1. Menace of the French and the Spaniards
So
long as the menace of the French and the Spaniards existed in North American,
these colonies meekly submitted to the dictates in the mother-country. With the
extinction of the French and Spanish power in the Seven Years War, the things
took a new turn.
2. Congress of representatives
A
congress of representatives of the State was called at Philadelphia in 1775.
The Congress appointed George Washington, the Commander-in-Chief of the army.
The French promised aid and ultimately the thirteen colonies declared war
against England. On 4th of July, 1776 was published the Declaration
of Independence.
3. The declaration of Independence
Was
the first time that “the United States of America” was officially used previous
practice had been refer to the “United States”. As long as the revolution
remained a purely internal quarrel between England and her colonies, foreign
governments were reluctant to give military assistance, and assistance was
desperately needed if the Americans were to make successful their revolutionary
acts. They French were especially anxious to support any move that would weaken
English power, but they first wanted assurances that the Americans meant
business. The Declaration of Independence notified the world that the Americans
were serious, and it was both an appeal to the conscience of mankind and a call
for military help.
4. The Articles of Confederation
Although
the Second Continental Congress, which had assembled in May 1775, had no formal
governmental authority, it raised an army, appointed a commander in chief,
negotiated with foreign nations, coined money, and assumed all powers that, it
claimed, belong to an independent and sovereign nation. It seemed desirable to
legalize those practices and place congress’s operation on a mere formal basis
of authority. In 1777 congress submitted the articles to the state legislatures
and second national government being to function.
a. A league of friendship
The
articles of confederation established a league of friendship, a perpetual Union”
of states, resting expressly on state sovereignty.
b. Structure of the central government
The structure
of the central government was quite simple The Articles of confederation. There
was only s single-chamber congress. There was no executive, although a
congressional committee consisting of one delegated from each state managed
affairs when congress was not assembled. There was no judiciary, although
congress acted as a court to resolve disputes among the states.
c. Powers of congress
Congress
could determine peace and war, send and receive ambassadors, enter into
treaties apportion prizes taken by United States forces, coin money, fix
standards of weights and measures; regulate affairs with Indians not members of
any state, establish a postal system, appoint United States military officers
above the rank of colonel, and decide certain disputes that might arise among
the states.
d. The Philadelphia Convention
Delegates to the Philadelphia convention were
interested not in mere political speculation but in establishing a government
that would work, and they were well equipped for the task. Seven of the
delegates had served as governors of their respective states, thirty-nine had
served in congress, and eight had previous experience in constitution making
within their own states.
e. Proceeding at the convention
The Virginia
delegates, who were anxious to establish a strong central government, prepared
a series of proposals. They prepared a plan that imparted to the forthcoming
debates a general direction that the less nationalistically inclined delegates
were never able to reverse. Eventually the Virginia Plan, with modifications,
became the constitution.
f. The new Jersey Plan
Except
for proposing that congress be given the power to regulate commerce and levy
taxes, the plan would not have significantly altered the Articles of confederation.
Although some of its provisions were incorporated into the constitution, the
New Jersey Plan was ultimately rejected, and the delegates resumed discussion
of the Virginia Plan.
g. The Connecticut Compromise
The
convention became deadlocked over the crucial issue of representation in the
upper house of the proposed congress. Finally, a committee of eleven, one
delegate from each state was appointed to work out a compromise. The committee presented
its report, known to history as the Connecticut compromise. The nationalists
conceded that each state would have equal representation in the upper house,
but only on the condition that money bills originate in the lower chamber. However,
there remained many difference to be reconciled.
h. Ratification of the Constitution
Ratification
of the constitution was not without a bitter struggle within the states,
especially in Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York. The constitution was
subjected to minute and searching debate. By the end of June 1788, ten states
had ratified and one more was needed. But New York still had not acted, and because
of its central geographic location, its approval was essential to the success
of the new government.
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