The Founding of the United States of America: Influences and Events

Magna Carta is a document that assured freedom for the English Congregation, adherence to the law for all free persons and liberty from unwarranted fines and taxes. Between 1209 and 1215, cycles of military movements abroad, unreasonable taxation at home and clashes with Pope Innocent III caused King John of England to be much ostracized (Holt, Garnett, & Hudson, 2015). Unruly tycoons plotted to compel King John to endorse the Magna Carta.   

Magna Carta is a very significant document in history as it assured people some rights and the king was subject to some laws. During this era, England was ruled through a feudal system of land ownership. Nevertheless, feudal lords and nobles did not appreciate this development of King John losing to the French. He also heightened taxes and persecuted citizens as well as allowed arrests without trials (Holt, Garnett, & Hudson, 2015).  

41 English colonizers while on the ship Mayflower endorsed the Mayflower Compact. This occurred on November 11, 1620 (Manning, 2017). The Mayflower Compact was the initial documented structure of government founded in the present United States. The compact was written to eliminate any conflicts between Puritans and non-separatist travelers who had just arrived at Plymouth.  

The Mayflower Compact was significant because it was monumental as the initial agreement to have ever been approved and implemented in the American government. As the first agreement to have been made in America, it was foundational in American political system that had been introduced. On September 16, 1620, a British Ship known as the Mayflower cruised from Plymouth, England. The ship had 102 travelers onboard, who also referred to themselves as pilgrims (Manning, 2017).  

The Declaration of Independence is one of the foundational documents that saw the initiation of American political tradition. It portrays the significant opinions that constitute the American nation. It indicates that all men should experience freedom and equality and have the same accepted rights. Reasonable governments must thus be founded on the consensus of the followers and must be committed to protecting the rights of the people (Jayne, 2015).  

The Declaration of Independence is very significant to the people of America as it enabled their emancipation from King George III.  It gave the people the ability to resist any attempts to compromise the natural rights. The declaration of independence also heightened foreign indulgence to help in the fight for freedom from King George III of England. The declaration acknowledged some specific standards of freedom and equality that the colonists cherished (Jayne, 2015).  

The Articles of Confederation was the initial constitution that was ever made in the United States. The wartime urgency steered its writing, with its improvement being thwarted by doubts of central authority and widespread land petitions by states, before it was finally approved on March 1, 1781 (Maggs, 2017). The articles advocated for sovereignty and independence, with the Congress being the last consideration to deal with disputes. Congress only had the responsibility of approving agreements and supporting armed forces. The central government did not have the power to tax and control trade, in what amounted to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that created federal laws.  

The articles of confederation served a critical role in the fulfillment of nationhood for the thirteen states. However, it was deficient in its provisions of enabling an excellently effective government.  In addition, the articles framed the government so that it was deficient of taxing power so that it had to do a requisition of funds from the states. The United States Constitution took the place of the Articles on June 21, 1788 (Maggs, 2017).   

The Virginia Plan constituted fifteen resolves that contained comprehensive grounds why the Articles of Confederation had to be revised as well as intentions of establishing a robust and effective national government. The strength of the government could be seen in its efforts to constitute and implement laws as well as do taxation. The Virginia Plan was founded on a national and state government framework where there was a split of powers such that the legislative arm had to operate independently from executive and judicial arms  (Harrison, Jefferson, Lee, Le e, Nelson, & Wythe, 2018) . It also advocated for a bicameral legislature that incorporated the House of Representatives and the Senate.  

The significance of the Virginia plan was to shield the large states’ concerns in the new government that will be empowered federally than the previous implementation of the Articles of the federation (Harrison et al., 2018). The plan created a new type of government instead of just amending the Articles of Confederation.  

William Paterson, a newly appointed representative initiated the New Jersey Plan to the Constitutional Convention on June 15, 1787 (March, 2016). The convention was summoned to revise the Articles of Confederation, and it was evident that there was a need for a new government and constitution to be created.  

The New Jersey Plan was a reaction to the Virginia Plan. Both of these plans were intended to constitute a strong national government that had three arms. The New Jersey plan, in particular, wanted the states to have power. It also provided Congress the authority to source revenue and control trade (March, 2016). The plan recommended the revisions of the articles of confederation. Under the plan, Congress had the privilege to gather taxes and select federal executives.  

The Connecticut Plan put an end to a dispute that existed between big states and small states at the Constitutional convention. It was very pivotal for the endorsement of the constitution (Spring, 2016).  

The Connecticut Compromise of 1787 in America also recognized, as the Great Compromise was instrumental in the formation of legislative bodies (Spring, 2016). It was linked to the implementation of Virginian and New Jersey Plans that demanded that every state be equal. Roger Sherman, who was a member of Connecticut, was very instrumental in the success of this great compromise. Connecticut also supported representation to be based on population.   

The U.S. Constitution was foundational to the initiation of America’s national government and central laws, and ensured specific important rights for its people. Representatives to the Constitutional Convention that was spearheaded by George Washington endorsed the constitution in September 17, 1787 (Fraser, 2017).   

