NameProfessorCourseDateNature of GovernmentsWeek 6-6Fisher Ames, the Mire of Democracy (1805), in CAPCT, Vol.I, pp. 755-756whydoes Ames thinkdemocraciesfail?Whatconditions are necessary, according to Ames, forpeople to be free?Why is itthathebelievesdemocracywill, veryrapidly, result in a loss of freedomforthepeople?According to fisher ames, democracy is a failand a letdown to thefreedom of thepeople in a number of ways. Heusesthecase of flattery to defineandexplain his reasons behind thisstand on democracy. Heusesthescenario of a manwhobelievesthat his intelligence, knowledge, andskillentertainandpleases his peopleonlybecausetheyfolloworpretend to agree with his policies. Fisher believesthatpeople will followorfallsfor an ideaorplaniftheythinkthey will benefit from suchadventures. By doingthis, theyflatterthepersonorleaderwhobelievesthattheyfollow him because; his ideas are fortheinterest of allpeople. Democracy is therule of themajoritywherethose with numbershave an advantage over those with fewernumbers. Fisher usesthisbasis of democracy to disputethatdemocracy is a form of freedom. Hebelievesthatthose with highnumbers may not havethegood will of everyone in society. Heconcludesthat is not onlydangerous to thefreedom of allbut can also be used as a tool of revenge against people with divergentopinions. Hearguesthatthemajority may takeadvantage of their numbers to settle a score with their enemiesorrivalsevenwhentheyknowthat their decision is not in thebestinterest of thepublic.Wrongleaders may land in powerjustbecausetheyenjoy a largefollowing. This may lead to embezzlement of publicfundsandotherpublicresources. Those in theseleadershippositions may alsousetheopportunity to sidelinethosewhodid not voteorselect them to thisleadershippositions. Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, October 28, 1813, in CAPCT, Vol. 1, pp. 742-743.This is Jefferson’s reply to Adams’ letter of September 2, 1813 (see above). Howdoesherespond to Adams’ criticism?In Thomas Jefferson’s responseletter, hecriticizes john Adams in a well-calculated manner without offendingorabusingthelater. Hedoes not criticizethepersonbut his opinionsorviews about aristocracy among men. Heagreesthataristocracyis practiced in thesociety, however, with theintroduction of gunpowder, thepoorandtheweakalso has a waydefending themselves from anyarm, which be inflicted on the them by therichandhigh in thesociety. Despite therichandthehighhavingaccess to othersophisticatedweapons, theintroduction of gunpowdergivestheweakandpoorsomesense of security in their lives. Forinstance, eventhepower can ownlicensedgunsorfirearmsforself-defensewhenfaced with anydanger in their lives. Hedisagrees with Adams on his view of aristocracy since hebelievesthatthenaturalaristocracy is themostpreciousgift of natureforinstructions, thegovernments, andthetrust of thesociety. Thisview on naturalaristocracy is divergent from that of Adams whodoes not believe in naturalaristocracy, butratherthemanmade from of aristocracywheretherichruleandthepoorserve. Theacknowledgesthefactthat their differencesare not based on personaldifferencesbutratherwellcalculatedopinionsandviews on thesamesubject. This is a professionalandethicalform of disagreementorcritic since at despite thedisagreementthese two are stillfriendsanddo not holdpersonalgrudges. In conclusion, Adams assuresthereadersthattheyjustexchanged their views on areaswheretheydiffer, andhehadnointention to causecontroversy whatsoever. He jokes thatboth of them are tooold to be willing to disruptthepeacefulcoexistence among thepeople. Week 5-7James Madison, A Candid State of Parties, in CAPCT, Vol.I, pp. 633-634Howdoes Madison characterizethedifference between the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties? According to James Madison’s explanation, the three mainparties in America are based on differentideologies depending on differentfactors. Thesedifferences as discussed in thissection of theresearchwork. Italso highlights thefactors, which determinethenatureandthestructure of thesepoliticalparties. Thepoliticalpartiesincludethe federalist, democraticandtherepublicanparties. Thehistory of politicalparties in theunitedstates of America indicatesthatpoliticalparties in America wereformed based on two factors; ideologies of the British andthedesirefordemocracy by thepeople of theunitedstates of America. Those in support of theideologies of theunitedkingdomformedorare affiliated to a certainpartywhilethose with thedesire to realizethefullbenefits of thedemocracy of the American peoplealsobelongs to a rivalparty. Over a longtime, these two groupshavebeenlocked in thebattleforsupremacy, butthedemocratshavethenumbers unlike therepublicansonlyenjoysthefollowing of a fewpersons. The Republican Party is affiliated with thewealthyandtheelite in the United States of America whilethedemocratsare affiliated with themiddleclassandthepoor in the