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Constitutional Convention Research Paper

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The Constitutional Convention was held in the beginning of 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation which had failed. Although, they ended up creating a social contract called the United States Constitution that forms the making of our government today. This was the next attempt of a government in the United States. , before the Articles of Confederation was modified, it had many flaws. A meeting called The Constitutional Convention was held to fix the Articles of Confederation. The United States Constitution was influenced by past issues such as the Enlightenment, their Colonial Experiences, and the failures of the Articles of Confederation. The Enlightenment was a period of time where the founders and the citizens began to question the world …show more content…

Four of which is life, living, liberty, and freedom. John Locke believed in natural rights which is now known as individual rights in the US constitution. Those natural rights. Some of which include Life, liberty and property. In the United States Constitution, one of the seven principles are individual rights. This principle was based off of John Locke's idea of natural rights. For example, for example, one of the individual rights that each citizen of the United States has, is life. This is something that cannot be taken away. Natural rights and individual rights are very similar in terms of what their purpose is. When natural rights were put into place, they served as a way to let citizens get some of their rights back from the king. Similarly, when individual rights were put into place, it was so people could have rights that could not get taken away from them. John Locke's idea of natural rights can connect to many of the seven principle found in the constitution. For instance, one of the principles is individual rights. Acknowledgingly,, Baron de Montesquieu also agreed Locke as well as had his own ideas about the government. Baron de Montesquieu introduced idea of checks and balances as well as recognizing the idea of natural rights, …show more content…

The Spirit of Laws. 1748. He states, “To prevent this abuse, it is necessary, from the very nature of things, that power should be a check to power...“ (Document D). This evidence explains that checks and balances because it talks about checking powers. There will be a lot of unfairness and government will not work properly.the legislative and executive branch cannot work against each other they must work together. One of the seven principles of the United States Constitution is checks and balances. For example, the president checks on the congress by signing and vetoing the laws. Also,, we have the branches check on each other. The legislative branch should not be solely responsible only making the laws so we have other branches approve the laws. Montesquieu introduces separation of powers by using Locke's idea on natural rights and using it to create separation of powers. He also shows checks and balances and limited government. Montesquieu's ideas is represented by what we now know as checks and balances. Not only did John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu influenced- the United States Constitution, but Voltaire did as well. Voltaire had a concept of separating religion from government. This is now known as

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(Montesquieu, Book XI, Ch.4). Charles’ ideas inspired the French to create the Declaration of the Rights of Man and to make a better government after overthrowing the monarchy. Montesquieu also influenced the American Revolution in a massive way. He warned, “Were the executive power not to have a right or restraining the encroachments of the legislative body, the latter would become despotic; for as it might arrogate to itself what authority it pleased, it would soon destroy all the other powers.” The Founding Fathers took his advice on the separation of powers when drafting the Constitution.

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May 1787. 55 delegates, one long, sweaty conference. The Constitutional Convention was a huge event for the United States. During this convention, the 55 delegates from all states except Rhode Island met up to change their Articles of Confederation. Instead of editing, however, the 55 delegates rewrote the whole thing into the Constitution, which is still used today.

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The Constitution of the United States was written in 1787, but there was a grapple for its ratification that went on until about two decades after the ratification. Members of Congress believed that the first government of the United States or the Articles of Confederation, needed to be adjusted while others did not want anything to change. After the Revolutionary War, the people did not want a strong central government, because it reminded them too much of what they were trying to escape from. Under the Articles, each state had their own laws, and the need for a new Constitution was desired by many. The Constitution of 1787 created huge debates, arguments and splits in the nation that lasted for several year after its ratification between people who

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Before the U.S. Constitution there was the Articles of Confederation. The document could declare war, negotiate treaties, and control foreign affairs. It couldn’t enforce laws, tax, and raise its own army. What the Articles Of Confederation lacked was a strong central government. Alexander Hamilton called for a constitutional convention in 1786, and it took place in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787.

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One of the biggest influences that John Locke had on President Jefferson was, what John Locke dubbed, “Natural Rights,” and what Jefferson called, “Unalienable Rights.” Meaning practically the same thing, these rights were very similar, and it is obvious that Jefferson’s version derives from Locke’s ‘Natural Rights.’ John Locke’s version stated that all peoples shall possess the following rights: Life, Liberty, and Property. In this case, life means, that people people will fight to live and want to survive. Liberty refers to being free, and being able to make one’s own decision.

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Consequently, a limited government was created in response to these new thoughts. Furthermore, this new type of government was extremely revolutionary because it changed the way that the citizens had thought or viewed about the government. Two Enlightenment philosophers that influenced the creation of the government were John Locke and Montesquieu. John Locke had the belief that everyone had natural rights (life, liberty, property) and that if the government failed to protect these rights, they could be overthrown and replaced. Also, Montesquieu’s idea of the separation of powers helped shape the government.

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Enlightened thought presented by Locke outlined the formation for a new government that served the people of the nation, restoring their rights and liberties, rather than just the

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To begin with, Montesquieu is best known for his ideas to revolutionize political systems. The separation of powers changed society by allowing people to think that not just one person should control and govern the laws of a country. The Spirit of the Laws which was a book written

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Locke ideas came before the American Revolution and were the foundation for the U.S Constitution and partly reasons for the revolution. Though these men were not able to live through or the start of their notions, the people took a hold of them impacting government systems. Niccolo Machiavelli was an

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Different factors had a part to play in starting or even propelling ‘the Age of Enlightenment’, including the rule of the Church and State which experienced a power struggle among them, in addition to the Western discovery of latest societies with noticeably exclusive cultural traditions and norms. Many intellectuals felt unhappy with the fixed social styles amongst their very own collectives, and angry at their governments' refusal to provide non-public rights. The lasting political effect of the Enlightenment can't be overstated. At the least three fundamental political revolutions came about throughout this time period in Britain, America, and France.

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John Locke was a philosopher and political scientist. He had many interests and produced a number of writings that influenced future leaders. One of these leaders was Thomas Jefferson, who was involved with the aid of America and the act gaining independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence and Locke’s views on government contain many similar aspects. These ideas includes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (natural rights); the protection that is provided by the government for these rights; and the altering or abolishment of government if it fails to provide and protect the rights of the people.

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Therefore, power has been justly distributed between each division of government. Checks and balances are yet another form of separation of powers in the government. As the Constitution was initially written, there were checks and balances preventing any one branch of becoming too powerful. Since we still follow the same Constitution (with a few amendments) those checks and balances are still used.

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Locke is a founder of the Common Sense pamphlet. He believed in government ruled by people. “He expressed the radical view that government is morally obliged to serve people, namely by protecting life, liberty, and property. He explained the principle of checks and balances to limit government power. He favored representative government and a rule of law.

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John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu were political philosophers that debated the question of who was best fit to control the government. Locke and Montesquieu shared similar political beliefs such as natural rights and the separation of government powers. However, both philosophers did, in fact, have their personal views that helped them accomplish important achievements. John Locke published “Two Treatises of Government” and “ An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” which present a detail philosophy of the mind and thought. Locke’s “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” lays out his philosophical project.

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John Locke discussed natural rights in his work, identifying them as being "life, liberty, and estate (property)", and argued that such fundamental rights could not be surrendered in the social contract. Although Locke thought natural rights originated by divinity since humans were creations of God, his ideas were fundamental in the development of the modern idea of human rights. For the first time the natural rights were not linked to any citizenship nor relied on any law of the state, nor were they destined to one particular ethnic, cultural or religious

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