Chapter 5 Work

1. Would the United States have survived as a nation if the Articles of Confederation had remained the framework of government?

If the Articles of Confederation had remained the United States would have never prospered. With the articles there were many things that would have held the country back. Congress was the only type of national government that the United States had. War was not an entire country affair. Each state under the Articles had the decision to go to war or not, which meant that if a war did occur the United States was not sure if 1 state or all 13 states would show up to help fight. All of the states made their own laws and ran themselves; each act of government was solely upon the state. Congress was just a mediator and judge in state disputes and that was about as far as their power went. If the United States kept the Articles of Confederation as the framework for their government the country would be terrible and in a state of complete and utter turmoil.

2. How would government and society have differed if the Articles had not been replaced by the constitution?

If the Articles were not changed the government and society of the United States would have been drastically different. With the Articles, the United States may have never won many wars, because not every state was required to support the wars. If one state did not participate with the rest of the country there were no consequences, which could lead to separation between the states. This could lead to pointing fingers which possibly might cause the states to fight against one another, causing the downfall of the country.

3. Was the framing and ratification of the Constitution "counterrevolutionary"?

Yes, it was. The United States Constitution helped to reinforce the federal government and helped demolish freedom and liberty. The current law at that time, "Articles of Confederation", said that any powers not given to the federal government were reserved to the individual states. The United States constitution made no statement, and pretty much gave unrestricted power to the federal government because there were tons of easy ways for the government to do things in private and easily violate the Constitution without anybody knowing. More power was given to the executive branch, and the president pretty much became a king. Patrick Henry and the anti-federalists tried to warn people about what adopting the United States Constitution would do. The only thing it did was give more power to the national government.

4. Compare and contrast the focus upon religious freedom and physical enslavement

5. How did the United States justify slavery, but accept freedom of religion?

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