Question

After reading the Voices of Freedom documents assigned this week, answer the following: how do the two men differ concerning how the principle of representation operates in the United States? Defend your reasoning.

Answer 1

The two men differ concerning how the principle of representation operates in the United States as; the two are on opposite sides when it comes to representation in the United States. The only thing they may agree upon is the implementation of the Bill of Rights. According to James Winthrop “A bill of rights serves to secure the minority against usurpation and tyranny of the majority”. David Ramsay did not bring up the bill of rights in his writing. However, he supported alterations and improvements to the constitution by the people. David Ramsey agreed that the bill of rights was an absolute improvement to the constitution.

The two on the concept of proper representation in the United States completely disagree. David Ramsay believes in self-governing as a whole nation as he is a federalist. James Winthrop is an anti-federalist and according to him; the states should self-govern within themselves. Winthrop was completely against consolidated empires as they will lead to tyranny. He uses the Spanish Empire as an example.

            Ramsay believes legislation is influenced by the people and that these representatives have their best interests and feelings in mind. He believed peoples’ right to; change, amend, and improve the constitution. Winthrop thought differently, as according to him it is impossible for all of the states to agree and live by one common code of law. He thought that legislation should have the right to make or change laws, not the people and only land and criminal disputes should be governed as a whole nation.