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Shay's Rebellion On The Making Of The Constitution Essay

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 How did the events that led to US independence and the historical context influence the US Constitution? The Declaration of Independence is a pillar of American history that has had a significant effect on the Constitution and the organization of the United States government. The Declaration of Independence declared the United States free of British control and outlined a philosophy of individual rights and liberties (CrashCourse, 2013). This text influenced the development of the framework for the United States Constitution, which provides individuals certain rights and liberties while ensuring the existence of a strong federal government to preserve those rights (CrashCourse, 2013). In essence, the language and concepts included in this …show more content…

The significance of Shays' Rebellion on the drafting of the United States Constitution may be observed in its impact on public opinion, role in influencing constitutional discussions, and potential to shape future public policy (CrashCourse, 2013). The lessons acquired through Shays' Rebellion acted as a wake-up call to the Founding Fathers, resulting in a stronger central government with greater authority to defend individual rights and liberties for all Americans. For example, one of the biggest flaws in the Article of Confederations was its inability to collect taxes, so the founding fathers found it necessary to create a document that would allow governments to raise funds to protect the interests of individuals (CrashCourse, …show more content…

 How does the US Constitution limit “the power of the people”? The United States Constitution is the primary law of the country, serving to limit "the power of the people" by safeguarding their individual rights and liberties (CrashCourse, 2013). The Constitution assigns some rights to the federal government while reserving others to state governments through its enumerated powers (CrashCourse, 2013). Furthermore, it provides civil rights like freedom of speech and religion, protection from illegal searches and seizures, jury trial, etc. (CrashCourse, 2013). These clauses ensure that people’s rights are protected and that they are not violated by the government.  What were the main arguments of those in favor and against ratifying the Constitution? When it was initially proposed, the United States Constitution was a contentious document. Those in favor of ratifying the Constitution asserted that it established a strong national government and ensured justice and liberty for all individuals, while those opposed contended that it established an overly powerful central government and eroded state rights (CrashCourse, 2013). The battle over ratifying the Constitution was raging, with both sides presenting strong points that are still being contested

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The rebellion was a sign of justification for constitutional reform. As a result, the Articles of Confederation were revised not long after the end of the rebellion, thus the new consitution was signed on September 17th, 1787. In a way, Shay’s Rebellion also resulted in geographical change. With the new constitution, slavery was left out of the discussion, which paved the way for tensions to rise and cause the American Civil War.

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