英語論文Building the State

導語：英語論文Building the State一文來源于網友上傳，不代表本站觀點，若需要原創文章可咨詢客服老師，歡迎參考。

AftertheUnitedstatesdeclareditsIndependencefromBritainonJuly4,1776,thelongprocessofbuildingthestatebegan.Thiserastartedwiththeindividualstateconstitutions,whichblendedthetraditionsofBritishandcolonialrulewiththenew,moreradicalrepublicanismthatinfusedthenationduringtheRevolutionaryWar.Stategovernmentsestablished,Americansrealizedtheneedforanationalgovernmenttotakeonresponsibilityfordiplomaticrepresentationandmilitarycontrol.ThefirstattemptatnationalgovernmentwaslaidoutintheArticlesofConfederation.TheArticlesestablishedaloosefederationofstatesthatallessentiallyactedasindividualrepublics;thebalanceofpowerlayheavilyinthestatesfavorandthenationalgovernmentwasfartooweaktoperformevenitsbasicduties.

Duringthemid1780s,thegovernmentundertheArticlesofConfederationprovedunabletosuccessfullylevyandcollecttaxes,andunabletocarryoutthebasicrequirementsofdiplomacy.Thenationwasindangerofbreakingapart.AfterShays''''RebellionalertedmanyAmericanstotheweaknessofthecurrentnationalgovernment,politicalleadersdecidedtoaltertheframeworkofgovernmentunderwhichtheUnitedStatesoperated.

TheConstitutionalConventionmetinPhiladelphiaanddeterminedthatitwasinthenation''''sbestinteresttocreateanentirelynewframeworkofgovernment.Fornearlyfourmonths,thedelegatesattheconventiondeliberatedonhowbesttoaccomplishthisrebuildingeffort.TheConstitution,theresultoftheseproceedings,setsoutthetripartitesystemofgovernmentthatisstillinplaceintheUStoday.ItcreatedabicamerallegislatureconsistingoftheHouseofRepresentativesandtheSenate,anexecutivebranchheadedbythepresidentandstaffedbythecabinet,andprovidedfortheestablishmentofajudicialbranch,consistingofafederal-courtsystemheadedbytheSupremeCourt.

AlthoughtheConstitutionestablishedthebasicframeworkofgovernment,itswordingwasvagueinregardtothedetails.Thus,thefirstCongressundertheConstitutionandthefirstPresident,GeorgeWashington,wereresponsibleforworkingoutthedetailsofgovernance.InthefirstyearsofthenewUnitedStates,WashingtonandtheCongresscreated,amongotherthings,thenowacceptedtraditionsofthecabinetandthejudicialsystem.Theprecedentstheysetestablishedthestandardoperatingprocedureofthenationalgovernmentforyearstocome.

DuringthefighttoratifytheConstitution,adivisionsprangupbetweenthosewhowantedtograntthecentralgovernmentbroadpowers,theFederalists,andthosewhofearedthatanationalgovernmentwhichwastoostrongwouldprovedespotic,theAnti-federalists.ThisdebatecontinuedintotheWashingtonadministration,asSecretaryofStateAlexanderHamiltonsetforthaprogramofeconomicFederalismwhichincludedtheassumptionofstatedebtsbythenationalgovernment,andthecreationoftheBankoftheUnitedStates.HiseffortspaidofffortheUSonageneralscale,butHamilton''''sactionsturnedmanyawayfromFederalism,sincetheybelievedHamiltonhadoversteppedtheboundsofthenationalgovernment.

AddedtothegrowinginternalturmoilwasthethreatofwarwithBritain,Spain,andtheNativeAmericansoverthecontroloftheAmericanWest(whichatthispointwastheareaaroundOhio).Onthebrinkofwarwithallthreeparties,Washingtonsentsuccessfuldiplomaticmissionstoachievepeace.However,internationalrelationsprovedtobeyetanotherareawherepassionsranhighandtheAmericanpopulationwasdivided.Washingtonleftofficein1797pleadingforanendtopoliticaldivisionandembroilmentinforeignaffairs.Yetdespitehisbestefforts,theAmericanpublicwasfarmoresharplydividedin1797thanithadbeenattheoutsetofhispresidency.Evenso,uponWashington''''sdeparturefromoffice,Americaitselfwasafarmorepowerfullyestablishednation.