Notes

Individual states chose to recognize and support the creation of separate forms of governmental branches that each had their own powers in order to ensure that a form of tyrannical ruling did not form, and so one form of government could not take complete control over another, similar to the reasoning behind why the colonies chose to separate from British rule originally (Pg. 126). The concept of having multiple branches of governmental powers with balanced amounts of control is known as separation of powers (Pg. 126). Separation of powers was developed by John Adams in the 1780s, in which each state had a governor that was elected, as well as members of the court that were dedicated to keeping policy by being elected for their entire life to make sure they were without bias (Pg. 126). While the idea of separation of powers seemed strong, many states still wanted to ensure that they were able to actively participate in laws and rulings that were made. Many states created their own constitutions, like Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, in which they did not maintain how each state would address a new national governmental body as a whole (Pg. 126). Many feared that tyranny was likely, and if it were to happen, it would be through having one large government, but it is understandable that many states feared that due to previous experiences with British rule. These states did not want the same thing to happen again.

One right that states gained during the ratification of the U.S. Constitution was the ability to veto or deny actions of the federal government, regardless of size, and would be equally represented in legislature. This right was originally proposed through the Virginia plan, but many smaller states did not agree with this, because the idea behind the Virginia plan involved more power going to the more populated states. Although the larger states quickly agreed to this, the smaller states such as Delaware and New Jersey did not. Then came the New Jersey plan, in which each state would be equally represented through legislature regardless of size (Pg. 133). The Virginia plan had five main points that were to be implemented, the first being to abolish the Articles of the Confederation, then create a governmental congress with two separate houses, establish a federal judiciary, eventually have a president that was decided on by Congress, and lastly create a centralized government system (Pg. 133). 

One of the concerns that was addressed at the Constitutional Convention was to make sure that if this federal governmental body was created, it would be sure to promote positive economics, social stability, and protect trade (Pg. 133). These states also agreed that if there was to be one President of this federal governing body, it was to be George Washington. Smaller states were concerned that if they were to be represented solely by their population, it would not be equal and beneficial to them. Neither side wanted to concede to the other group of states, but eventually Benjamin Franklin chose to address this and ensure the smaller states that they would have equal representation in the Senate, while the House of Representatives would be based on population, and that the larger states would make sure that an proposition having to do with federal funding, was to go through the House of Representatives, coinciding with both ideas of equal representation and population based as well (Pg. 134). This decision is extremely important when it comes to the creation of a federal governing body, and it is known as the Great Compromise. That was not the only concern addressed, but how each state would count it's slave population was addressed as well, subsequently followed by the three-fifths compromise, in which states could count their slave population as 60% of a normal civilian with full rights, in order to ensure that states would be fully represented and taxed accordingly. The last compromise that was made during this convention was in accordance to eastern states fearing that agriculture in the western states would lead to more overall political control, so the compromise was to give Congress the ability to add more states out west, essentially giving power to the eastern states to discern when and how a new state would be added (Pg. 133). Eventually once the majority of this was agreed upon, the implementation of separations of power was to take place, through having three federal government branches, the judicial, executive, and legislative branches. 

Congress was to be the most powerful form of federal government, in which they could collect taxes and raise revenue, regulate trade and commerce from inside the states as well as what was coming into the states, the ability to make a declaration of war, control the United States Army, and make necessary changes in order to enforce these powers (Pg. 135). Separating of powers was thereby implemented through Congress controlling what laws could be made, and ensuring that one governmental entity was not to be overly powerful. The Executive branch of government was to include the President, and those working with him, his cabinet (Pg. 135). The U.S. Constitution gave five major forms of power to the President and his Executive branch, and are as follows: The ability to make treaties as long as two thirds of Congress agreed, oversee and manage the army and navy, the ability to determine who was to be a diplomat of the United States as long as a communication was to be had with the Senate, and to enact the laws created by Congress, as well as the ability to veto laws that were not see to be fit by those in the Executive branch (Pg. 135). The U.S. Constitution also provided a Supreme Court system through the Judicial branch, where a federal system would manage cases between two or more states and or cities (Pg. 135.) This Judicial branch also recognized that the Constitution was to have more power than state laws as well. The implementation of the U.S. Constitution was not to be entirely unanimous between all states, but actually only needed to be supported by nine states in order to be active, and it was approved by those nine states making it enough to be the law of the land. Overall, many states were quick to support the U.S. Constitution, such as New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Georgia, and eventually was ratified by Pennsylvania (Pg. 135).