Module 3 Assignment Creating the US constitution
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Creating the US Constitution
Victoria Tillotson
American College of Healthcare Sciences
HIST 201 American History
Professor Dardis
October 15, 2023
Creating the US Constitution
The United States Constitution, ratified in 1787, was born out of the necessity to address
the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first governing document. The
framers of the Constitution sought to create a more robust and effective system of government,
with a primary aim to establish a stronger and more unified nation. The primary aim of the
framers of the Constitution was to establish a more centralized and powerful federal government
capable of addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles had created a
loose confederation of sovereign states with a weak central authority, leading to numerous issues.
The framers aimed to create a stronger federal government with the ability to levy taxes, regulate
trade, maintain a standing army, and enforce laws throughout the nation. They sought to strike a
balance between the power of the central government and the rights of individual states (National
Archives and Records Administration, 2021).
The framers hoped to accomplish several critical goals. First, they wanted to establish a
more stable and effective system of governance that would prevent the country from descending
into chaos, as had happened under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution aimed to
create a framework for the protection of individual rights, ensure domestic tranquility, and
promote the general welfare. They also aimed to avoid the problems associated with a weak
central government. Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government could not levy
taxes, which led to financial instability. It had no power to regulate trade, which caused
economic strife. The lack of a standing army made it challenging to defend the nation. The
framers sought to avoid these pitfalls and create a government capable of addressing these issues
(National Archives and Records Administration, 2021).
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Several key compromises were made during the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia. The most notable of these was the Great Compromise, which resolved the dispute
between small and large states over representation in the legislature. This compromise created a
bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate
providing equal representation to all states. Another significant compromise was the Three-Fifths
Compromise, addressing the issue of how to count enslaved individuals for representation and
taxation purposes. This compromise counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person,
which bolstered the representation of southern states. The Commerce Compromise allowed
Congress to regulate interstate commerce and foreign trade, but it prohibited taxing exports,
ensuring that the southern agricultural economy would not be overly burdened (Lumen
Waymaker, 2023).
The framers of the Constitution were largely successful in achieving their primary aim.
The Constitution has endured for over two centuries, providing a stable and adaptable framework
for governance. It has allowed the United States to grow and evolve while maintaining a strong
federal government. The Constitution has facilitated the expansion of individual rights and
liberties while preventing the nation from falling into disarray. However, it is essential to
acknowledge that the Constitution was not perfect. It allowed for the continuation of slavery and
had several compromises aimed at appeasing the interests of different states. Yet, over time,
amendments and interpretations have addressed many of these flaws.
In conclusion, the framers of the U.S. Constitution aimed to create a stronger and more
unified nation, avoid the pitfalls of a weak central government, and protect individual rights.
While compromises were necessary to achieve ratification, they laid the foundation for the
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success of the Constitution, which has guided the United States through centuries of challenges
and progress, making it one of the world's oldest and most enduring written constitutions.
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References
Lumen Waymaker. (2023). Study plan: Creating a Government (1776-1789). Lumen Learning,
https://achs.instructure.com/courses/3651/assignments/92247
National Archives and Records Administration. (2021).
Constitution of the United States-A
history
. National Archives and Records Administration.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/more-perfect-union
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