After declaring independence, the United States of America did not represent a single state. It was since initially; the states were constituted as independent states. As early as May 10, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution empowering the colonies to establish their governments that would best promote the happiness and security of their founders (Chet, 2019). Although the Articles of Confederation reserved the states’ sovereignty, liberty, and rights, as stated in issue 2, each state was required to enter into a strong alliance with the others, as stated in issue 3, while citizenship also remained with the states in issue 5. So far, Europe followed the path of the monarchy; the Americans tried to build a republic, which had its drawbacks (OpenStax, 2019). First, the decentralization of power made Congress a financially weak institution, unable to vote taxes (Chet, 2019). Secondly, legal chaos increased with the war until 1783, necessitating reforms and the centralization of power.
Major disputes included the issue of slavery and the organization of the government structure. Proportional representation, which benefited large states, was counterbalanced by the Connecticut or Great Compromise to create the Senate (OpenStax, 2019). The question of the abolition of slavery only received the beginnings of discussion thanks to the representatives of the North, but for the most part, the aspect of taxation and the counting of servants in the state was an edge.
Federalists – businessmen, large merchants, defended the idea of a robust federal government had a clear plan for building a political system. The most famous federalist is the second president of the United States, John Adams. He advocated the financial independence of the federal government but disagreed with the economic program of Alexander Hamilton, which placed the debts of all states accumulated during the war on the federal center (OpexStax, 2019). Anti-Federalists advocated the idea of a Bill of Rights and minimal intervention by the federal government in state affairs. They saw its purpose only in international activities. Unlike the Federalists, they did not plan to organize a new government. Most of them were farmers and small traders. Anti-Federalist Patrick Henry is famous for his many speeches about freedom and the dangers of establishing a national government. The anti-federalists opposed the authoritarian national government, fearing that it might take away their rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
References
Chet, G. (2019). We Have Not a Government: The Articles of Confederation and the Road to the Constitution. Journal of American History, 105(4), 1000-1001. Web.
OpenStax. (2019). U.S. history. OpenStax CNX. Web.