US. Thisexplainsthereason behind thelargepartyfollowers affiliated with thedemocratsandthefewfollowers affiliated with therepublicans. Theordinarypeople of the US believesthatthedemocratsshare in their grievanceshencethemassivesupportandfollowingtheyoffer to thepartywhiletherichbelievesthatthepolicies of therepublicans are for their benefitshence their support to theparty.Thisimpliesthattherepublicans’ party consists of thehighandpowerful in thesocietymakingiteasyfor them to manipulateorinfluencethesystem. Thomas Jefferson Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 18-19, in CAPCT, Vol. I, pp. 354-355According to Jefferson, why is agriculturebetter than manufacturing? Why is slaverybad, in Jefferson’s judgment? Isslaveryworsefortheslave, orforthe slave-owner?In thisreading, Jefferson talks about three mainissues;agriculture, manufacturing, andslavery. Hebelievesthatagriculture is better than manufacturing; healsogives out his reasons against slaveryandpoints out thedangers of slaveryandtheparties negatively affected by thispractice. Jefferson’s arguesthatforeign European policiesare imposed on the American people without muchthought of consideration on thereasonsfor their practice in the European countries. Heusesthecase of manufacturingindustries in America; according to European countriesdo not havefertilelandforcultivationthisleaves them with theoption of manufacturing. This is not thesamecase in America, which possessesplenty of fertilelandforagriculturalpurposes; however, thisdoes not happendue to theinfluence of foreignpolicies in America. Jefferson believesthatthe European practicesmanufacturing as a necessityrather than an option since theydo not havefertileland to supportagriculturalactivities. On slavery, heuses biblical point of view to stand against its practice. Hearguesthatslavery is against libertyandequality as stipulated in the Christian doctrine. Hearguesthatit is unfairagreement, which ought to abolish in the United States. Jefferson aloarguesthatslavery is dangerous to masters since theslaves may revolt against their masterskilling them orphysicallyharming them in theprocess. This may not onlyaffectthepeacefulcoexistence of thesocietybut may sabotagetheeconomy of theunitedstates of America since themastersonly rely on thelaborprovided by slavesforproductionpurposes.It is from thispoint of viewthat Jefferson disagrees with thisinhumanpractice. Week 4Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 7, in CAPCT, Vol. I, pp. 456-458What is Hamilton afraid might happen to the United States in thefutureiftheproposedfederalconstitutionis not ratified? Thisessay is an implicitcriticism of the Articles of Confederation. Whatdoes Hamilton imply is wrong with the Articles? Isthiscriticismfair?According to Hamilton, thepeaceandeconomicdevelopment of thefuture of the United States of America greatly depends on theratification of theproposedfederallaws. Hamilton bases his critics on thearticles of confederation, which he terms as dangerous to theconstitution of the United States of America andthepeacefulcoexistence among thestates in the US.Thisarticletalk about amendments, which to be made in order to maintainpeace in the United States. However, despite thesechangesorappointments, chaos is likely to break out in the United States of America. itresult from thepossibilitythatthechangesortheappointments may favorsomestates at theexpense of others. Since thechangesrevolve around fundingthegovernment, states, which feelthattheyare burdened by the allocation orcontributionrequirements, may withhold their contributions from thetreasury. This may result in bitterness among thestates since theoncewhocontribute may decide not to dothesame in futurerequirements. It may alsolead to economic lockdown andcollapse of the American economy. Anyevent that negatively affectstheeconomy of America alsoaffectstheservicesthatthegovernmentoffers to its people. Forinstance, hospitals, policestations, civilservicesectors, andpublicoffices among otherorganizationsowned by thegovernmentwill be closed down blockingpeople from accessingsuchservices. Closure of thehospital may lead to unnecessaryloss of liveandthespreadandoutbreak of contagiousdiseases.
