Following the Revolutionary War and separation from England, the need for a new government was clear. A group of men, who became known as the “nation’s founders” or Founding Fathers, developed a new government based on principles and beliefs they knew through their experiences, readings, and study. The Founding Fathers had a great deal in common with each other, including property interests, education, and extensive political experience. These common experiences and birthrights created a strong consensus about what should be incorporated into the government that would replace England’s.
Troubles developed immediately upon establishment of the United States of America with the 1781 Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. Economic difficulties and means of dividing power between leaders and competing interests caused conflict. The conflicts had to be resolved, and some of the Founding Fathers and others, who would come to be known as the Framers went to Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, it became apparent immediately that the Articles could not be revised, and therefore, they were abandoned, and the Framers set about to create a new form of government. Though the effort was eventually successful and resulted in the Constitution, there was a great deal of conflict during its development in the summer of 1787. The form of government established incorporated the ideas of diverse groups, as well as the Framers’ recognition of the need for compromise.
Research the history of the American Constitution using the Argosy University online library resources. Respond to
one
question from each of the question sets A and B.
A. Creating the Constitution
Consider the three constitutional proposals: the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise. If you were a delegate and without the experience of the past 200 years, which constitutional proposal would you have supported? Why?
Why do you think the framers were silent on the issue of slavery in the wording of the Constitution? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
What were the issues in the Constitutional Convention? Who were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
B. Living with the Constitution
What are the formal and informal methods of constitutional change?
How do checks and balances work in the lawmaking process today? Which current and important events do you think are examples of the success of checks and balances?
Do you think the Constitution is a relevant political document for the twenty-first century? What new amendments might be appropriate today?
...
Following the Revolutionary War and separation from England, the nee
1. Following the Revolutionary War and separation from England,
the need for a new government was clear. A group of men, who
became known as the “nation’s founders” or Founding Fathers,
developed a new government based on principles and beliefs
they knew through their experiences, readings, and study. The
Founding Fathers had a great deal in common with each other,
including property interests, education, and extensive political
experience. These common experiences and birthrights created a
strong consensus about what should be incorporated into the
government that would replace England’s.
Troubles developed immediately upon establishment of the
United States of America with the 1781 Articles of
Confederation and Perpetual Union. Economic difficulties and
means of dividing power between leaders and competing
interests caused conflict. The conflicts had to be resolved, and
some of the Founding Fathers and others, who would come to be
known as the Framers went to Philadelphia to revise the
Articles of Confederation. However, it became apparent
immediately that the Articles could not be revised, and
therefore, they were abandoned, and the Framers set about to
create a new form of government. Though the effort was
eventually successful and resulted in the Constitution, there was
a great deal of conflict during its development in the summer of
1787. The form of government established incorporated the
ideas of diverse groups, as well as the Framers’ recognition of
the need for compromise.
Research the history of the American Constitution using the
Argosy University online library resources. Respond to
one
question from each of the question sets A and B.
A. Creating the Constitution
2. Consider the three constitutional proposals: the Virginia Plan,
the New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise, also known as
the Connecticut Compromise. If you were a delegate and
without the experience of the past 200 years, which
constitutional proposal would you have supported? Why?
Why do you think the framers were silent on the issue of
slavery in the wording of the Constitution? What were the
strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
What were the issues in the Constitutional Convention? Who
were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
B. Living with the Constitution
What are the formal and informal methods of constitutional
change?
How do checks and balances work in the lawmaking process
today? Which current and important events do you think are
examples of the success of checks and balances?
Do you think the Constitution is a relevant political document
for the twenty-first century? What new amendments might be
appropriate today?
