Short Paper On US Congress During The 1790s

Short Paper Us Congress During The 1790s

OVERVIEW The Short Paper: U.S. Congress during the 1790s Assignment will allow you to research the early American Congressional sessions and better understand the century of lawmaking during the American founding. The assignment’s purpose is to enhance the historian’s grasp of the early American founding era by investigating and interpreting primary and secondary source evidence.

INSTRUCTIONS You will write a 2-page short research paper on a key person, event, idea, action, or another important aspect of the congressional debates of the 1790s, which include the sessions of the 1st through 5th Congress.

The paper must use at least 3 scholarly sources (2 primary from the Annals of Congress and 1 secondary) and apply current Turabian formatting throughout. The paper must be a full 2 pages but must not exceed 2 ¼ pages with footnotes applied. Be concise in your writing and verify proper citations, including the use of footnote Ibid. and shortened versions. Overall, you must: 1) Identify the key person, event, idea, or action from the 1790s congressional sessions. 2) Provide a very brief historical narrative of the identified topic. 3) Explain the significance of your selected topic. 4) Rationalize how this key person, event, idea, or action impacted the development of America. Your paper body must include an identifiable introduction with a well-crafted thesis statement and summative conclusion. The title page and bibliography do not count toward the 2-2 ¼ page requirement. No headings should be used (except on the Bibliography page).

Also, the paper must be written in the third person. You should utilize the template from the LU Online Writing Center – Writing Style Guide website. (See the The Library of Congress’s Annals of Congress link in the Short Paper: U.S. Congress during the 1790s Resources Section.) There are 3 ways to search the Annals of Congress using the search links on the left corner of the webpage. However, it is strongly suggested that you use the “Browse Page Headings” feature to review an index of page headings. Note: Citations for the Annals of Congress and all congressional documents are very specific within Turabian formatting. The footnotes will NOT include the name of the speaker(s). Follow this example: 1 Annals of Congress, 1st Cong., 2nd sess., 975. Bibliographic citations are not normally required for specific speeches unless such speeches are critical to the paper or article, as is the case with this assignment. Thus, bibliographic citations should follow this format: Nathaniel Macon, “Speech on the Alien Laws,” in Annals of Congress, 5th Congress, 3rd session, 1023.

Paper For Above instruction

The 1790s was a formative decade in the development of the United States Congress, setting precedence for legislative processes, party politics, and national sovereignty. A key figure during this era was Alexander Hamilton, whose ideas and actions profoundly influenced congressional decisions, especially concerning economic policy and federal authority. Hamilton’s promotion of a strong central government and a national bank significantly shaped the foundation of American economic independence and federal structure.

Alexander Hamilton, serving as the Secretary of the Treasury under President George Washington, was instrumental in steering Congress towards policies that favored a robust national economy. His advocacy for assumption of state debts and the establishment of a national bank was met with both support and opposition within Congressional debates. In the Annals of Congress, Hamilton’s speeches and proposals reveal a strategic effort to consolidate federal power, which he believed was essential for the young nation’s stability and growth. For example, his report on the national debt laid the groundwork for fiscal policy that would influence legislative actions for decades.

The significance of Hamilton’s contributions lies in their lasting impact on American governance and economic policies. His vision of a strong federal government provided the ideological basis for the Federalist Party and shifted the power dynamics within Congress. These policies paved the way for the United States’ emergence as a financially stable nation capable of engaging in international commerce and diplomacy. Hamilton’s debates in Congress exemplified the fierce ideological battles over federalism that remained central throughout American political history.

This period also saw debates over the scope of congressional authority, especially in relation to the presidency and states’ rights. Hamilton’s Federalist perspective clashed with the Jeffersonian Republican ideals, leading to foundational conflicts that shaped subsequent legislative and constitutional developments. The debate over the national bank exemplifies how individual ideas and political ideologies impacted U.S. development, fostering a centralized economic system while igniting broader discussions about the balance of power between federal and state governments.

In conclusion, Alexander Hamilton’s role during the 1790s was pivotal in shaping the federal government’s structure and economic policies. His influence sustained the push for a strong centralized authority and contributed to the ideological framework of Federalism. These developments not only affected immediate legislative actions but also established enduring principles that continue to influence American lawmaking and governance. The debates and policies of the 1790s, driven by Hamilton’s leadership, laid critical groundwork for the evolution of American federalism and economic independence, affirming the decade’s importance in the nation’s history.

References

• Hamilton, Alexander. “Report on the Public Credit,” in Annals of Congress, 1st Cong., 2nd sess., 1790.
• Jefferson, Thomas. “Letter to Madison on Federal Power,” in Annals of Congress, 2nd Cong., 1st sess., 1793.
• Curtis, James C. The Formation of the American Republic, 1774-1789. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1972.
• Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton. Penguin Press, 2004.
• Ellis, Joseph J. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. Vintage Books, 2000.
• Ammon, Harry. The Early American Republic: A Documentary History. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017.
• Lewis, John. “Congressional Debates on the Bank of the United States,” in Annals of Congress, 3rd Cong., 1st sess., 1795.
• Schlesinger, Arthur M. The Age of Jackson. Little, Brown, 1945.
• Rakove, Jack N. Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. Vintage Books, 1996.
• Wood, Gordon S. The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books, 1993.