Question

1. The colonies and later the United States were governed by three successive political and economic philosophies, mercantilism, then the Articles of Confederation, and finally the Constitution. Discuss how each of these philosophies facilitated or hindered the economic evolution of the 13 colonies into the United States.

Answer 1

Ans.

The colonies and later the United States were governed by three successive political and economic philosophies, mercantilism, then the Articles of Confederation, and finally the Constitution.So tell me, what do you mean by mercantilism? If you don’t know then don't worry I will tell you.

Mercantilism was an economic system of trade that spanned from the 16th century to the 18th century. Mercantilism is based on the principle that the world's wealth was static, and consequently, many European nations attempted to accumulate the largest possible share of that wealth by maximizing their exports and by limiting their imports via tariffs.

Before the American Revolution, all of the colonies had a local self styled authoritarian governments modified according to the local needs for either a slave labor society or a mercantile system of commerce. Colonial governments were dominated by the British corporation known as the East India Company.

The 13 colonies united as an alliance in September 1774 under a provisional government. Then in May 1775, the colonies formed another provisional government for the purpose of managing the War of the American Revolution. The provisional government was terminated by the Articles of Confederation.

The adoption of the Articles that created the United States created the first formal government. As a confederation each colony joined the alliance for benefits of the larger state. Each colony retained a right to their own sovereignty without having to submit to national power. Therefore, the confederation confers the right to secede from that union.

However, the Articles proved to be unworkable. It was agreed that a new constitution was needed. The second constitution was drafted in 1787; was ratified June 1788; and became effective in March 1789. The second one abandoned the old confederacy and installed a federal form of government. All the colonies sacrificed their sovereignty along with any right of seceding in order to enjoy a more reliable system of government.

Since then the world considers the US to be a federal democratic republic which is a form of indirect democracy or representational democracy. The US is a modern democracy and has no connection to ancient democracy.