Differences among states in the US may alsolead to civilunrestorcivilwars, anddestruction of properties among othernegativeconsequences. America may also be vulnerable to terrorattacks during suchstates of lawlessnessandcivilunrest. Thisimpliesthatthepeaceandeconomicdevelopment of thefuture of the United States of America greatly depends on theratification of theproposedfederallaws.James Wilson, Speech on Ratification (1787), in CAPCT, Vol. 1, pp. 521-522Why, according to Wilson, is a Bill of Rights unnecessaryfortheproposedfederalconstitution?In his speech after beingelected to representthepeople, James Wilson, thankedthepeopleandassured them thathe will at alltimesrepresent their needs in thehouse of congress. Healsoexpresses his stand on theomission of thebill of rights in theproposedconstitution of the United States of America. Manypeople, leadersandthecitizens of the US feltthattheomission of thebill of rights in theproposed US constitutionwas catastrophic to thefreedomanddemocracy of thepeople of America. Theythoughtthatomittingthebill of right in theproposedconstitution would meanthatthegovernment would abuserights of thepeople. James Wilson did not sharethesameopinionconcerningthismatter since hebelievedthatthebill of rightsis stated in theconstitutions of thestates of the US. He supports his arguments by statingthattheconstitution of thestates, which makes up the US, outlinesthebill of rightswhiletheproposedconstitutionpreservesthesamebill of rights. Thisimpliesthateven with theomission of thebill of rights in theproposedconstitution, theconstitution of thestatesstillcontainsthebills of rights. Thismakesit redundant fortheproposedconstitution to havethesamebill of rights since itis charged with preservingtherights of thepeople of America.Week 3Samuel Adams, “Circular Letter” in CAPCT, Vol.I, pp. 197-199According to Adams, what is theproperrelationship between Parliament andthelegislatures of thevariouscolonies?Why is itinappropriatefor Parliament to taxthepeople of thecolonies?In manygovernmentstructures, thelegislatureandparliament is thesamebranch of thegovernmentcharged with themandate of makingthelawsandtherules of theland. In thesetting of the United Kingdom and its colonies, this is not thecase since parliament is thesupremelegislativebranch of thegovernmentrepresentingallthecolonieswhilethelegislatures are branches of thecolonykingdomoperating within thecolonies. Thisimpliesthatparliamentpossessmorepower than thelegislatures since itrepresentsthewholekingdom unlike thelegislatures, which onlyrepresentthecolonies. Parliamentdrawsitlegislativepowers from theconstitution. Thisimpliesthatgoing against theconstitution by theparliament may lead to its downfall. Theconstitution is thestrongestdocumentanykingdom, country, states, ororganizationallthepowers of anygovernmentare drawn from theconstitution.People from thecoloniespaytax to theparliament, according to Adams; this is inappropriatedue to thereasonsdiscussed in thissection of theresearchpaper. People from thecoloniesare not represented in theparliamentthismakesitinappropriatefortheparliament to taxpeople from thecolonies. By taxingthesepeople, parliamentviolates their sovereignty as thepeople of thecolonies.Theissuesaffectingpeople from thecoloniescannot be solved by the England’s parliament since theyneedlocalsolutionthismakesitunconstitutionalfortheparliament to tax them.Theparliament of England does not haveanyinterest in helpingthelocalpeople from her colonies; theyonlywant to solicitrevenue from them for its selfishambitions. Thisalsomakesitunconstitutionalfor them to collecttaxes from thelocalpeople from their colonies. John Adams, Clarendon, No. 3 (January 27, 1766), in CAPCT, Vol. 1, pp. 182-185Howdoes Adams describethe British Constitution? Doeshethinkthe British Constitution extends to thecolonies? Whydoeshethinkthe British Constitution is soadmirable?According to Adam’s description, the British constitution is thebestconstitutionanyleadership can offer to its people. Hecomparestheconstitution of British to thestate of nature. Thisimpliesthathebelievesthat with the British constitution, one is compelled to dogood from his or her innerspiritrather than theoutsidefactors.Hedefinesthe British constitution as a limitedmonarchyor a combination of three forms of governments. Thesebranches of thegovernmentare divided into legislation, the king/queen, the commons, andthecitizens. Thepowers of theconstitutionare divided into legislativepowerandtheexecutivepower. Thelegislativepowerslie with theparliamentwhosemainfunction is to amendandcreatethelaws. Parliamentdraws its powers from theconstitution of the United Kingdom. Anyattempt to act above thepowersgiven to it by theparliament may leaddissolution of theparliament. Theexecutive is thesecondmostpowerfulbranch of thegovernment; italsodraws its powers from theconstitution. Since thiskingdomis not ruled by thepresidentialsystem, theexecutivepowerslie with thepremier. The premier is alsothehead of theadministrationwhilethequeen of England is thehead of state. Adams admires thisconstitution since thebiggestportion of powerlies with thecitizenswhoelect their preferredleaders. Theyalsohavethepower to pass a vote of noconfidence against anyleaderwhodoes not represent their interest in their respectiveleadershippositions. It is thepowerbestowed on thepeople, which makethisconstitutionadmirable. Noorganorbranch of thegovernment has morepower than theotherdoes in thesettings of thisconstitution. Thisensuresthatallthebranches of thegovernmentkeeps a check of one another at alltimes. Forinstance, thelegislativekeepstheexecutive on thecheckandvice versa.
