Decker Period 3 dbq-2

Katelyn Decker 5/4/2020
APUSH pd 7 Fiore
Explain the issues that created the greatest controversies during the ratification of the
United States Constitution (1787–1788) and analyze how those issues continued to divide
the nation during the decade following ratification (1789–1800).
To alleviate the vast debt Britain experienced after the French and Indian War, the nation
imposed several excessive taxes on its colonies. Protests against the unfair taxation ensued, such
as the Boston Tea Party, in which Americans dumped hundreds of chests of tea sent from the
East India Company into the Boston Harbor. Tensions and resentment against England and
monarchic rule ultimately evolved into the American Revolution in which colonists fought to
protect their rights and representation within the government and won, creating the first written
constitution of the United States, the Articles of Confederation. This document proved to be
weak, however, and leaders sought to improve it by proposing the concepts of a strong federal
government and separation of powers. The nation soon saw the emergence of conflicting
political parties known as the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, and the new constitution
was heavily debated before being put into action. Despite the intentions of the founding fathers
to create a document that would satisfy the whole nation, issues such as the extent of
governmental power and finance control created controversy during the ratification of the
United States Constitution (1787-1788), and further divided the Federalists and
Democratic-Republicans for the decade after (1789-1800).
As the newly founded nation was exploring how they wished to function, the United
States faced debates on how much power their federal and state governments should hold.
Elbridge Gerry, for example, wrote to the Massachusetts legislature advocating for a higher
presence of common people in government processes (Doc 1). He conveys that if the federal
government gains too much power, citizen rights will be lost and therefore states that these
freedoms should be explicitly stated within the US Constitution. These liberties would later form
the Bill of Rights. Many Americans sought to avoid the oppression they experienced under
Britain’s rule, and to ensure specific freedoms and have the people hold the majority of power
was an attempt to do so. James Madison believed that a strong nation must have a strong federal
government in order to make certain that all aspects of the nation were working in unison and
had the ability to be changed or regulated for the benefit of the people (Doc 2). In his 28 essays
of The Federalist Papers, Madison’s primary concern was to encourage and ensure unity despite
the inevitability of the formation of factions. Recognizing that there would be a divide of classes,
Madison’s purpose was to advocate for a representative rebublican government, warning that
decentralization could result in rebellion. Often learning from European mistakes, the United
States recognized that the French Revolution came as a result of lack of support of the poor from
the government, as well as the complete disregard for their representation and wellbeing. To
avoid this, monarchic rule must be eliminated and the voices of the people must be heard and
their needs met.
Whereas James Madison identified as and co-founded the Democratic-Republican party,
Alexander Hamilton founded the Federalist Party, and their conflicting views became prominent
over the issue of finances. Hamilton proposed the creation of a national bank, believing that the
Constitution gave the government implied powers to determine what was “necessary and proper”
for the nation’s benefit (Doc 2). The Elastic Clause had been written into the Constitution to
provide Congress with the ability to carry out enumerated powers. Using this as justification,
Hamilton’s purpose was to stabilize and increase the nation’s credit, improve the government’s
handling of finances, and promote business and industry. The bank, however, saw heavy
opposition from the South as they were concerned over its placement in the nation’s temporary
capital, Philadelphia. In a meeting between Hamilton, Madison, and Thomas Jefferson, a
compromise was found: Hamilton’s national bank would be founded as long as the nation’s
capital could be relocated farther South.
*end of 45 minutes

Decker Period 3 dbq-2

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Katelyn Decker 5/4/2020

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