As our country has grown from newly forming nation to the world’s foremost superpower, several wars have shaped our geopolitical role. Evolving from an originally isolationist stance on foreign policy, the United States has become the biggest player on the world stage. Working with the United Nations as well our allies and the Security Council, the US has formed a role as almost the police force of the world. Our job is to look out for the interests of our allies while also maintaining our own interests in strategic parts of the world. War has then become a natural extension of this role, and whether it is defined as just or unjust is determined by its effect on the position of the US and its allies.
Brooke Speas US History Honors 11/27/12 Evaluate the relative importance of domestic and foreign affairs in shaping American politics in the1790’s. American politics in the 1790’s were a constant reflection of the magnitude and adversity that concurs with maintaining an effective government. Throughout this tough time period, the American leaders experienced both domestic as well as foreign affairs. This had then become the ideal “key” in a new nation. During George Washington’s term, Hamilton and Jefferson disagreed with each other’s views of how the government should run.
Outline Although the founding of the Constitution was a revolutionary, positive turning-point in American history, the US Constitution has a few unconstitutional and democratic shortcomings. Introduction In order to understand the shortcomings of democracy of the US Constitution, is it is important to know the background of its’ founding and how each article serves our country. Federalist No. 10, written by James Madison, asserts the importance of having the image of a democracy without its real substance. There seems to have been a very strong opposition towards democracy at the Constitutional Convention, although the framers were in the midst of creating democratic principles to appeal to the majority of the country.
The Two Political Parties Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton had a great rivalry not only political but also personal, this rivalry is what led to the two political parties, the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans. The Democratic Republicans and the federalist evolved from the Federalists and Anti Federalists, the Federalist that wanted to ratify the Constitution, while the Anti Federalist wanted to stay with the Articles of Confederation. After many heated debates the Federalists won and the constitution was ratified. During George Washington's second term in office, the Federalists and Democratic Republicans parties were formed. The stark diffrences between the two parties lead the the demise of the Federalist Parties and the rise of the Democratic Republicans.
The American Revolution ended British rule of the American colonies and created a new United States of America. The Revolutionary era was both invigorating and disturbing; it was a time of progress and disruption. According to dictionary.com revolutionary means radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles, etc. As a result of the Revolution events are as diverse as the planning and approval of the Constitution of the United States of America to the revolt of slaves who saw the difference between slavery and liberty. The American Revolution had a major impact on the military, society and on some aspects of human responsibility.
One train of thought suggests that our government should have limited terms to inject new blood into the government. The other train of thought suggests that experienced politicians know how to move political processes forward and limiting their time in office limits this ability. Our government was established by free thinkers that wanted to break away from the tyrannical structure of England. To ensure that our nation does not fall into the same structure, limitations were placed on government positions but not on the overall length of time an official can hold an office overall other than our presidency. This was established to ensure that our representatives could be renewed as often as needed to reflect the public’s beliefs.
George Washington expressed a good point when he said “This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its roots in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed.” Washington is saying that as a human being in any government or in any argument, there are going to be several different good ideas, however there not all going to work. He believed that the division of the American people and government would cause foreign influence and corruption.
Isolationism , the made idea in the early 1920’s was changed after the course of World War 2, and urge to engage in world affairs made America the leading power in the world. America was beginning to get through World War 1 and trying to establish better relations with world powers but their differences led America into changing its foreign policies politically. Although most of the countries joined the League of Nations, America had from the start opposed it. As president Harding says in a speech at Des Moines, Iowa on October 1920 that he completely opposes America Joining the League because it is against the constitution and what Americans had fought for. Isolationism is still the idea in Washington.
If so, What Should be its Role Role of Government In responding to the questions Do we need government? If so, what should be its role?, my answer has to be yes. Thomas Paine’s quote, “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.” (Paine, 1995) is as true today as it was during the Revolutionary War when he wrote it. In my opinion, we need government and the government needs us, so that Americans can continue to work together with government in harmony, to keep our country growing and developing. Our forefathers escaped to the New World, what is now the United States, so that they no longer had to be ruled by monarchs but as the preamble to the Constitution emphasizes that the nation is to be ruled by the people.
A constitution is defined as the system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is governed. During the years leading up to the ratification of the United States Constitution, the citizens feared a powerful central government with limited representation of the people. Their fear led to the enactment of the Articles of Confederation, which created a national government with virtually no power. But, the Articles of Confederation ultimately proved to be a failure. The Founding Fathers then developed a constitution that not only addressed the fears of the citizens, but also established the fundamental principles which continue to be essential to the growth of American society today.