Unit 2 Assignment
Purdue University Global
SS 236 American Government
Dr. Matthew West
August 12, 2024
Fresh off the American Revolution, the United States was facing many uncertainties.
They argued the political issue of Federalism vs. Anti-Federalism. The country was divided on
the social issue of slavery and there was a complete lack of authority regarding trade. In order to
address these concerns, a group of delegates thought to be the best and the brightest came
together to compile the United States Constitution of 1787. If a new Constitution was created in
2030, it would need to re-address the major political division between wanting more federal
oversight versus the majority of the oversight to be held in the States purvue. There are extreme
social conflicts currently taking place within the country that have led to the uprising of
extremists. They would also need to tackle the crippling debt that has ravaged our country.
There have been 237 years between the creation of the original United States Constitution and
now and there could not be more of a need for a new Constitutional Convention than in 2030.
There were several factors that shaped the Constitution of 1787 politically, socially and
economically. Federalism was the ideal that stated that there should be “more of a balance
between the power of states and the national government”. This ideal was the political factor that
was ultimately decided upon. Slavery was the largest social factor that encompassed the newly
formed United States. The founding fathers created an agreement known as the Three-Fifths
Compromise that “ensured that an enslaved person—called an “other person” in the Constitution
—would count as three-fifths of a person for a state’s representation”. The most important
economic factor that influenced the U.S. Constitution would be trade. Before the constitutional
convention, the United States lacked the authority to regulate commerce or enforce tax laws.
Just like the Constitutional Convention of 1787, there are three issues that might shape
the Constitution of 2030. Currently, there is a strong political battle going on within the country
over the balance of powers between the power held between Federal and State governments.
Half of the country wants the federal government to have more oversight and the other half
prefers the most power to be in the State’s hands. These same political factions have caused a
great social divide within the country. The two main political parties, Republicans and
Democrats, are extremely divided due to their opposition on many social issues, including debate
regarding pro-life versus pro-choice, their prioritization of faith, and their focus on physical and
mental health. The current US National Debt clocks in at $35,154,636,000,000 and counting.
The International Monitoring Fund has urgently requested that America’s increasing debt be
urgently addressed or a financial crisis of unheard-of repercussions may be on the forefront.
There will have been 237 years between the creation of the United States Constitution
and now, with an ever-growing need for revision. The political issue of Federalism versus Anti-
Federalism seems to be a major concern for both Conventions. Slavery was a major concern in
1787 and has since been addressed, but there are still many social issues facing America from
Republicans and Democrats that have led some to resort to extreme measures. The economic
issues facing the Americans of 1787 involved the regulation of trade and the establishment of
taxation, whereas the crippling U.S. National debt would be the issue of current concern. The
problems of today might vary from the original issues facing early America; however, it does not
make them any lesser. Our country is facing unparalleled division and needs unity like never
before.
Reference
Abernathy, S. F. (2022). American Government (4th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
(US). [Link]
