The Constitution of the United States is probably one of the most valued documents in all of U.S. history. However, it is also one of the most misused, underused, and misrepresented documents. Each political side claims its own take on what the constitution means and how the goals of each are more reflected in its framework. However, the truth is that the constitution belongs not to a political party, but to the people. This is why.
The issue of states' rights has plagued the United States of America since its inception. This can be seen, most notably, between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the late eighteenth century. The Federalists, who supported a strong central government, wanted to quickly ratify the constitution in order to preserve the "fledgling republic." The Anti-Federalists feared that a strong, central government would overpower local state authority, and they were right to fear too much power invested in the hands of the few. However, the constitution represents, perhaps, the best and worst desires of the U.S. and its citizens.
Under the constitution, white, landed males pushed for their own rights, while denying the rights of slaves, denied women the right to vote, and for many years, disallowed non-landed and working-class people the ability to espouse their views in the form of political will.
The truth is that the constitution is also our greatest success, but we must be ever weary that it was created by and for a small elite, whose wealth and power went unrivaled until someone stood up against them. The past should not be exalted as a glorious time of freedom and civility, but a time of division, poverty, and oppression. Surely, the constitution, even without its Bill of Rights which were added after the initial document, can be praised for its forward-thinking ideas, but we must not delude ourselves into thinking that this time period was some sort of amazing paradise with freedoms that do not exist today. The reality is that we must view the past with the same criticisms that we view our politicians and wealthy elite that we do today. They were not perfect heroes or uncanny villains, they were people with self-serving motives, espoused hateful rhetoric, and were pawns of corporate interest.
So the next time someone would like to remind you of our "perfect" constitution, remember that any "freedom" we have today, was wrested from the cold, deathly grasp of a small and powerful elite. There are no national heroes, there are only people.
The issue of states' rights has plagued the United States of America since its inception. This can be seen, most notably, between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the late eighteenth century. The Federalists, who supported a strong central government, wanted to quickly ratify the constitution in order to preserve the "fledgling republic." The Anti-Federalists feared that a strong, central government would overpower local state authority, and they were right to fear too much power invested in the hands of the few. However, the constitution represents, perhaps, the best and worst desires of the U.S. and its citizens.
Under the constitution, white, landed males pushed for their own rights, while denying the rights of slaves, denied women the right to vote, and for many years, disallowed non-landed and working-class people the ability to espouse their views in the form of political will.
The truth is that the constitution is also our greatest success, but we must be ever weary that it was created by and for a small elite, whose wealth and power went unrivaled until someone stood up against them. The past should not be exalted as a glorious time of freedom and civility, but a time of division, poverty, and oppression. Surely, the constitution, even without its Bill of Rights which were added after the initial document, can be praised for its forward-thinking ideas, but we must not delude ourselves into thinking that this time period was some sort of amazing paradise with freedoms that do not exist today. The reality is that we must view the past with the same criticisms that we view our politicians and wealthy elite that we do today. They were not perfect heroes or uncanny villains, they were people with self-serving motives, espoused hateful rhetoric, and were pawns of corporate interest.
So the next time someone would like to remind you of our "perfect" constitution, remember that any "freedom" we have today, was wrested from the cold, deathly grasp of a small and powerful elite. There are no national heroes, there are only people.
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