The Constitution A Frontier Essay Research Paper — страница 2

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composed of two Senators from each state.” This was a huge improvement as now small and large states would be happy. The next important issue that needed to be settled was slavery. The constitution doesn’t mention the legality of holding slaves, but the slave trade is ended in 1808. Now to appease both the North and South, slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person, so they would be partially counted but taxed proportionally. This becomes the 3/5 Clause, “Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three

fifths of all other Persons.” On the issue of commerce, Congress now gained the authority to tax and regulate all trade except exports. “No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing ” The one thing that the delegates acted rather conservatively on was placing too many checks on the influence of the masses, as the people could not vote directly for the president, (”Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the

United States, shall be appointed an elector.” ) and they could only vote directly for the House of Representatives, which has less power than the senate. Then on the other hand, the framers do away with official aristocracy, in the Constitution, (”No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: ” ) so that provides more social mobility giving the people more freedom. Another beneficial document that was designed for the people is the Bill of Rights, as it outlines and protects very specific rights of every citizen. Since colonists had a natural fear of governmental authority and having just declared their independence from Britain, there were many fears of a tyrannical form of government. They designed the Articles of Confederation intentionally weak, so that

it would limit congressional authority. The corruption of the English monarchies had a tremendous impact on colonists, and was one of the driving forces for revolt. They didn’t want this form of corruption to develop in the American government, because of too much governmental power and authority. However, the Articles of Confederation were so weak, they lacked the power to regulate, thus causing states to act very independently. There was absolutely no power to sanction states that failed to comply with tax or other major decisions. The anti-federalists, who favored a weak federal government, was definitely a minority and feared the large republic would abuse their power. In order to secure and protect the people from this type of overpowering abuse, James Madison introduced

the Bill of Rights, which secured the minority and protected the individual rights of Americans. The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments of the newly constructed Constitution, increased and safeguarded the liberties that the anti-federalists such as Patrick Henry were so concerned about. Many anti-federalists that had originally opposed a strong central government, and the Constitution, gradually started to consent and progress toward the newly formed constitution. The Bill of Rights was a stepping stone for anti-federalists, one which turned many of the negative attitudes into a more positive toleration. Americans demanded a government for the people, apart from British rule, and that’s exactly what they received. The last Bill of Rights stated, “those powers not

delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” This helped to ensure states rights, and further calmed the fears of anti-federalists. More and more Jeffersonians began to accept this newly designed constitution. Although the Constitution is not perfect and may not satisfy everyone, it is nonetheless a frontier to a new and better nation. The delegates knew that making a perfect political system was impossible, they made up the Constitution in which they could reach social, political and economic compromises on many levels. Providing future generations with flexibility and a constantly evolving government is quite a big frontier.