The Constitution Essay Research Paper ConstitutionWith the — страница 2

country s moral fiber (Virginia). On the Bill of Rights issue, the government did not need regulations that stated what it couldn t do because a government cannot act unless it is stated within the law. If there was not a law that stated that they could censor the press then it is illegal for them to do so. Mason and many other anti-federalists were opposed to the Constitution because it allowed the importation of slaves for at least another twenty years. Without this clause in the Constution it never would have been ratified because the South would not have voted for ratification denying the Constution the three-fourths vote that it needed. Although the importation of slaves in the Constution was not ideal there was not a way to ratify the Constitution without the South s vote

on this issue. Charles A. Beard critizes the creators of the Constitution deeming that: “I believe in the infallibility, all-sufficient wisdom, and infinite goodness of the late convention; or in other words, I believe that some men are of so perfect a nature that it is absolutely impossible for them to commit errors or design villainy. I believe that the great body of the people are incapable of judging in their nearest concerns, and that, therefore, they ought to be guided by the opinions of their superiors . . . I believe that aristocracy is the best form of government . . . I believe that trial by jury and the freedom of the press ought to be exploded from every wise of government . . . I believe that the new constitution will prove the bulwark of liberty — the balm of

misery — the essence of justice — and the astonishment of mankind(Anti-Federalist). Another anti-federalist, Patrick Henry gave a speech at the Virginia Convention, which is telling the founders that their new Constitution will have the same rule of the land that does not differ from the former rule of England. Below is a small section of the speech from Patrick Henry: THIS, sir, is the language of democracy–that a majority of the community have a right to alter this! How different from the sentiments of freemen that a contemptible minority can prevent the good of the majority! If, then, gentlemen standing on this ground are come to that point, that they are willing to bind themselves and their posterity to be oppressed, I am amazed and inexpressibly astonished. If this be

the opinion of the majority, I must submit; but to me, sir, it appears perilous and destructive. I can not help thinking so. Perhaps it may be the result of my age. These may be feelings natural to a man of my years, when the American spirit has left him, and his mental powers, like the members of the body, are decayed. If, sir, amendments are left to the twentieth, or tenth part of the people of America, your liberty is gone forever (Yesterday s). There were a few problems within the Constution of the United States of America, but the effects that it produced in society was far more positive than that of the Articles of Confederation. The chaos that was constructed under the Articles was legally banned under the Constution. The slave trade and acts of slavery would last many

more years but finally it was ended very bloodily. Although the history of the United States has not always been a happy on the ratification of the Constution still is on of America s best accomplishments. Dye, Thomas R. (1998) Politics in America – Third Edition. New Jersey: Prentice, Inc James Madison University. James Madison: His Legacy. Trans. Devin Bent. Online. James Madison Center. http://www.jmu.edu/madison. ShaysNet. Shay s Rebellion. Trans. Peg Larson. Online. Wintergreen Associates. http://www.shaysnet.com/ shayg/dshay.htm. The Virginia Anti-Federalist. Online. http://users.erols.com/wmwalkers/anti.html Yesterday s Anti-Federalist. Online. http://www.no-debts.com/anti-federalist