james MAdison: Father of the constitution
James Madison is credited with being the one behind the constitution. He defended the need for a centralized Government for political and economical stability. Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no unison currency between states and nothing to regulate the trade between them. Also the Articles of Confederation made it extremely difficult to negotiate foreign policy since every state had to agree to treaties in Continental Congress. Madison explicitly details the weakness of the Articles of Confederation in his article Vices of the Political System of the United States.
This article illuminates 11 faults with the current state of the government. The most important points include Congress' weakness, foreign affairs such as treaties, and the disputes between states Madison first explains the failure of states to recognize the requisitions made by congress. "Results so naturally from the number and independent authority of the States and has been so uniformly exemplified in every similar Confederacy, that it may be considered as not less radically and permanently inherent in than it is fatal to the object of the present system"(Madison). He shows how the states are refusing to give congress simply because they can and congress has no power to force them. This causes the central government to have no money to pay war debts and continue with simple functions.
James Madison then details the violations the states have made against the federal government and each other. He also explains how the states have failed to follow treaties that congress has managed to create with other countries. This he explains would easily be solved if a national government would be able to regulate and enforce its own rules with its own authority. It would also be able to regulate the trade between the different states which had become a problem under the Articles of confederation. "The practice of many States in restricting the commercial intercourse with other States, and putting their productions and manufactures on the same footing with those of foreign nations, though not contrary to the federal articles, is certainly adverse to the spirit of the Union, and tends to beget retaliating regulations"(Madison). The interstate commerce was difficult and costed merchants much more because of laws passed by each state to be in its own favor.
Next Madison explains how without a central government the republic cannot survive due to political instability. He explains how common interest of the States could be better united by a central government. a major point he makes against the Articles of Confederation is that it does not mention internal violence. "The confederation is silent on this point and therefore by the second article the hands of the federal authority are tied"(Madison). Madison states how there is no way for the government to deal with a conflict between two states, which would most likely cause the union to dissolve without a mediator to keep violence form spreading.
Finally James Madison touches on the fact that laws differ majorly form state to state "Try the Codes of the several States by this test, and what a luxuriancy of legislation do they present. The short period of independency has filled as many pages as the century which preceded it"(Madison). with the vast amount of laws it makes it difficult to keep up, also laws were repealed and changed at alarming rates. The constitution would set a specific process for laws to be legislated and communicated to the community allowing for more organization and order.
This article illuminates 11 faults with the current state of the government. The most important points include Congress' weakness, foreign affairs such as treaties, and the disputes between states Madison first explains the failure of states to recognize the requisitions made by congress. "Results so naturally from the number and independent authority of the States and has been so uniformly exemplified in every similar Confederacy, that it may be considered as not less radically and permanently inherent in than it is fatal to the object of the present system"(Madison). He shows how the states are refusing to give congress simply because they can and congress has no power to force them. This causes the central government to have no money to pay war debts and continue with simple functions.
James Madison then details the violations the states have made against the federal government and each other. He also explains how the states have failed to follow treaties that congress has managed to create with other countries. This he explains would easily be solved if a national government would be able to regulate and enforce its own rules with its own authority. It would also be able to regulate the trade between the different states which had become a problem under the Articles of confederation. "The practice of many States in restricting the commercial intercourse with other States, and putting their productions and manufactures on the same footing with those of foreign nations, though not contrary to the federal articles, is certainly adverse to the spirit of the Union, and tends to beget retaliating regulations"(Madison). The interstate commerce was difficult and costed merchants much more because of laws passed by each state to be in its own favor.
Next Madison explains how without a central government the republic cannot survive due to political instability. He explains how common interest of the States could be better united by a central government. a major point he makes against the Articles of Confederation is that it does not mention internal violence. "The confederation is silent on this point and therefore by the second article the hands of the federal authority are tied"(Madison). Madison states how there is no way for the government to deal with a conflict between two states, which would most likely cause the union to dissolve without a mediator to keep violence form spreading.
Finally James Madison touches on the fact that laws differ majorly form state to state "Try the Codes of the several States by this test, and what a luxuriancy of legislation do they present. The short period of independency has filled as many pages as the century which preceded it"(Madison). with the vast amount of laws it makes it difficult to keep up, also laws were repealed and changed at alarming rates. The constitution would set a specific process for laws to be legislated and communicated to the community allowing for more organization and order.
Along with John Jay and James Madison Alexander Hamilton wrote the Federalist Papers under the pen name publius urging the ratification of the constitution in New York. He expresses the need for a constitution by explaining how the thirteen states all being sovereign creates problems without a national government."A man must be far gone in Utopian speculations who can seriously doubt that, if these States should either be wholly disunited, or only united in partial confederacies, the subdivisions into which they might be thrown would have frequent and violent contests with each other"(Hamilton No.6). Hamilton expresses his concern for the welfare of the states peace without a mediator to regulate them. He believes that mere friendship is not enough to keep the states form infighting. In order to avoid this Alexander Hamilton suggest a strong centralized government becomes the peacekeeper.
He specifically mentions how the Articles of Confederation fail to give any authority to Continental Congress to stop infighting. "NEIGHBORING NATIONS (says he) are naturally enemies of each other unless their common weakness forces them to league in a CONFEDERATE REPUBLIC, and their constitution prevents the differences that neighborhood occasions, extinguishing that secret jealousy which disposes all states to aggrandize themselves at the expense of their neighbors''(Hamilton NO.6). He says it is impossible for neighboring nations with different goals to not fight, and in their current state the states were almost separate nations. He says that only through the Constitution will we be able to fix this flaw and that is why it is imperative we ratify the constitution.
He specifically mentions how the Articles of Confederation fail to give any authority to Continental Congress to stop infighting. "NEIGHBORING NATIONS (says he) are naturally enemies of each other unless their common weakness forces them to league in a CONFEDERATE REPUBLIC, and their constitution prevents the differences that neighborhood occasions, extinguishing that secret jealousy which disposes all states to aggrandize themselves at the expense of their neighbors''(Hamilton NO.6). He says it is impossible for neighboring nations with different goals to not fight, and in their current state the states were almost separate nations. He says that only through the Constitution will we be able to fix this flaw and that is why it is imperative we ratify the constitution.
John Jay speaks AGAINST weakness of Confederacy
John Jay the final author of the Federalist Papers wrote about the obvious flaws that the Articles of Confederation left when dealing with foreign policy. He explains their present predicament and relationship with the world. "With them and with most other European nations we are rivals in navigation and the carrying trade; and we shall deceive ourselves if we suppose that any of them will rejoice to see it flourish.... The people of America are aware that inducements to war may arise out of these circumstances, as well as from others not so obvious at present, and that whenever such inducements may find fit time and opportunity for operation"(Jay). Jay explains to the people of New York that the chances of war with a European country are very high no matter what the reasons. He then goes on to offer a solution. "As the safety of the whole is the interest of the whole, and cannot be provided for without government, either one or more or many, let us inquire whether one good government is not, relative to the object in question, more competent than any other given number whatever"(Jay). John Jay believes that to avoid unnecessary war with more powerful European nations we must have a centralized government with the ability to negotiate trade and peace without the authority of all thirteen states. He also realizes that if war is inevitable, for the defense of the nation as a whole a strong central government is needed to organize and support an army. He makes the point that instead of a confederacy a constitution would be in the interest of all for safety.