When the seventy-four delegates of the thirteen founding states of America came together at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia in 1787 to debate and draft a new constitution, they wanted to achieve two aims: On the one hand, they wanted to establish a successful and enduring federal government having the means to defend independence from European powers as well as to keep the states with their different interests together. On the other hand, knowing that authoritarian and corrupt monarchies oppressing their own people dominated the political world of the 18 th century, the constitution should be so carefully drafted that any government in future could be efficiently prevented from becoming too powerful and thus turning into a tyranny. 1
Many people in those days doubted if these two demanding aims could be equally achieved by the new constitution. They were of the opinion that tyrannical governments are the price to pay for a well-functioning and successful government. 2 However, the history of the American Constitution has proven these people wrong: even more than 200 years later the same constitution is still in power. And more than that: it has become the founding document of the first modern - functioning - democracy with the result that not only the American people - no matter to what political camp they belong as individuals - are proud of their constitution 3 ; many other states wanting to establish their own democracy have also tried and still try to imitate and adopt the features of the US- Constitution. 4 So, looking at the unique history of the American constitution, the question arises: What is it that has made this constitution so stable and successful?
In my essay I want to argue that two aspects are responsible for this success: On the one hand, the US- Constitution is marked by its incorporation of mechanisms through which the idea of a suspicion of a strong government is expressed in order to protect individual freedom. On the other hand, it is the constitution’s flexibility to adapt its general principles to new social conditions that have contributed to its success. The most important adaptation which took place in this context was that of the development of a social welfare state during the New-Deal-time which helped to master the worst economic crisis in American history. [...]
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The suspicion of a strong government
A. General idea
B. Features of the American Constitution of 1787
1) A stronger federal government
2) Limitation of power
3) Direct responsibility of the government to the people
III. The creation of a strong welfare state
A. Need for a welfare state
B. Features of the welfare state
IV. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the enduring success and stability of the US Constitution by examining the tension between the foundational suspicion of centralized government power and the modern necessity of a social welfare state. It investigates how these two seemingly contradictory elements shape American political history and governance.
- The influence of Enlightenment philosophy on the Founding Fathers.
- Mechanisms of the US Constitution designed to limit government authority.
- The transition from a reliance on self-sufficiency to the development of a welfare state.
- The impact of the Great Depression and New Deal policies on American political expectations.
- The ongoing challenge of balancing individual freedom with collective social security.
Excerpt from the Book
II. The suspicion of a strong government
The idea that people should be suspicious of an administration which has become too powerful and thus could abuse their authority is directly derived from the philosophy of the Enlightenment, which had a massive impact on America’s Founding Fathers. In this context, the British philosopher John Locke is especially worth mentioning. In his famous writing “Two Treaties on Government” from 1690 he states that people have natural, inalienable rights, above all those of life, liberty and property. To protect these rights, his arguments goes, people form governments by a social contract between the government and the governed, and according to this social contract a government is only legitimate, if it upholds the people’s rights. Because of this a legitimate government does not have the right under any circumstances to violate these rights. Therefore, according to Locke, a legitimate government can merely be a limited one that is always responsible to the governed.
However, after the successful rebellion against the British King – with reference to the ideas of John Locke –, a first attempt of a new, American constitution, the Articles of the Confederation ratified in 1781, failed. This happened because the federal government based on the Articles of the Confederation was too weak: it could not raise an army, or finance an army because it had no authority to tax the people. Instead, it had to ask the state governments for money and soldiers, and it seemed only a question of time when the different states would claim their independence from the federal government. The lesson learnt from the flawed Articles of the Confederation for the Founding Fathers was that, following Locke’s philosophy of a limited government, a government that is too limited was as bad as a government that is unlimited, as a government that is too limited means anarchy and a government that is unlimited means tyranny.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of the US Constitution's drafting and introduces the core argument regarding the balance between government limitation and social welfare adaptation.
II. The suspicion of a strong government: Analyzes the philosophical foundations of the American system, focusing on Enlightenment ideals and the mechanisms built into the 1787 Constitution to prevent tyranny.
III. The creation of a strong welfare state: Examines how demographic changes and the Great Depression necessitated the evolution of the American state toward social welfare programs to ensure political stability.
IV. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, noting that while both systems are essential, they create inherent tensions regarding federal power and budget management.
Keywords
US Constitution, Founding Fathers, John Locke, Enlightenment, Federal Government, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Welfare State, New Deal, Great Depression, Self-Reliance, Individual Freedom, Democracy, Political Participation, American History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The paper examines how the US Constitution remains successful and stable despite the ideological tension between a deep-seated suspicion of strong government and the modern requirement for a welfare state.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The themes include the constitutional origins of limited government, the influence of John Locke, the failure of the Articles of Confederation, and the subsequent rise of social welfare programs in the 20th century.
What is the main research question?
The core question is: What has made the American Constitution so stable and successful over more than two centuries?
Which scientific methodology is used?
The work employs a historical and political analysis, reviewing constitutional frameworks, philosophical sources, and economic shifts such as the Great Depression to support its thesis.
What does the main body cover?
It covers the historical development of American governance, starting from the Founding Fathers' intent to limit power through federalism and checks and balances, and concludes with the integration of the social welfare state.
How are the key terms defined?
The work utilizes terms like "suspicion of a strong government" and "welfare state" within the specific context of American history, referring to constitutional theory and 20th-century socio-economic developments.
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail according to the author?
The author argues that the Articles failed because the federal government was too weak, lacking the power to tax or raise an army, which led to a state of near-anarchy.
How did the Great Depression influence the American political system?
It acted as a catalyst that forced the government to expand its role and implement welfare programs to maintain public trust and secure the foundations of the constitutional order.
What is the relationship between the New Deal and the Constitution?
The New Deal is presented as a vital adaptation of the constitutional principles, allowing the government to address economic crises while managing the tension between its limited powers and the need for social protection.
- Quote paper
- Sebastian Dregger (Author), 2006, The Enduring Success of the US-American Constitution: Between the Suspicion of a Strong Government and a Strong Social Welfare State, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/63094
