Emily Meyers: Preamble Project

Virgina and Kentucky Solutions

The Virginia and Kentucky solutions claimed the Alien and Sedition acts (for more information about Alien and Sedition acts, see "Ensure Domestic Tranquility" section) unconstitutional by claiming that the acts overstepped federal authority under the condition. This was the first nullification.

This poorly demonstrates establishing a federal government that works in conjunction with its states, because the nullification proves that the states and the federal government were not at agreement. This demonstates that there were disagreements between the governement and states that were not being solves, showing how the government and the states were not working together in conjuction.

McCulloch v. Maryland

McCulloch v. Maryland was a supreme court case, which ruled that Congress had implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. These implied powers are that the government is able to create the Second Bank of the United States. The court also ruled that the state of Maryland lacked the power to tax the Bank.

This successfully demonstrates establishing a federal government that works in conjunction with its states because the National government gains control over a federal bank, which then regulates the economy. This regulated economy will allow people from all different states to be able to trade with one another, instead of just being able to use the currency of your state. This will allow for a nationwide flowing economy.

Gibbons v. Ogden

In 1808, the state of New York authorized steamship companies to operate ships in state waters, including waters extending between the state. Ogden held a license to operate steamships between New Jersey and New York under this monopoly. Ogden sued Gibbons for using his boat, arguing that the jurisdiction granted by New York was valid even if he was operating in shared waters. He disagreed, arguing that the U.S. Constitution gave Congress sufficient powers over interstate commerce. After losing twice in New York court, Gibbons appealed the case to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Commerce Clause of the Constitution gives the federal government the power to determine how international trade is conducted.

This court case successfully demonstrates establishing a federal government that works in conjunction with its states because it regulates commerce between the states. This case, which using the Commerce Clause of the Constitution gives the federal government the power to determine how international trade is conducted, leads to the ability of congress to intervene in interstate commerce, allowing for a growing economy. This also prevents arguments between the states, keeping peace within the border.

The goal of forming a more perfect union was mostly met. Two of the events that happened led to greater enforcement of domestic tranquility, while one of the events did not lead to greater enforcement of domestic tranquility. The conjunction of the states and union are important, and the states should be able to get along with one another and the federal government. The commerce clause and necessary and proper clause help for the federal government to maintain control over the states. Contradictory, nullification proves that states are not in conjunction with the national government. Overall, the United States deserves a “B” for aligning with the ideas of “Forming a more perfect union” because although they were very successful in many areas, there were a few areas that lacked.

The Whiskey Rebellion

In 1791, Congress passed a new federal tax on alcohol and the manufacturing spirits that produced it. In 1794, farmers in western Pennsylvania protested what they saw as unfair taxes on whiskey. Many men were arrested, and two men, John Mitchell and Philipp Weigel, were found guilty of treason, although both were pardoned by President Washington. In 1802, President Thomas Jefferson abolished the whiskey tax.

This poorly demonstrates keeping peace and order within the border because the citizens did not support the whiskey tax, and so they violently protested. This shows that the peace within the country's borders was temporarily lost because people were using violence against the federal government. This could have been prevented if the governement did not put an unfair tax on whiskey. Peace within the border is important, because as we see from this example, if there is not peace it can lead to death or harm to people.

Alien and Sedition Acts

The Alien Acts changed laws which worked in favor of the federalists. These laws made the time immigrants lived in America before becoming a citizen 14 years, when previously it was 5. These acts also gave congress the power to deport any males from foregin countries, and gave the president the power to deport non-citizens who were “plotting” against America. The Sedition Acts made it illegal to criticize the president, law, etc.

This poorly demonstrates keeping peace and order within the border because there was a lot of chaos happening between the government and the immigrants. The government, being allowed to arrest people at any time for suspicions, does not lead to peace within the nation because the government is becoming overpowering. This leads to an imbalance in power, making people angry, causing a revolt.

Bank War

The Bank War was a political battle over the true purpose of the Second Bank of America. The purpose of this bank is to stabilize the economy by establishing a uniform currency and strengthening the federal government. President Jackson opposed the bank because he saw it as suspicious. This resulted in the shutdown of the Second Bank, and it was replaced with state banks.

This poorly demonstrates maintaining order within the border because the government was trying to become more organized and efficient by establishing this bank, and instead the states became more separated. Regulation of currency was important for the country's growth, but the fact that this bank got shut down demonstrates that America was not organized well. Maining order within the economy is important for the regulation of currency, and without the second bank, the economy could not be regulated.

The early nation failed at ensuring domestic tranquility. Each example given proves that many of the ideations and actions of the Americans shortly after the forming of a union did not represent the ideals that the Founding Fathers wrote in the Constitution. Many laws, rules, and political statements were made that demonstrate that America was not at peace with itself, and that there was not much order to the states. Overall, ensuring domestic tranquility was not successful in the first 60 years following the ratification of the Constitution.

Slavery in the north and south:

Slavery in the north and south took innocent African Americans, many of whom were free Americans, and forced them to work without pay. The slaves were mistreated, abused, overworked, and underfed. These slaves went from living a free life to being someones property in the matter of days. The slaves were abused, raped, overworked, and deprived of sleep. Many of the slaves were lashed by their owners, or raped in their sleep.

This poorly demonstrates protecting the freedoms and rights and citizens because many African American citizens lost their rights to freedom. These people lost their right to property, education, and many other things. These slaves had all of their human rights taken away, and they were treated as objects. The restrictions of their freedoms do not support the ideals of the Constitution, which is supposed to ensure freedom for all. Hense, this shows that through slavery, America failed at securing the blessings of liberty.

Indian Removal Acts

The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Jackson on May 28, 1830. These acts forced the Native American tribes to relocate to the west of the Mississippi river. These efforts to move the Native Americans west of the Mississippi river turned from gentle requests to enforced laws. Many of the Native Americans ended up in concentration acts in Oklahoma.

This poorly demonstrates protecting the freedoms and rights and citizens because the native tribes of America were forced off of their property. The native americans lost their right to the property they owned, which is a right defined in the bill of rights. These native americans lost their rights due to the Indian Removal Acts, which contradicts the security of the blessings of liberty listed in the Constitution. So, the Indian Removal Acts prove that America did not uphold the bill of rights or the Preamble

Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was the idea that the United States of America was designed by God to expand and spread democracy and capitalism in North America. It was a religious belief that it was the American duty to spread west to the pacific ocean.

This successfully demonstrates the security of the blessings of liberty because Manifest Destiny's purpose was prosperity. The goal of Manifest Destiny was to grow as a nation, which would lead to prosperity because there would be more opportunities for growth and development. Also, Manifest Destiny supports the idea that people can follow their own religious beliefs in America. These people were not punished or discriminated against for following what they thought God intended them to do.

The Constitutional goal of securing the blessings of liberty was not demonstrated well during the first 60 years after the Constitution was ratified. There are many examples, such as slavery and the indiana removal acts which demonstrate peoples rights being taking away. This is the opposite of blessings of liberty because the rights and freedoms of these people were taken away from them. Although Manifest Destiny demonstrates the freedom of expression and religion, there are many examples in early America representing people's freedoms being taken away. Overall securing the blessings of liberty was only mediocrity successful in the first 60 years following the ratification of the Constitution.