What Is The Purpose Of The Articles Of Confederation Dbq

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Today, our founding fathers are rolling in their graves. July 2, 1776, a date that John Adams believed would be “the most memorable epocha in the history of America.” It was on this date that the newly formed nation of the United States of America formally declared independence from the British Empire. This date marked what would be the beginning of a long and bloody struggle for independence and, more importantly, the natural rights given to us by God. They fought this war knowing that it was very likely that they would all meet their end by British hands, yet they kept fighting. Why? They continued to fight because they knew in their hearts that the natural God given rights of every man, woman, and child were a cause more valuable than any …show more content…

Out of this need, the Articles of Confederation were born. They lasted for a short time, but were ultimately too weak to ensure the survival of our nation. We needed a way to keep our nation together, but many people were afraid that a document that gave our federal government too much power would put us in the same position we had just escaped, thus the United States Constitution was born. This document laid out the framework of the government of our nation, laid out the branches of it, its checks and balances, explained its purpose, and very carefully and deliberately named each and every one of its powers. The Constitution did more than that though, it also laid out the basis of the rights of every state of the union, as well as the rights of every citizen of the nation, and stated that our rights are not limited to those listed in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, rather they are too many to name, and that it is the government that is limited based on what is written in the Constitution. The Bill of Rights was created to lay out the most essential rights of the people and the states as a free …show more content…

This couldn't have been made any clearer. All powers not expressly given to the government (and those necessary for it to carry out its duties) rest in the hands of the states and the people. What the Supreme Court has done today is over step its boundaries and directly violate the tenth amendment to the Constitution. Nowhere in the Constitution is federal government given the power to dictate the terms and legality of marriage, yet that is exactly what they have done by forcing the legality of gay marriage in all states, and forcing all states to recognize the validity of gay marriage. This was a decision that should have rested in the hands of the states and the people to decide for themselves, but instead the supreme court decided to completely ignore the tenth amendment and deliver its own ruling, which is as good as law. This was wrong, and the five justices who voted in favor of it know it was. Even more disappointing however is how happy the American people are to see their tenth amendment right snatched from their hand without a second