The Evolution of Federalism Essay -- History Historical Democracy Essa

The phylogeny of FederalismAmerican federalism has changed drastically since its genesis. In 1776 the thirteen colonies adopted the Articles of Confederation in order to coordinate their efforts in the war for independence. The Articles of Confederation bound the states unneurotic in two main aspects foreign and military affairs. The Articles of Confederation worked strong while all the states had a common cause. However, as soon as the war ended and interests began to change, it became obvious that the Articles were not enough. This brings on the creation of Federalism (Reinventing American Federalism).In May of 1787, in the city of Philadelphia, delegates from all thirteen states met in order to create a more perfect union. The outcome was the Constitution of the get together States. Delegates debated over which take a crap of governance would best causal agent both the security, and the freedom that many sought in this new political science. The delegates spurned both co nfederal and unitary models of government for a new form of government called federalism. Federalism differs from the former two in that, unlike the unitary form of government, which is govern by a central government, federalism is not based on a hierarchy in which the state levels of government perform the duties and tasks handed put down by the central governmental system. Also, unlike the confederal system which gave all forcefulness to the states, only some of the power would be granted to the states. The federal government would handle foreign affairs, trade, military, and the economy (Reinventing American Federalism). Throughout the first half century of federalism, many argued over the roles that the federal and the state systems should play. By the while of the cultured war, slavery was at the top of the debate. Should slavery be a national or a state issue? The end of the civil war brought an answer to this debate with the addition of the 13th, 1quaternary, and 15th am endments (Hyde). These amendments ended slavery, and trim the power of the states over civil rights matters.The federal government started taking on a bigger role in the turn of the twentieth century. death chair Roosevelt expanded federal authority with his New portion program. The New Deal program was funded by the federal government, but administered by the states. This brought on the grant-in-aid system, a system in which the federa... ...through the minds of every one of those delegates in Philadelphia. These questions are all the same being debated today. The role of the government is constantly changing. It has the great ability to correct to the needs of the people. During the great depression, the federal government stepped in and gave aid to the needy. During the contend for equality, the federal government gave rights to minorities when states would not.Federalism is perhaps the greatest form of government by the people and for the people because of its evolution. Because people and society change, so must the form of government that presides over them. Federalism allows the flexibility to do so. Works CitedHyde, Henry. The Constitution of the United States of America. Washington United States Government Printing Office, 2000.Reinventing American Federalism. Issues of Democracy electronic Journals of the U.S. Information Agency. April, 1997 Volume 2, Issue 2.Sidlow, Edward, and Beth Henshcen eds. America at Odds 4th ed.California Wadsworth, Thomas Learning, 2004.Simon, Dennis. The Civil Rights Movement, March 26, 2005. http//faculty.smu.edu/dsimon/Change-Civ%20Rts.html