Psc 101 Paper 1

Political Science Paper 1
The Articles of Confederation were drafted during the years 1776 and 1777, while the colonists were still fighting for independence.   They were agreed to by Congress on November 15, 1777 and ratified and put into force on March 1, 1781.   The Articles of Confederation created a fragile national government with majority of the powers of governing retained by the states.   The Articles provided no separation into branches.   There was not a president or any other independent decision maker, and there was not a federal judicial branch.   Congress was the only branch of government.   Members elected to congress did not vote as individuals, but as states.   While congress did have some powers, it could not enforce its laws on the states or the people.   States were permitted to coin their own money.   There was no regulation of commerce between the states and states could even enter into treaties with foreign nations and declare war, with the consent of Congress.   Congress could not tax the states or the people; it could only request funds to run the government, (constitutionfacts.com).   Shay’s Rebellion in 1786 was a post-revolutionary clash between New England farmers and merchants that tested the shaky foundation of the new republic.   It was only a matter of time before there would need to be major changes to the way the countries government was operated.   This lead to the construction of the constitution, which was shaped in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

      The Philadelphia Convention brought up two main proposals.   One of which was to change the Articles of Confederation. They wanted to change the way the country was run, which was shown in the New Jersey Plan and Virginia plan.   The Connecticut Compromise was a result in which a two part legislature with lower and upper houses was formed. The compromise passed after eleven days of debate by one vote—five to four.   The compromise was accepted into the final form of the U.S. Constitution.... [continues]

Read full essay