PS 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Seventeenth Amendment To The United States Constitution, Direct Democracy
22 Jun 2020
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Document Summary
Articles of confederation were a framework for newly independent usa. Each state kept its sovereignty, freedom and independence. The articles had a number of problems. Only one vote per state, regardless of population. Unanimous vote required to amend the articles. Each state had its own economic policies, currency and foreign policy. Farmers were coming home from the war in debt, losing their homes and going to prison. In massachusetts, daniel shay led a rebellion against the local court to halt foreclosures. The state government asked the national government for help, but it lacked the funds to raise an army. Shay"s rebellion showed just how weak the federal government was and how a strong central government was important. Representation of the people in the government. They feared the passion of the masses, ie they feared that issues of the moment could turn the electorate into a mob, therefore direct democracy was not good.
