The formation of the United States was followed by several key events, including the confrontation between the American colonists and the British and the replacement of the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution. First, in the eighteenth century, the British Parliament that enacted laws for their colonies, did not have any elected representatives from America (Harrison et al. 35). As a result, the British neglected the interests of the colonies and took advantage by raising taxes and putting more restrictions on colonists in pursuit of their own “economic wellbeing” (Harrison et al. 35). In the 1760s, the British Parliament enacted several legislations which obliged colonists to pay increased taxes on certain goods and provide supplies for British soldiers (Harrison et al. 35). Consequently, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Quartering Act, and the Townshend Act made colonists rebel against the British to protect their freedoms and economic rights.
Hence, the formation of the United States is linked to replacement of the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution. The primary reasons for this action were the weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation and the need for centralized power (Harrison et al. 33). Before the Constitution, there was no centralized economic policy as well, which resulted in differences in taxes in various states and the absence of a national currency (Harrison et al. 41). Therefore, the Founders aimed at developing a more substantial centralized power which would also consider federal interests and could unite all the states under the universal rule.
Nonetheless, during ratification, the anti-Federalists feared that the Constitution gave major power to the national government and could neglect the authority of separate states. They also feared an imbalance between different branches of power with the dominance of executive power over the legislative (Harrison et al. 54). Additionally, anti-Federalists expressed concerns regarding civil rights as the Constitution could threaten the natural rights of citizens (Harrison et al. 41). Although the supporters of the Constitution suggested that the government “can only exert the [specified] powers,” anti-Federalists insisted on ratification of the Bill of Rights (“The Bill of Rights: How Did It Happen?” 2). Consequently, these fears of anti-Federalists were addressed, and the Bill of Rights was ratified in addition to the Constitution.
Works Cited
“The Bill of Rights: How Did It Happen?” National Archives and Records Administration, Web.
Harrison, Brigid C., et al. American Democracy Now. 6th ed., McGraw-Hill Education, 2019.