The celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence has passed, but it’s essential to recognize that the declaration was only the first step in making a unified country. Many of the founders argued that the country needed a remodeled government, considering whether it was possible to design a government that ensured liberty in the face of human nature’s inherent flaws.

Revolution’s Aftermath

In the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War, the national government remained a loose confederation of state governments. The war left the new republic with extensive debts shared unevenly between the states. Common farmers, including many Revolutionary War veterans, rebelled in opposition to postwar taxation policies.

The Second Continental Congress in 1777 produced the first constitution of the United States, the Articles of Confederation. However, differing interests between state governments slowed ratification. Only in 1781, as the Revolutionary War was entering its final stage, did all of the states finally agree to ratify the articles.

Competing Visions

The nationalists, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, sought to convey that the proper role of government is to protect people from themselves. They believed in a more centralized national union that balanced competing interests in the new republic. The Federalist Papers, a series of essays written by these authors, argued that the inherent flaws of human nature necessitated a strong government to check political abuse, self-interest, and even violence.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.