The American Revolution: The Role Of Self Government

The events of the American Revolution disclosed the colonists’ fears of the British’s overreaching political authority. In particular, Parliament’s actions confirmed their anxieties over their inability to self-govern and maintain their autonomy. However, after the colonies won their independence, the issue of self-government shifted as to how to maintain it. This was taken on account of the states’ varying priorities on public policy and their considerable geographical scope. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Founding Fathers debated the role of state sovereignty as indicated by the Articles of Confederation. While some emphasized how a small republic would be easier to maintain within the new nation, others argued for
They believed that a large republic was vulnerable to divisions that would undermine national unity. Their reasoning was an extension to their desire for a homogenous community. While it is true that a nation works best when its populace is united in support of the common good, it is imperative to understand how “impracticable” and “unwise” it would be to eradicate factions. According to Madison, factions are an inevitable result of the liberty granted to citizens to express their views in public. The danger with such internal divisions is not so much their causes, but rather their effects. This is noticeable in a democracy, where direct rule by the people encourages factions to compete with each other for power. Yet, since America is instead a republic, the people indirectly promote their political views by electing officials who work to support their interests, especially in the legislature. This system is structured to prevent any one cabal from dominating the others. In addition, it is ironically in a large republic that factions pose less of a danger to the people than in a small republic. By encouraging a larger number of parties to form, it is less likely that any one group will possess enough power to gain a “common motive” of popular support. In a small republic though, there are fewer groups, augmenting the chance that one may compose a majority. Over time, this majority’s interests will
Unlike a confederation, its implementation of a strong central government helps instill a sense of national unity by eliminating the problem associated with local sovereignty, which emerges when the states compete with each other to advocate their respective interests. The legislature’s roles are especially vital in creating laws to benefit the entire nation, while reserving for the states any powers not granted to the central government. In addition, virtue, while not having any clear definition pertinent to every citizen, is indirectly encouraged by focusing on the common good over local issues. This is especially notable when considering the role of factions. Factions, while not inherently bad, are more easily managed under a large republic through elected officials who attend to the people’s interests in order to control their effects. From the debates surrounding the Constitution’s ratification, it is clear that the benefits of a large republic extend to ensuring the protection of the liberties and natural rights vital to a free civic society for generations to