Preview

Virginia And Kentucky Resolution Research Paper

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
520 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Virginia And Kentucky Resolution Research Paper
While America was in its infancy, the people awkwardly tried to made sense of the freedom they had come to poses. Those considered elites worked to build a government that was both successful and capable of keeping the peace, while citizens found themselves still in the fight for freedom. The economy was in shambles after the revolution, and the elites were rising up to set forth a government better than the monarchy they left. The Strong central government began to come into place, but the states felt their freedom was being choked in the process. The American people began to resist the stronghold of government, resulting in events like the whiskey rebellion, the Virginia and Kentucky resolution, and the Northwest ordinance (Sheflin, Early National Period).
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolution represents the challenges the nation faced with their new freedom because it
…show more content…
The Alien and Sedition Acts were brought about in 1789 (Sheflin, Early National Period). The law stated that the American people were not allowed to protests the government, the years required for naturalization going up from five to fourteen, and any citizen could be imprisoned or expelled if they spoke out against the government or were deemed dangerous by the president (Sheflin, Early National Period). The early American government was making it quite clear there would be no rebellion. That if the government saw fit, they could do what they needed to keep the peace, even if that meant silencing the people (Sheflin, Early National Period). Unlike the state's response to the Whisky act where rebellion and mob action was taking place, the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions were a practical, and more moderate path for the states to get the freedom they

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Notes on the States of Virginia was the full length book written by Thomas Jefferson in 1781, during the American revolutionary war. In 1780, the secretary of the French legation to the United States “Francois Marbois” had drawn up 22 questions wishing to collect information on each of the 13 states to answer to his superiors. Those questions were sent to several possible informants including Joseph Jones, who at that time a member of congressional delegation. He had written the original questionnaire in his own hand writing and had given it to Thomas Jefferson; the second governor of Virginia who he had thought was the best person to answer all of the complicated questions about the beloved state. Joseph Jones knew about this Virginian’s knowledge and passion about the largest of the 13 original states. Jefferson rearranged Marboi’s 22 queries into the 23 queries and conducts his readers from a discussion of geography of Virginia through the state’s civilization.…

    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the pre-revolutionary period most colonists considered themselves Englishmen. Throughout the late seventeen hundreds many events occurred in which the colonists began to reevaluate their status as Englishmen. They began to think of themselves more as statesmen. This shift in sentiment led to the formation of a republic by the Articles of Confederation. No longer attached to the traditional propensities of the British monarchy and aristocratic social structure, colonists began to revise their social structure and allow for more social mobility. No longer was heredity the only way to acquire wealth and position. This alone was a momentous change in world history, allowing people, with no previous wealth or political affiliation, to rise in the ranks of society.…

    • 887 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Revolution brought along much change in the now United States. Post war changes occurred in the republic, this included politics. One important event was that of the Constitutional Convention in which men formulated and revised state constitutions and also developed the method by which frames of government were written and approved. The status of women was being defined and the idea of abolition rose in the North. The central government’s power of the nation was too low. Unity and power lacked in the Confederation. National debt, trade, and protection against the Spanish and Brits were several of the problems facing the Confederation. Economic troubles also gloomed over the new developing country. A major issue dealt with paper currency and how quickly inflation had occurred. Shays Rebellion was an issues in which state governments would not come to the aid of debtors in New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina. During the reformation of the constitution, the question was whether to amend the Articles of Confederation or to write a completely new one. The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan were two that were proposed. Conflict ensued between the states until the Great Compromise came to and established a bicameral congress which included the House of Representatives and the Senate. Men who fought against this new constitution were known as anti-federalists. But in the end the Federalists prevailed and the ratification of the Constitution…

    • 252 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    I think the KY/VA Resolutions reflected on older set of ideas verses a new constitutional development. The reason I say this is because The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were primarily protests against the limitations on civil liberties contained in the Alien and Sedition Acts, rather than expressions of full-blown constitutional theory. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions where acts written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison respectively in response to the federal passage of Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. The KY/VA resolutions argued that because the federal government was the outcome of a compact between the states, all powers not specifically granted to the central authority were retained by the individual states or by the people.…

    • 146 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American people were in the process of extracting a new government. With this newly established country, the people wanted a perfect union. They wanted a union that opposed the tyranny of Great Britain. Americans were done with the dictatorship and how they were being put through “taxation without representation”. The ruler of Great Britain was taxing the people without being a representative of their government.…

    • 206 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The United States was in a very turbulent time period between 1860 and 1877. Those dates saw the Civil War cast its horrendous shadow over America, as well as the rise and fall of Reconstruction. Changes that occurred during this time period are staggering, to say the least. Developments in both constitutional and social areas from 1860 to 1877 can be considered to have been a revolution.…

    • 566 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (or Resolves) were important political statements in favor of states' rights written secretly by Vice President Thomas Jefferson (who would later become president) and James Madison in 1798. They were passed by the two states in opposition to the federal Alien and Sedition Acts. Though often mentioned as a pair in modern historical discussions, they were actually two separate documents. The Kentucky Resolutions were written by Jefferson and passed by the state legislature on November 16, 1798, with one more being passed the following year on December 3, 1799. The Virginia Resolutions were written by Madison and passed by the state legislature on December 24, 1798. Jefferson and Madison collaborated on the writing of the two documents, but their authorship was not known for many years. The resolutions attacked the Sedition Acts, which extended the powers of the federal government over individuals inside the states. The resolutions declared that the Constitution was a "compact." That is, it was an agreement among the states. The federal government had no right to exercise powers not specifically delegated to it; should the federal government assume such powers, its acts under them would be void. Thus it was the right of the states to decide as to the constitutionality of such laws passed by…

