The Federalist Papers are ubiquitously regarded as one the most influential American contributions to the development of political philosophy and are considered as the most independent source for identifying the intended meaning of the proponents of the United States Constitution by researchers, legal professionals, and judicial officers. The political ideology of the United States encompasses three essential political dogmas, such as fundamental rights, republicanism, and constitutional government. In hindsight, the United States did establish good government but only through the actions and pain of the entire nation. The United States will remain a government where requested changes are met with bias and reached by violence.
The Constitution of the United States was born from a cooperative effort on a number of critical discussions over the organization and powers of the federal government. The Constitution, however, had to be formally accepted by the legislatures of at least nine states represented at the summit before it could function effectively and efficiently (Felice). Essays by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison were written to persuade the opponents who did not desire to agree with their opinion (Felice). Nationalists advocated for the establishment of a more powerful central government that was fully capable of confronting the various issues that arose before the emerging nation. Hamilton was concerned about the fate of the Union, with unintelligent people gaining control and leading to collapse.
Although the primary goal was to impact the ratification vote, Federalist No. 1 defined the controversy in a much wider perspective, starting to question “whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force” (Jay et al.). As the author, Hamilton, intended to emphasize, the entire nation’s future did not lie only on the shoulders of those who were granted authority, either by birthright or violence, but on the shoulders of every citizen and member of the community. The people were given the power to make the most crucial choice in the country’s history. Therefore, it was a call to action to protect the country’s values and ideology.
Nevertheless, while striving for perfection, significant restrictions can be found throughout the rich history of the United States, with people being limited of their fundamental rights and the Constitution being violated. For centuries people fought for what by birth should be provided to them. Although John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison believed the new Constitution would lead to the implementation of major changes, these changes occurred later. The progress started with the abolition of slavery, continued with the women’s rights, civil rights act, and the battle is still going. The major event takes place not by accident but through the actions of people as the driving force.
Abolition of Slavery
After centuries of neglect and abuse, in the 18th century, Abraham Lincoln was determined that liberating the slaves in the south was crucial to the Union’s attempt to win the Civil War. Although the proclamation of emancipation, which went into effect the following year, was only applicable to slaves in the southern states, the president stated clearly that the Union was now fighting to provide a birth of freedom instead of only trying to support the South (Goodwin). The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1865, abolishing slavery (Goodwin). Millions of black women, men, and children, who had previously been kept in enslavement, were now granted freedom.
Women’s Rights
More than a century later, the battle for rights did not stop. The approval of the 19th Amendment in 1920, decades after the nationwide women’s rights movement began in Seneca Falls, finally granted voting rights for women (Neuman). Despite difficulties and inner disagreements in the decades following the Civil War, the suffrage campaign gathered steam in the early twentieth century, as demonstrators were detained, incarcerated, and went on strikes for the idea (Neuman). After the final state approved the 19th Amendment, women throughout the nation went to vote to utilize their earned opportunity to vote in the national election that autumn.
Civil Rights Act
It was not until 1963 that the cries of discriminated and oppressed minorities were heard. After years of effort and failures, humiliation, and segregation, advocates for inclusion and justice were finally celebrating the passing of comprehensive law prohibiting racial discrimination. President Kennedy presented the first significant civil rights legislation since civil rights advocates rebelled against segregation and voting restrictions across the south. Therefore, was met with fierce resistance, and thousands demanded jobs and freedom (Bloom). Following the president’s assassination, his successor proceeded the fight, steadfastly forcing the law through Democratic resistance in Congress (Bloom). In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed, which prohibited discriminatory practices pertaining to race, color, faith, gender, or nationality (Bloom). Moreover, it eliminated racial segregation in all public and many private institutions.
Same-Sex Marriages
It could seem that all of the big fights remain in history and happened, if not centuries, then decades ago. However, even this century is rich in accomplishments made by the huge efforts of the community. In 2015, the Supreme Court announced a historic decision stating that same-sex partners have the right to marry under the Constitution (Lunder). Obergefell v. Hodges, the lawsuit that contributed to this landmark success for the LGBT struggle for equality, originated when couples of the same gender sued in several states, claiming that their states’ restrictions on gay marriage were discriminatory.
The Court announced a decision reverberated through the Court’s 1967 decision in Loving v. Virginia (Lunder). This court case also invalidated government laws prohibiting interracial marriage. As a result, it was announced that the right to marry was among the most fundamental rights and freedoms promised to citizens under the 14th Amendment (Lunder). Therefore, it was decided to implement this right for couples of the same gender in the same way as for the non-LGBTQ+ couples.
Hence, the history of the United States of America is rich in events. The political ideology supposedly encompasses fundamental rights, republicanism, and constitutional government. However, for centuries millions of people were or have been oppressed for various reasons. Hamilton was right when he implied that the destiny of the nation rests on the shoulders of its citizens. However, the government only makes reflections and fair choices when they are demanded. Much of the accomplishments which are seen today, multiple amendments to the Constitution that provided people with their fundamental rights, were reached through force. History shows that multiple riots, marches contributed to the changes. Unfortunately, decades of pain can be overseen until it becomes too big.
Works Cited
Bloom, Jack M. Class, Race, and the Civil Rights Movement. Indiana University Press, 2019.
Goodwin, Michele. “The Thirteenth Amendment: Modern Slavery, Capitalism, and Mass Incarceration.” Cornell L. Rev., vol.104, no.4, 2018, pp. 900-990.
Felice, Carl M. “Rule by the Few in the Federalist Papers: An Examination of the Aristocratic Preference of Publius.” British Journal of American Legal Studies, vol.10, no.2, 2021, pp. 217-244.
Jay, John, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. The Federalist Papers. Books on Demand, 2018.
Lunder, Matthew W. The Concept of Ordered Liberty and the Common-law Due-process Tradition: Slaughterhouse Cases Through Obergefell V. Hodges (1872-2015). Rowman & Littlefield, 2021.
Neuman, Johanna. Gilded Suffragists: The New York Socialites who Fought for Women’s Right to Vote. NYU Press, 2019.