American revolution term paper examples

The ratification of the national constitution was the founders’ political response to excessive democracy

The American Revolutionists have difficulties in unifying the United States which comprises of colonies which are newly independent. The constitution was approved in the convention in 1787 and the states will be responsible for the ratification. Ratification of the constitution is very important during that time since it could result to the division of the United States if it did not happen. However, debates have arises and separated the nation into two political parties which is the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists (Wood, 2003, p. 164). The Federalists are the ones that favored the centralized government that is provided in the constitution while the Anti-Federalists oppose the idea of strong United States Federal government. The ratification of the constitution resulted to government with the perfect balance between the national and the state government which keeps the nation into limited democracy.
The ratification of the constitution started when most of the Americans have different ideas about the how the national and the state government should act. The Federalists supports the constitution and argues that the nation will not be governed by only one group. They believed that there are many ways to protect the rights of the individuals and the state which is provided in the constitution (Madison, 2001, p. 44). On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists argue that the constitution gave too much power of the national or central government which could create imbalance to the nation. They also believed that the constitution only provided small political power for the state government. They also claimed that the constitution will result to the state being controlled or dominated by the central government. The federalists pointed out that the strong central or national government is essential in building the nation since most of the states are newly independent from the colonies (Wood, 2003, p. 164).
The Federalists have the advantage of resources and experience to promote the ratification during the state conventions in the 1787 and 1788. They also knew that that the states will not ratify the constitution if the constitution will provide them with not enough political power. The founding fathers of the United States promote the constitution with limited democracy since they believed that excessive democracy will create turmoil to their newly established nation. They have accomplished the process of creating a balanced government with the help of the ratification of the constitution which has minimized amendments. With the help of funds and supports from the states, they have established a constitution that provided a government that could allow check and balance between the national and the state power (Madison, 2001, p. 47).
The ratification of the constitution will only effect if there are nine states to ratify it. The Federalists have promoted the constitution to different states, and only needs nine of them and the constitution could be effective. The Federalists are successful in promoting the constitution using their collection of newspaper articles which are commonly known as the “ The Federalist Papers”. They have focused on promoting to the key states such as New York, Virginia and New Hampshire (Wood, 2003, p. 164). These states eventually approved their support for the constitution, and later resulted to its ratification. One of the main factors for their approval is that the constitution has provided the states to have a power to control certain things in their corresponding area. They also have provided the power to regulate their rights as long as it will not affect the other states and the nation itself. Another factor for the approval of the states to the ratification of the constitution is the commitment of the Federalists to add the Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments of the constitution were immediately ratified. It is comprises of the Bill of Rights which is the one that is supported by the Anti-Federalists (Madison, 2001, p. 47).
In general, the Federalists have acquired the trust of the nation by providing power to the state and the people itself. The founding fathers are successful in creating a balanced government which limits and control democracy using the federal and the state governments. All the amendments of the constitution were ratified in 1790 although it has resulted to the division of political parties which could be recognized until today.

Republican Motherhood

During the development of the early United States, the leaders have introduced the concept of improving the youth of the nation to better citizens. They believed that it is necessary to improve or develop the youth since in time they will be the future leaders of the nation. The leaders promote that the youth should learn the basic ideals of God, Family and Nation to become a better leader in the future. With these ideals, the leaders of the nation have focused on the mothers since they are the ones that could influence the youth. It became an advocacy and influence the political and public interest for the role of the mothers in the society. Term “ Republican Motherhood” was coined by the historian Linda Kerber who referred it to the advocacy of the role of the mothers in developing the children of the nation (Akers, 1980, p. 32).
There were no female founders during the American Revolution thus the founders were called the founding fathers. The concern of the women was focused on the domestic and family affairs. The role of the women in promoting the development of the nation’s political interest was established after the American Revolution. The concept of “ Republican Motherhood” is also established in the American Ideology during the aftermath of the revolution. It became an idea that the role of the mother as an influential aspect in the development of the children could become a political interest. The proponents of the “ Republican Motherhood” were the first opposing group to the idea that women should not play a role in the politics (Akers, 1980, p. 32). “ Republican Motherhood” initiated the development of the public woman and altered the American Political System using their influence on their sons in the aspect of civic duties and virtues.
“ Republican Motherhood” is a concept or attitude to the role of the women in the emergence of the American Government after the Revolution. It is focused on the idea that the mothers are an essential and influential aspect that could develop the patriotism in the youth which could help them developed their attitudes towards religion, politics and the people. It is an advocacy that encourages the women in the United States that they could alter the Political system by reinforcing the civic duties. The leaders of the nation believed that the principle of republicanism could be promoted by the mothers since they have a very important role in developing the next generation. Linda Kerber argues that the “ Republican Motherhood” could be compared to the idea of the role of the mothers on their child in Sparta. The children of Sparta were raised in the principles of patriotism and valuing the common good before the good of the self. It is an influential part of the advocacy that changes the public view on the role of women in the Society (Akers, 1980, p. 59).
One of the major effects of the “ Republican Motherhood” is the encouragement of women education. The advocacy also promotes that women should pursue more education to learn how they could influence more on their children in the concept of patriotism and republicanism (Akers, 1980, p. 59). Abigail Adams, who is a wife and a mother of two American Presidents, became one of the first models of “ Republican Motherhood”. Her role as a mother and a wife became one of the foundations of the “ Republican Motherhood” advocacy. It her letters to her son, it could be recognized that she is trying to teach him about the virtues and obligations of being the President. She is clearly giving him an advice about the foundations of the republicanism and how patriotism could be a factor in influencing the nation (Akers, 1980, p. 66).
The initial advocacy of the “ Republican Motherhood” is to promote their role in building the society through their influence in the children of the nation. However, it has resulted to the promotion of the women education and eventually increased the society’s view on the role of the females. The long-term influence of the “ Republican Motherhood” is the development of the public women which promotes the role of the women in the society. The “ Republican Motherhood” advocacy also initiated most of the movements towards gender equality.

References:

Akers, C. (1980). Abigail Adams: An American Women. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. 32, 59, & 66.
Madison, J. (2001). Federalist No. 10. The Federalist: The Gideon Edition. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, Inc.
Wood, G. (2003). The American Revolution: A History. New York: Modern Library Ed.