The U.S. Constitution was a model that has been embraced even by the rest of the world in seeking for independence through respecting others. It reflects the principal values and standards given by God. It is also intensely significant Magna Charta under King John of England in promoting the value of human being’s quality of life, besides people’s responsibility to the state (Fraser, 2017).   

During the approval debates of the Constitution, Thomas Jefferson sent James Madison a document indicating that a bill of rights is an entitlement against every administration globally. The response of Madison through a letter in October 1787 recommended that the bill of rights should just be added to the new government and US constitution, and it was not to replace them (Siegan, 2018). Americans exemplifies the foundational maxims of independent government. Madison projected rightly how the Bill of rights could guide the constitutional mind of the citizens of America.   

The Bill of Rights constitute fundamental rights of the people of America and is there to shield these rights so that they not trespassed by the government. The bill of rights is construed to be a representative of the renowned American culture and a unified method of countering the many constitutional concerns that both the people and the government sought to address for many years in the US history (Siegan, 2018).   

Thomas Hobbes is an English philosopher that was present in the 17 th  century. He authored the book called Leviathan in 1651 reflecting his political perspectives on the society  (Spragens Jr, 2015) .  

Thomas Hobbes’ thoughts opposed the American governing standards, many of which were utterly coherent with the perspectives suggested in the nation’s founding articles. One of his idea was on absolute authority over government’s citizens  (Spragens Jr, 2015) . Whereas several ideas that he had proposed on social agreements, equality and natural freedoms guided the formation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, others were omitted in the U.S. framework of governance before the Civil War.  

John Locke initiated a foundation by his names John Locke Foundation after the 17 th  Century. He was an English political philosopher, a knowledgeable superman whose perspectives and philosophies could be traced in the entire country’s first political manuscripts, comprising and particularly the Declaration of independence (Schoules 2018).  

John Locke was convinced that the intention of the government was to enable all individuals attain equal natural rights. He also supported that the government had a responsibility to protect and safeguard its people. He did not concur with the idea that some individuals were born with leadership spirit based on being part of an affluent family. He even supported that even a monarchy should only be allowed under the consent of citizens.  

Montesquieu was a very prominent French philosopher. As a political intellectual, his contributions were penetrating during the Age of Enlightenment (Shackleton, 2017).   

Montesquieu became famous in 1721 after publishing the Persian Letters. Persian Letters was a politically cruel irony of religions, governments and monarchies. The publication was presented as an epistolary novel yet that was just a mask. Montesquieu relocated to Paris, made several trips and insisted making publications like “The Spirit of Laws” that was done in 1748 (Shackleton, 2017). Such books had a great impact of how governments needed to operate, shunning classical perspectives of government for new definitions. He initiated the perspective of separation of powers into executive, legislative and judicial forms of government so that freedoms to exercise rights would be successful.   

Benjamin Franklin is recognized among the founding fathers of the United States. He was a famous renaissance man, renowned author, printer, political philosopher, scientist, designer, activist, patriotic and a diplomat (Franklin & Kohn, 2017).   

Benjamin Franklin was very aggressive in the writing one of the most defining documents in the American history. He was privileged to be the only founding father that signed the two documents that constituted US. That is, the Treaty of Paris in 1783 and the Constitution (Franklin & Kohn, 2017). Franklin was also recognized for his contributions of theories of understanding and creating electricity. The theories were published in 1751. He was one of the leaders in the Colonial States and being an ambassador and foreign diplomat for regions such as Massachusetts, Georgia and New Jersey.   

Alexander Hamilton was an envoy in the Constitutional Convention and authored the Federalist documents. He was the first secretary of the treasury of America (Hamilton, 2017).   

One of Alexander Hamilton’s major achievements in the position of the secretary of the treasury was persuading Congress to endorse the formation of a mint to create American money. His input was later felt when he speared the creation of that institution. Before being selected to be secretary of the treasury of the United States, he had published 51 articles in the Federalist papers. He was also an aggressive participant in the Revolutionary War defending the country (Hamilton, 2017).   

George Washington became the first’s president that the United States ever had. He was one of the founding fathers of the United States. He became the Commander in chief of the Continental Army at the time of the American Revolutionary War (Ambler, 2018).   

Washington is the father of America. He started becoming popular when he was asked by the Congress to lead the Continental Army in 1775 (Ambler, 2018). After much struggle, they chased away the British from Boston. The Continental Army also conquered the British army in New York City after a long time of struggle. Although, this was after a long struggle because of the British army were very strong for them at the beginning.   

Thomas Jefferson was also a founding father of America, who was also one of the major writers of the Declaration of Independence. He became the second vice president of the nation after an election when John Adams was the president. He was later became the third president of the United States in 1800 after an election (Lerner, 2017). 

Thomas Jefferson, who authored the Declaration of Independence, was declared the third president of the United States. At the time of the American Revolutionary War between 1775 and 1783, Thomas worked in the Virginia legislature and the Continental Congress. He also became the governor of Virginia at some time. Thomas was also the US Minister to France as well as US secretary of state. Before he became the president, he was the vice president at a time John Adams was the president between 1735 and 1826 (Lerner, 2017). He also spearheaded the purchase of Louisiana Territory. He advocated for the freedom of people. He was among the pioneers of the University of Virginia.     

