The Constitutional Convention And Ratification Debate

The last half of the 18th century was monumental for the United States. It is in this era that the nation was founded following the Declaration of Independence and drafting and ratification of the Constitution a decade later. The 1787 constitutional convention and ratification debate was pivotal in the making of the US Constitution. The dynamics, antagonism, considerations, process and the eventual consensus regarding the Constitution can be explained by discrete theories in political discourses. However, there are theories that fit best within this historical context and help better explain the process of constitutional convention and ratification. This paper will talk about pluralist theory as a theoretical perspective that best explains the workings of the 1787 constitutional convention and ratification debate, as opposed to power elite theory. This will be achieved by looking at the premises of pluralist theoretical perspective, and the workings of the 1787 constitutional convent ion and ratification and then show how pluralist theory best captures the workings. Pluralist Theory Pluralist theory views politics and decision making as a competitive phenomenon where different groups and individuals have different views and that there is no single elite group that exercises influence (Davis Go, 2009). The theory holds that power is relatively broadly distributed among different interest groups. These groups hold different views of the same aspect and compete with eachShow MoreRelatedThe Constitutional Convention And Ratification Debate1409 Words   |  6 Pagesdrafting and ratification of the Constitution a decade later. The 1787 constitutional convention and ratification debate was very important in the making of the US Constitution. The dynamics, antagonism, considerations, process and the eventual consensus regarding the Constitution can be explained by discrete theories in political discourses. However, there are theories that fit best within this historical context and help better explain the process of the constitutional convention and r atification. ThisRead MoreThe Constitutional Convention Essay1198 Words   |  5 Pagesdecided that a convention should be convened to revise the Article of Confederation (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2009). Congress felt the Article of Confederation was not enough to effectively deal with the young nations issues. Congress knew it was time for the country to move forward, and to do that, there would be some big changes ahead, and that was the end of the Articles of Confederation, and the beginning of the created US Constitution. Reasons for the Constitutional Convention After theRead MoreThe Constitution Convention And The Ratification Debate Essay1196 Words   |  5 PagesConstitution Convention and the ratification debate The constitutional conventions importance is indisputable, it is one of the biggest turning points in history and it is also an event that continues to affect politics to this day. It can’t be ignored, the constitutional convention has such a big historical significance and such a direct impact on America. People have tried to examine the workings behind the constitutional convention and the ratification debate. Many people debate whether the constitutionalRead MoreThe On The Workings Of The Constitution Convention Essay1319 Words   |  6 Pages355 Professor Alan Buckley 9/25/2013 The Idea of Pluralism in the Workings of the Constitution Convention â€Å"The fundamental importance of the 1787 Constitutional Convention is indisputable, not only as a turning point in the history of the United States, but also as an event that continues to affect contemporary politics† (Pope and Shawn 1). Indeed, the historical significance of the Constitution Convention and its direct impact on American contemporary politics cannot be ignored. For over two-hundredRead MoreThe Constitutional Convention of 1787 Essay817 Words   |  4 PagesThe Constitutional Convention of 1787 was held to address problems in governing the United States which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation since it’s independence from Britain. Fifty-five delegates from the states attended the convention to address these issues. The delegates consisted of federalists who wanted a strong central government to maintain order and were mainly wealthier merchants and plantation owners and anti-federalists who were farmers, tradesmen and local poli ticiansRead MoreConfederation and Constitution1594 Words   |  7 Pagesweaknesses that were changed in the Constitution. There were many compromises made between the states in order to effectively draft the Constitution. Roger Sherman’s Plan kept the Constitutional Convention together which was later known as the Great Compromise. The fight for the Constitution had just begun and the ratification processes needed to take place. Even with some states being in favor of the Constitution it would take time to get the nine states needed to complete this process. The statesRead MoreEssay about U.S. Constitution Ratification Debates789 Words   |  4 PagesConstitution Ratification Debates On September 28, 1787, after three days of bitter debate, the Confederation Congress sent the Constitution to the states with neither an endorsement nor a condemnation. This action, a compromise engineered by Federalist members, disposed of the argument that the convention had exceeded its mandate; in the tacit opinion of Congress, the Constitution was validly before the people. The state legislatures decisions to hold ratifying conventions confirmedRead MoreWhy Did The Federalist Papers Influence The Ratification Of The Constitution?2354 Words   |  10 Pagesand Evaluation of Sources This investigation will explore the question: To what extent did The Federalist Papers influence the ratification of the Constitution? The publications, arguments, and effects of this document will be the focus of the investigation to allow for an analysis of where and in what ways The Federalist was influential during the constitutional conventions from 1787 to 1789. The first source that will be evaluated in depth is Ron Chernow’s book â€Å"Alexander Hamilton† which was publishedRead MoreThe Debate Over The Articles Of Confederation And The Constitution Of 17871461 Words   |  6 PagesThe debate over the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation has been a long lasting one. In order to create a document that would adequately protect the American people and their interests’ the Founding Fathers embarked on a journey to create a document that would address all of the discrepancies found within the Articles of Confederation Therefore, the purpose of this paper is threefold. First, to compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of 1787. Second, toRead MoreDebate over the Strength of Central Government1056 Words   |  5 PagesDebate Over the Strength of Central Government The period of 1783-1800 was shaped by the debate between those who supported a strong central government and those who wanted more power given to the states. This period dealt with issues surrounding the formations of factions that threatened to split the young nation, the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, and the constitutionality of a national bank. Factions divided the people into those who supported a strong central government and those