Question

What were the obstacles to stronger central government for America in the early colony of 1780s, and the processes operating against disunion? What were the means by which advocates for a stronger central government under the constitution that eventually won it's ratification?

Answer 1

The first governmental system unifying the 13 colonies that had participated in the American Revolution was set up by the Articles of Confederation. The foundation for the confederation of these thirteen newly minted states was established by this document. A draught by Pennsylvania 's John Dickinson was the basis for the final paper, which was ratified in 1777, following several attempts by many delegates to the Continental Congress. On March 1, 1781, after each of the 13 States had ratified them, the Articles came into law.

The object of the Articles of Confederation was to form a confederation of states wherein each state preserved "its sovereignty, liberty , and freedom, and any authority, jurisdiction, and right not specifically assigned to the United States assembled in Congress." Under the central government of the United States, which was primarily responsible for collective protection, the preservation of liberty, and general health, every state was as autonomous as possible. Congress may sign agreements with foreign countries, wage war, establish an army and navy, set up a postal service, administer tribal affairs, and pay for coins. Yet Congress was powerless to levy taxation or regulate trade.

The Articles of Confederation deliberately made the national government as weak as possible and the states as autonomous as possible because of popular distrust of a dominant central government at the time they were published and deep loyalties among Americans to their own state as opposed to any national government during the American Revolution. This contributed, however, to many of the issues that were evident as the Articles came into force.

To amend the Articles of Confederation, a Constitutional Assembly was held in the summer of 1787. Many compromises were created during this era to satisfy regional factions. The Great Compromise took the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan together to establish the constitutional system of the Constitution. The Three-Fifths Compromise appeased Southern delegates by encouraging them to count slaves for purposes of representation and taxes. The Federalists desired a centralised government and a centralised executive branch, while the anti-Federalists desired a weakened central government. They felt the proposed constitution was adequate. The Federalists did not want a bill of rights. A bill of rights was requested by the anti-federalists.