Constitutional chaos

  The fight for independence was and still is a painful one. In the book, "American Creation" by Joseph Ellis, chapter 3 addresses Washington and Madison's struggle to welcome a new government style, one that would bring a compromise amongst all states in one central way. Argument filled the scene but essentially developed the American answer. A healthy democracy or tension among the people brought out the ideas and philosophies of which our country is built upon. 

   The Articles of Confederation was the "first constitution" between our 13 original states but being frank, a constitution that was not effective. A weak sense of government with no one to officially enforce it and having no authority to collect taxes and no given word for the people. "The people" being the main concern of the nation.

   The first issue needing to be addressed was the Articles of Confederation, a new government style was a necessity, so Madison went to work. He constructed a general constitution in hopes it would have all the states on board, the Virginia Convention was to enclose this argument with some seriously vicious words.

  Madison was up against Patrick Henry, the most popular figure in America at the time and who opposed Madison's ideas almost absolutely. But as John Marshall said, "Mr. Henry had, without doubt, the greatest power to persuade, Mr. Madison had the great power to convince", this is relieving because in physical attributes Madison did not have much to offer.

  The new constitution exposed true citizenry, giving the phrase, "We, the people" meaning we would operate directly on the people's thoughts as a whole. 

   The point of Madisons argument was thus: "The genius of Madisons argument for a version of sovereignty that was at once shared and divides raised the wholly pragmatic and politically painful compromises reached at the constitutional convention to the level of a novel political discovery: to wit, the notion that government was not about providing a framework in which the salient questions could continue to be debated".

  Madison's goal was to create a republic among all interest groups to compromise needs. A republic that could effectively communicate and come up with solutions that would work in future situations. Madison set up a democracy and an effective constitution that helped unify all needs and a way to discuss issues in a manner of debate. A healthy debate that gave way to the nation we have today.