    • 302 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Government’s role expanded from 1877 through 1920 due to social, economic and political injustice. American people got tired of the unfair treatment hence the reason there were so many riots, strikes and formation of civil rights groups. Living and working conditions were repulsive and it was time that government took a stand and help the people who needed it the most. Wealthy exploited the poor to reap financial gains while the government sat back and took bribery instead of fulfilling their civic duty.…

    • 83 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    With the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1789 in effect many issues revealed. The Alien and Sedition Act seemed to oppose to the Constitution. But with the Federalist seeming to be the “top dogs” they showed to it be reasonable. Some of the many controversies of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1789 resulted in producing Federalist to revolt against Democratic- Republicans and increase powers as well as it allowed one political party to believe they were in more control by eliminating the other.…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Us History 1790- 1860

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages

    During 1790-1860, there were many reformations taking place and many events that lead up to the reformation of this very inexperienced country, of America. All these events effected the United States different ways and caused many grievances for the young people living in America. In 1790 we firmly incorporated the first American cotton mill which led to the economic augmentation of the United States. In 1791 we established the Capital of the United States in Washington D.C., and Alexander Hamilton establishes the first bank of America. In 1794 in Pennsylvania there was an uprising called the Whiskey Rebellion. People were rejecting the taxes on their way of life, and that was whiskey. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson became President of the United States, and then in 1803 Jefferson made his magnificent purchase of Louisiana. In 1812 President Madison declares war against the British for their blockades of American Ports. Also, in 1812 President James Madison is reelected. In 1815, the British, totally clueless that the War of 1812 is over, attacked General Andrew Jackson and lost over two thousand soldiers. General Andrew Jackson was considered a hero. In 1817 James Monroe became our fifth President of the United States. In 1820, James Monroe dominated the election of the Presidency of the United States by winning all but one of the electoral votes. In 1821 Missouri became a state and the equality of slave and free states are set at twelve. In 1823 President Monroe puts his Monroe Doctrine through, which states that the United States will not permit any European hampering in the Western Hemisphere. In 1824, John Quincy Adams in elected President of the United States. In 1825 our transportation took a gigantic step for the better because of the completion of the Eric Canal. In 1826 our transportation still prospered with the first railroad being put into use, in Massachusetts. In 1831 Alexis de Tocqueville travels America and writes a book on the…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Revolution displayed certain stages throughout that matched with the broad general pattern. As a prelude before the Revolution itself, there were already preliminary symptoms of unrest within America that followed the first step in the general pattern of revolutions. Prior to the initial shots in 1775, growing discontent against the British Government who were passing certain acts that the Americans thought as very unfair had already risen to a high degree. With the majority of acts incurring economic and financial costs, by 1767, the Townshend Acts had been passed, putting further taxes on paper, glass and tea. Upon the taxes that the Stamp Act of 1965 incurred on such items as newspapers, official documents and almanacs, the American people became highly agitated and a feeling of resentment quickly spilled over the masses, ‘several person were for dying rather than submitting to it...’ [pg52 Maier, P.] Additionally, the Colonialist became increasingly violent, ‘Almost immediately after the Acts [implementation], outbreak of mob activity. By 1770, the preliminary symptom of unrest displayed through protest and discontent was evident. The Colonialist did not feel that they were obligated to be subject to these taxes without representation in British Parliament. Additionally, the psychological pre-condition associated with the cause of war was present in the Colonialist discontent regarding the numerous Acts bearing economic consequences. Not only had the events up till 1770 displayed active protests and early mob activity, it also hinted at the potential oncoming violence the growing mob could inflict which was the next step in the general broad pattern of revolutions.…

    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the course of American History, there were issues with the government which caused political, economic and social struggles.…

    • 573 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The issue with the Alien and Sedition Acts revolved around the fact that it took away the freedoms that Americans had just gained after the Revolutionary War. Jefferson and Madison brought up valid points in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions that followed. John Adams was infringing on the rights of the American people that were given to them in the Constitution. Loyalty to the government and loyalty to one’s country do not necessarily have to go hand-in-hand. After the Revolutionary War, the United States had a lot of work to do and had to figure out a balance between keeping the country together and staying true to what the country was founded on in the first…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Revolutions were rising up all over Europe. The revolutionaries were fighting for a new, republican form of government. Unfortunately, many of these revolutions failed and the population was even further oppressed. (n.d.) All of this strife forced many to flee to the American colonies.…

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In the early American life, people reacted to what the government was doing by writing and protesting in a non-violent way. Yet, with economic turmoil and debt from the war, laws were passed that would check America’s ability to deal with an unhappy populace. In the early 1790’s a whiskey tax was enacted requiring all corn liquor to be taxed. For the frontier farmers that depended on this whiskey in everyday economical life they were outraged. Feeling targeted because of their socio-economical stature started to petition the federal government. These protest escalated and citizens began to burn federal buildings and rebel against the American government openly. This significance of these open revolts shows how the people felt about be taxed when they thought it was wrong. This was also the first time the American people checked the American government to see if it could last. Americans at this time were still apprehensive about this new form of government and George Washington’s presidency. George Washington would respond with an addresses to the…

    • 1703 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays