was this pragmatism that led the colonists to create their own society with a unique culture and system of economics and politics.
Since it was easier to grow grain and livestock in the Mid-Atlantic region, there was a diverse group of farmers, fishermen, and merchants who worked in those colonies. The environmental conditions were ideal for farms of various sizes and the Middle colonists could trade in market areas where the colonial regions met. Although a lot of money could be made by growing tobacco (in Maryland especially) and other cash crops, they were bad for the soil and people needed more land. However, this resulted in a newfound lack of labor, which was an issue. For instance, families procreated too slowly, there was a high infant mortality rate, African slaves cost too much, and, according to the colonists, Native Americans didn’t make good slaves. Eventually white indentured servants from Europe were recruited to work on plantations, but it was a difficult life for them- even after they were freed they continued to earn low wages. This high demand of cash crops in Maryland and other Middle colonies led to an overall decline in the wellness of the
When all things are considered, one can see the colonies didn't always agree with the way England handled things, in the area of religion, economics, politics, and social structure. Through their determination to obtain a better life for themselves, they ventured away from England and created their own nation over time.
As it states in Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence “The new government will reserve the right to levy war, make peace, make alliances with foreign nations, conduct trade, and do anything else that nations do.” With that being said, that means that the colonists had to come up with their own government. That all so gave them the right to reach out to other’s for trade of goods and anything else that they may need help with, but not having to answer to Britain. There are many ways that both of these are still in effect today.
A new era was dawning on the American colonies and its mother country Britain, an era of revolution. The American colonists were subjected to many cruel acts of the British Parliament in order to benefit England itself. These British policies were forcing the Americans to rebellious feelings as their rights were constantly being violated by the British Crown. The colonies wanted to have an independent government and economy so they could create their own laws and stipulations. The British imperial policies affected the colonies economic, political, and geographic situation which intensified colonists’ resistance to British rule and intensified commitment to their republican values.
The Colonies were excited about having won their independence in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, but they still had to be able to create their own system of government which they thought would create a strong government which would not have an overpowering central government as they thought Great Britain had had. With this was the creation of the Articles of Confederation. These articles were meant to create strong local and state governments while not granting any power to the central government with the idea that it could not have any power over the states. The states were allowed to conduct their own diplomacy, or war, from nation to nation or even from state to state. States were allowed to create their own currency and put heavy import taxes on goods from other states. The federal government had no independent executive, nor could it levy taxes on any part of the states. It could not create or maintain a militia; this duty was left to the states. All decisions had to be ratified by all thirteen colonies. In thought, this was a great idea because only the most popular decisions would be ratified and stronger states could not hurt the smaller states through majority rule. In practice it did not work very well because it could be thwarted by a single stubborn state.
The American Revolution marked the divorce of the British Empire and its one of the most valued colonies. Behind the independence that America had fought so hard for, there emerged a diverging society that was eager to embrace new doctrines. The ideals in the revolution that motivated the people to fight for freedom continued to influence American society well beyond the colonial period. For example, the ideas borrowed from John Locke about the natural rights of man was extended in an unsuccessful effort to include women and slaves. The creation of state governments and the search for a national government were the first steps that Americans took to experiment with their own system. Expansion, postwar depression as well as the new distribution of land were all evidence that pointed to the gradual maturing of the economic system. Although America was fast on its way to becoming a strong and powerful nation, the underlying issues brought about by the Revolution remained an important part in the social, political and economical developments that in some instances contradicted revolutionary principles in the period from 1775-1800.
The main reason for the severance of the colonies from Britain was the lack of equality in parliament and the disregard for colonial needs. Whether it be forcing someone to pay for a war they did not fight or want, limiting one’s need for land, or piling on the taxes, all of these factors played a part in the dissolving of British-colonial ties. The colonists were only human and had the human reaction of defiance to injustice. If the colonists had not of had the audacity that they did, today’s America would be a very different place. Breaking away from Britain was the greatest thing the colonists could have possible done.