Introduction
The mid-18th century has witnessed significant historical changes in the political arena. One of those changes is the emergence of a new county and a nation, the United States of America. This grand event that created a country, which later will become one of the most developed nations in the world, was initiated by elite members of colonial society and became known as the Patriots. Although by relying on civic engagement and ethical considerations of equality and democracy, Patriots have succeeded in establishing an independent country, the ultimate result was not shared by ethnic, racial, and gender minorities.
Patriots: Civic Engagement, and Ethical Considerations
Patriots were British colonists in the United States who resisted and rebelled against imperial oppression during the American Revolution. Some of the prominent Patriots included Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. The patriots also included African-Americans who participated actively in the common goal along with the founding fathers. The goal to gain independence from the British empire derived primarily from the endless taxes on multiple materials ranging from tea to paper imposed on American colonists and people. Hence, the Patriots used several methods of civic engagement to further their goal. One of those methods was civic disobedience through the Boston Tea Party, whereby American colonists rebelled against taxation without representation. The primary ethical considerations that patriots were driven by were democracy, equality, and anti-oppression. For instance, while Thomas Paine emphasized that all men are born equal, the Declaration of Independence refers to famous lines about unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thus, patriots applied rhetoric of civic virtues of equality and democracy, which helped them galvanize public support.
Creation of the First American Government
After the victory of the American Revolution, patriots struggled to build a functional governmental system that simultaneously addressed democratic principles. In other words, they wanted to avoid creating a tyrannical government as it was under the British empire by giving too much power to the executive branch. One of the first attempts to make such a government was through enacting the Articles of Confederation, under which 13 states would retain their sovereignty, freedom, and independence from the federal government. However, this model failed to create a sustainable and functioning government since the national government was weak to enforce laws as each state was autonomous. Therefore, patriots reałized that to build long-lasting institutions, the United States needed to delegate power between states and national government, which set precedence for the Constitution’s creation.
Creation of the Second American Government
Patriots created a second American government under the Constitution to address their grievances regarding the tyrannical, impartial government. The Constitution was intended to create a robust federal government that can wage wars, enact laws, and allows states some sovereignty level. Although the second government was more successful than the first one, it also failed to address the grievances of some minority groups such as native people, African-Americans, and women. For instance, in 1786, the native people’s attempt to ensure that the government represented their rights still did not enjoy equality and democracy promised under the Constitution. Hence, a second government under the Constitution did not fulfill the aims and aspirations of the founding fathers.
To conclude, although patriots undoubtedly played a crucial role in creating the United States of America, the new government did not fully meet their aspirations as they struggled to reconcile state autonomy with a capable federal government. Moreover, equality and democracy promised under the American Revolution and Constitution were not provided for ethnic, racial, and gender minorities. Hence, to some extent, the second government under the Constitution merely replaced the imperial government with the American government.
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