James Madison was the fourth president of the United States. He developed a number of political theories, and was recognized as an American patriot (Ball, 2017).   

James Madison is also one of the founding fathers of America, who was elected as the fourth president. He served as a president from 1809 to 1817. He aggressively pushed for a strong federal government. Madison formed the initial portions of the US constitution as well as the Bill of Rights. In fact, he was given the name “Father of the Constitution. In 1792, Madison together with Jefferson formed the Democratic-Republican Party, which has deemed the first opposition party to ever exist in America (Ball, 2017). Madison assumed the role of secretary of state when Jefferson was the president. He spearheaded the acquisition of Louisiana from the French in 1803. He is also remembered for fronting the contentious war of 1812 that extended to 1815 to oppose the Great Britain.     

John Adams was the first vice president of the United States. He is recognized as among the founding fathers of the nation. He was a lawyer, authored several books, a patriot and at the same time a states’ representative (Hutson, 2015).  

John Adams fronted the American Revolution. He was later elected as the second president of the United states between 1797 and 1801. Born in Massachusetts, Adams began his professional journey as a lawyer. He opposed the Great Britain’s authority in the colonial American as termed it a persecution when the British imposed huge taxes and tariffs on the people. He was one of the delegates in the Continental Congress. As a diplomat in Europe, Adams also negotiated on behalf of the nation the Treaty of Paris in 1783 (Hutson, 2015). Ultimately, the treaty led to the termination of the American Revolutionary war.   

As James Madison defined, a faction contained a significant number of people, whether on the majority or minority side that were joined and motivated by some mutual desire of passion, or of concern, confrontational to the citizens’ rights, or to the long-lasting and total interests of the society (Rose, 2015).   

Madison articulated in Federalist 10 that factions were to be revered since they permitted the majority to persecute the minority. The proposers of the recommended constitution refereed to themselves as the Federalists, and they demonstrated a dedication to a liberal, devolved system of government. The constitution was to cause the country experience an independence from any type of oppression. Small farmers, small merchants, workers and debtors backed the federalists (Rose, 2015).   

The antifederalists composed a number of coalitions of individuals that criticized approval of the constitution. Even though this group was less structured and organized as the Federalists, they also had a section of leaders that were renowned and influential in state politics (Bradford, 2017). 

The anti-federalists supported that the central government were supposed to have equal parameters and inputs to its states. They opposed the federal constitution proposing strong state governments, while having an inferior national government, even after the constitution was approved (Bradford, 2017). The anti-federalists received the support of large landowners, experts, creditors, affluent people, businesspersons and those that were staying in mostly densely populated regions by the seaboard.      

A representative democracy is when the public or citizens give some representatives the chance to make decisions or laws on their behalf. The public votes for representatives. The representatives come up with laws and systems on behalf of the people who voted them (Gauja, 2016).   

The United States is seen as a republic since in the system the people are allowed to vote the leaders that they prefer to represent them. The representatives make policies on behalf of the people. Even though, some states give the people the opportunity to cast direct votes on particular programs or through referendums. However, other states would solely elect their representatives who will decide on all policy matters (Gauja, 2016). The government is empowered by the power and is accountable in the way they execute their powers.   

In direct democracy, the government creates laws through the contributions of the society- the general vote. The government cannot make decisions by isolating the people, but with the people (Haskell, 2018). That is the people have to vote for or against every bill or laws before they are passed. 

The U.S. government incorporates directly without altering to the aspirations of its citizens that are voiced through the votes. The public is allowed to support changes very speedily through voting. The U.S system of governance requires the indulgence of the public by giving them the chance to vote what they find is effective for them (Haskell, 2018).    

Separation of powers is a political practice that was initiated in the works of Montesquieu in the “Spirit of laws” where he recommended that the government be constitutionals have three arms- legislature, executive and judiciary (Barendt, 2017). Each of these arms would have specific responsibilities and powers unique to themselves. This aspect was referred to as separation of power.  

Separation of powers has been done into three sections: legislature, executive and judiciary. The functions of the state are assigned to various institutions so that they can monitor and assess each other’s tasks. The system ensures that no institution is tasked with the function of making all the decisions of the nation and none of the institution can dissolve the whole system. The checks and balance system are to facilitate the monitoring and assessment of the separation of powers (Barendt, 2017).    

Checks and balances comprise established rules that US national government adhere to ensure that one arm of government does become too influential to outdo the other institutions (Wilson, 2017). The check and balances ensure equality of these arms at all times corresponding the functions and responsibilities assigned to every one of them. Nonetheless, each of these arms has internal structure where they do checks and balances that regulate other arms so that they do not become more powerful. 

The democratic system is celebrated for developing framework for checks and balances to make sure that political authority is devolved to various arms. The system was established on one of the deep motivations of the government. The government’s ability to abuse is controlled and it is close to the citizens more than before (Wilson, 2017).