Short_Essays

1.) The Articles of Confederation was created by the Continental Congress which declared independence, raised an army, issued currency, borrowed money from abroad, and negotiated an alliance with France. In 1777, this plan was presented for ratification. The Articles declared “The United States of America” to be a “firm league of friendship” between the thirteen colonies. Congress would not be able to collect taxes or regulate trade. They could only request funds from the states. In 1781 the Articles of Confederation won ratification and the Confederation controlled the western lands. The Articles of Confederation was important because it made the union of the thirteen colonies legal and identified them as sovereign states. (178) 2.) The Constitution of the United States of America was adopted on September 17, 1787. It provides the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government to the citizens of the states. The Constitution defines three main branches of government: legislature, bicameral congress led by the president, and a judicial branch headed by the Supreme Court. The Constitution defines the power of each branch. It is the shortest and oldest written Constitution to date. It is important because it is the center of the United States law and political culture. (207-210) 3.) The Whiskey Rebellion took place in 1794 in Pennsylvania. Cash strapped farm families were outraged at the excise taxes placed on whiskey. Because of this they attacked officials and anyone that put this into play. They closed courts, blocked roads, and held mass protests. Because of this Hamilton decided to use western Pennsylvania as an example for enforcing the tax. Troops were ordered to use their force to put the rebellion to a stop. When they got there they realized that they were a little too late because the rebellion had calmed. This was significant in history due to the fact that this was one of the first times that government was enforcing taxes and not budging despite the economic distress it was causing. (220-221) 4.) Up to 1819 the United States consisted of half slave states and half free states. Later that year Missouri applied for statehood which set the North and South into a panic. They were afraid that this would throw off the equal balance that they had of senators between slave and free states. Speaker of the House of Representatives Henry Clay proposed that Missouri would join the union as a slave state and Maine would become a free state. Slavery from this point on would be prohibited from all Louisiana Purchase lands due north. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts felt the debate over Missouri had “betrayed the secret of southern souls.” Adams feared that this would imperil the nation as a whole. The importance of this was the start of the debate whether slaves should be allowed. (263-264) 5.) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States operating from 1833 to 1856. It was considered integral to the Second Party System. Formed in opposition of the Democratic Party polocies. The Whigs supported the supremacy of congress over the executive branch and favored a program of modernization. The name was chosen due to the influence of the American Whigs of 1776 who fought for independence. In the Whigs two decades of operation they saw two of their own men, Harrison and Taylor, be elected for presidency. The party ultimately came to end behind the controversy whether allowing slavery to the territories or not. The Whig Party played a big part in our political structure early on in the United States’ history.