Your Response To The Questions Below Should Be At Least 125

Your Response To The Questions Below Should Beat Least 125 Words Long

1. Social contract theory posits that individuals consent to surrender some freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights and maintenance of social order. Natural rights are inherent rights individuals possess by nature—life, liberty, and property—regardless of government acknowledgment. These concepts profoundly influenced early American political thought, particularly evident in the Declaration of Independence, which asserts that people are endowed with unalienable rights and that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed. The Declaration reflects the idea that governments must protect these natural rights; when they fail, citizens have the right to alter or abolish such governments. These principles fueled the American Revolution and shaped foundational American political ideals emphasizing liberty and individual rights.

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Social contract theory, fundamental to political philosophy, suggests that legitimate government authority arises from the voluntary agreement of individuals to cooperate for mutual benefit. Prominent theorists like John Locke argued that individuals possess natural rights—primarily life, liberty, and property—that governments are instituted to protect. These ideas played a crucial role in early U.S. history, especially in the Declaration of Independence, where Thomas Jefferson articulated that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed and must safeguard unalienable rights. When governments violate these rights, citizens are justified in seeking to change or overthrow them. This philosophy justified revolutionary action against British rule and formed the ideological backbone of the new nation’s core values emphasizing individual rights and limited government.

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2. Why did the Articles of Confederation ultimately fail?

The Articles of Confederation failed primarily because they created a weak central government that lacked the authority to levy taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce laws. Each state retained most of its sovereignty, leading to inconsistent policies and economic turmoil. The federal government had no power to raise funds or maintain national security, resulting in financial instability and inability to respond effectively to external threats. Additionally, the lack of a strong executive or judiciary meant there was little enforcement of laws or dispute resolution among states. These limitations caused widespread dissatisfaction among leaders and citizens, highlighting the need for a more effective framework, which led to the Constitutional Convention and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

3. Discuss two of the major compromises adopted at the Constitutional Convention.

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, addressed the issue of legislative representation. Small states feared they would be overshadowed by larger states, so it proposed a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives, apportioned by population, and the Senate, with equal representation for each state. This balanced power among states of different sizes. The 3/5 Compromise tackled the issue of how to count enslaved individuals for representation and taxation purposes, settling on the count of three-fifths of the enslaved population. Southern states wanted slaves counted to increase political power, while Northern states resisted. The compromise allowed a partial count, temporarily accommodating conflicting interests without resolving the moral questions surrounding slavery.

4. Trace the history of American federalism from colonial times into the current era.

American federalism evolved from a loosely confederated colonial structure to a complex system balancing state and federal authority. During colonial times, power was primarily held locally, with colonies exercising significant self-governance. The American Revolution and the Articles of Confederation emphasized state sovereignty but proved ineffective for national cohesion. The Constitution established a federal system with enumerated powers for the national government while reserving rights to the states. The Civil War marked a turning point, affirming federal supremacy. Throughout the 20th century, gradual shifts, such as the New Deal and Great Society programs, expanded federal authority, often through the Commerce Clause. Today, debates persist regarding the scope of federal power versus states' rights, reflecting the ongoing evolution of American federalism shaped by judicial interpretation, legislation, and political change.

References

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• Madison, J. (1788). Federalist No. 39. The Independent Journal.
• Rakove, J. (2010). Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. Knopf.
• Ryan, C. (2007). Federalism and American Political Development. Routledge.
• Wood, G. S. (1991). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage.
• Fisher, L. (2004). The Authoritative Allure of Federalism. Harvard Law Review, 117(4), 1317-1344.
• Goldberg, S. (2014). The Federalist Papers: A Commentary. University of Chicago Press.
• Merrill, S. (2004). The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787. Princeton University Press.
• Tate, C. (2008). American Federalism. Routledge.