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Republicanism and Federalism

Essay Instructions:
As at the time of ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the new American nation of the late 18th century and early 19th century found its citizens divided in their political views. Those who favored a strong central government and thus a restriction of the powers possessed by the states belonged to the Federalist party; those who believed that the Constitution should be interpreted so as to limit the power of the national government, thus giving additional power to the states, were known as the Democratic-Republicans. The Federalists, therefore, espoused a nationalistic view; the Democratic-Republicans, though they would not deny the efficacy of a national government, believed that definite rights should be reserved to the states. Using this definition to guide your thinking, you should read the primary sources assigned in this lesson. The following sources (accessed through Web Links) should be used for this exercise: Alien and Sedition Acts Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions Jefferson's Inaugural Address Marbury v. Madison Hamilton Argues for the Constitutionality of the National Bank, February 15, 1791 Jefferson Argues Against the Constitutionality of a National Bank, February 23, 1791 If you need additional information, explore the sites at the end of the lesson. Examine the readings for a Federalist or Democratic-Republican point of view. Choose one of these two philosophical positions and write a two page essay outlining the major points characteristic of the position and giving specific examples from the sources you have read.
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Running Head: REPUBLICANISM & FEDERALISM
Republicanism & Federalism
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Introduction
What does it mean to imply that a nation or country is either pro-federalism or pro-republicanism? Both terms if interpreted individually, have significant differences depending on the context of their interpretation. However, it should be noted that nations can have both types of governments as functioning elements under the constitution. Federalism is built or constituted under the understanding that a central government exists that is exclusive of other states within a given union such as the United States. It can also imply bluntly, the exercise of supreme power over other states, provinces and districts in any given country, of which the United States is a perfect example. Republicanism on the other hand, seems to be founded on the belief that while it is proper to have a centralized type of government, power should be limited to the state organs and should be devolved to other states or districts or provinces for that matter.
On many occasions, republicanism seems to uphold the notion that a centralized government with the capacity to judge its own good and evil, may in one way or another, bear a dictator type of rule which will hurt the general well-being of the country based on the lack of accountability and abuse of power. Upon the signing of the constitution of the United States of America by delegates, all states that wished to be accommodated into the union had to ratify the constitution. Indeed, it was at this very time that problems erupted with anti-federalists rallying against the ascension of the constitution terming it an untrusted system of government. Federalists on the other hand, argued that the proposed constitution contrary to what their opponents thought of it would indeed unify the states into one large continental nation. In the following paragraphs, critical review of the position taken by the pro-republicanism will be examined in a bid to determine the viability of their arguments.
The Democratic-Republican Point of View
Going from the readings presented in the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1778, it is very possible for one to see the democratic-republican point of view in terming the resulting unified government as aristocratic and all too powerful. Power bestowed to the presiden...
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