The Constitutional Convention And Ratification Debate The last half of the 18th century was very important for the United States. During this era, the nation was founded following the Declaration of Independence and drafting and ratification of the Constitution a decade later. The 1787 constitutional convention and ratification debate was very important in the making of the US Constitution. The dynamics, antagonism, considerations, process and the eventual consensus regarding the Constitution can be explained by discrete theories in political discourses. However, there are theories that fit best within this historical context and help better explain the process of the constitutional convention and ratification. This paper will talk about pluralist theory as a theoretical perspective that best explains the workings of the 1787 constitutional convention and ratification debate, as opposed to power elite theory. This will be achieved by looking at the premises of pluralist theoretical perspective, and the workings of the 1787 constitutiona l convention and ratification and then show how pluralist theory best captures the workings. Pluralist theory views politics and decision making as a competitive phenomenon where different groups and individuals have different views and that there is no single elite group that exercises influence (Davis Go, 2009). The theory holds that power is relatively broadly distributed among different interest groups. These groups hold different views of the same aspect and compete with each other forShow MoreRelatedThe Constitutional Convention And Ratification Debate1586 Words   |  7 Pagesdrafting and ratification of the Constitution a decade later. The 1787 constitutional convention and ratification debate was pivotal in the making of the US Constitution. The dynamics, antagonism, considerations, process and the eventual consensus regarding the Constitution can be explained by discrete theories in political discourses. However, there are theories that fit best within this historical co ntext and help better explain the process of constitutional convention and ratification. This paperRead MoreThe Constitutional Convention Essay1198 Words   |  5 Pagesdecided that a convention should be convened to revise the Article of Confederation (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2009). Congress felt the Article of Confederation was not enough to effectively deal with the young nations issues. Congress knew it was time for the country to move forward, and to do that, there would be some big changes ahead, and that was the end of the Articles of Confederation, and the beginning of the created US Constitution. Reasons for the Constitutional Convention After theRead MoreThe Constitution Convention And The Ratification Debate Essay1196 Words   |  5 PagesConstitution Convention and the ratification debate The constitutional conventions importance is indisputable, it is one of the biggest turning points in history and it is also an event that continues to affect politics to this day. It can’t be ignored, the constitutional convention has such a big historical significance and such a direct impact on America. People have tried to examine the workings behind the constitutional convention and the ratification debate. Many people debate whether the constitutionalRead MoreThe On The Workings Of The Constitution Convention Essay1319 Words   |  6 Pages355 Professor Alan Buckley 9/25/2013 The Idea of Pluralism in the Workings of the Constitution Convention â€Å"The fundamental importance of the 1787 Constitutional Convention is indisputable, not only as a turning point in the history of the United States, but also as an event that continues to affect contemporary politics† (Pope and Shawn 1). Indeed, the historical significance of the Constitution Convention and its direct impact on American contemporary politics cannot be ignored. For over two-hundredRead MoreThe Constitutional Convention of 1787 Essay817 Words   |  4 PagesThe Constitutional Convention of 1787 was held to address problems in governing the United States which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation since it’s independence from Britain. Fifty-five delegates from the states attended the convention to address these issues. The delegates consisted of federalists who wanted a strong central government to maintain order and were mainly wealthier merchants and plantation owners and anti-federalists who were farmers, tradesmen and local poli ticiansRead MoreConfederation and Constitution1594 Words   |  7 Pagesweaknesses that were changed in the Constitution. There were many compromises made between the states in order to effectively draft the Constitution. Roger Sherman’s Plan kept the Constitutional Convention together which was later known as the Great Compromise. The fight for the Constitution had just begun and the ratification processes needed to take place. Even with some states being in favor of the Constitution it would take time to get the nine states needed to complete this process. The statesRead MoreEssay about U.S. Constitution Ratification Debates789 Words   |  4 PagesConstitution Ratification Debates On September 28, 1787, after three days of bitter debate, the Confederation Congress sent the Constitution to the states with neither an endorsement nor a condemnation. This action, a compromise engineered by Federalist members, disposed of the argument that the convention had exceeded its mandate; in the tacit opinion of Congress, the Constitution was validly before the people. The state legislatures decisions to hold ratifying conventions confirmedRead MoreWhy Did The Federalist Papers Influence The Ratification Of The Constitution?2354 Words   |  10 Pagesand Evaluation of Sources This investigation will explore the question: To what extent did The Federalist Papers influence the ratification of the Constitution? The publications, arguments, and effects of this document will be the focus of the investigation to allow for an analysis of where and in what ways The Federalist was influential during the constitutional conventions from 1787 to 1789. The first source that will be evaluated in depth is Ron Chernow’s book â€Å"Alexander Hamilton† which was publishedRead MoreThe Debate Over The Articles Of Confederation And The Constitution Of 17871461 Words   |  6 PagesThe debate over the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation has been a long lasting one. In order to create a document that would adequately protect the American people and their interests’ the Founding Fathers embarked on a journey to create a document that would address all of the discrepancies found within the Articles of Confederation Therefore, the purpose of this paper is threefold. First, to compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of 1787. Second, toRead MoreDebate over the Strength of Central Government1056 Words   |  5 PagesDebate Over the Strength of Central Government The period of 1783-1800 was shaped by the debate between those who supported a strong central government and those who wanted more power given to the states. This period dealt with issues surrounding the formations of factions that threatened to split the young nation, the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, and the constitutionality of a national bank. Factions divided the people into those who supported a strong central government and those