The Constitution of the United States
The constitution of the United States of America is traced back to 1787, when Robert Madison a history and political expert insatiably indicated the weaknesses exhibited in the articles of confederacies of the independent states. Mardison was convinced that the articles governed the independent states were inefficient and discriminatory. For instance, the originalists believed that the laws that governed labor in the state of Virginia were barbaric in nature and complex to interpret (Van, 119). This culminated to the long journey of replacing the articles of the confederacies of the independent states. This document was called the independence declaration. It formed one of the most malleable, inspiring and symbolic document ever in the history on humankind.
The first draft o the current USA constitution was written by delegates and presented before the convention on Monday August 6, 1787 (Van, 121). The constitution detailed the extent of powers to be exercised by both the central government and the federal states. In addition, it set laws pertaining slave importation and labor. It was and is still the nation’s most treasured emblem of emancipation (Spier, 2009)
It is imperative to note that the USA constitution has undergone tremendous amendments since then. The amendments have transformed the six-page constitution first drafted in 1787 into the current multipage booklet. The United States of America’s constitution had numerous historic impacts on the American people (Van, 117). The impacts ranged from economy, societal and political. Some of these impacts include the spirit of liberty, independence and republicanism. It is notable that the American patriots asserted strongly that, the American rights were fundamental since they formed the basis of the revolution (Van, 118). The revolution contributed immensely in bringing myriad repercussions to the American social framework. The revolutionary spirit brought freedom; there was significant transformation from slavery to women’s rights. Although slavery would not stop immediately, an abolitionist movement emerged strongly to oppose slavery and forced labor (Stevens, 68). It took over hundred years for complete abolishing of slavery. It is imperative to note that, the spirit of religious life changed amongst the Americans.
The agitation for separation of the church from the state saw the mainstream Anglican Church break from the English hierarchy and renamed itself to the Episcopalian church. On a similar note, the revolution brought significant voting rights to all Americans. The people of American felt all these changes before the dawn of the nineteenth century (Berkin, 35). The revolutions spearheaded changes in the political structure and this produced a new look of the Americans, however numerous ramification would come long in the future based on foundation of the constitution. Immense aspirations were drawn from the revolution and it inspired the Americans to feel that agitation for freedom was a global issue (Van, 114). More over, the American constitution has influenced the revolution in the social law. Initially the British law governed the Americans, but the crown diminished as the people of America sought to purge or maintain the laws they saw fit.
On the other hand, the weaknesses attributed to the USA constitution after its ramification included inadequacy in taming illegal alcohol consumption, which posed immense societal effects such as deaths and family breakages. This was because of lack of legal ways of enforcing order and control on alcohol consumption. More over, the constitution was also unable to address the issue of crime (Berkin, 37). There was high rate of crime, which included underground illegal speakeasy. This inadequacy contributed to the proposal of the 21st amendment by the Congress in 1933. More over, the USA constitution was not able to coordinate the powers vested in the central government, senate and federal states in a proper manner.
It is imperative to note that, this constitution created an aspect of the state rights, which prompted the state to fail in advocating for development of prevalence in public opinion or in actual sense to uphold the democratic political motivation, intended to alter the universally held legitimate understanding and political practice in the USA (United States, 17). This prompted further ramification, which saw the people of America own the sovereignty directly. The people’s powers remained beyond reach by both the national and state powers. Further more, the constitution failed to address the issue of equal distribution of resources (Berkin, 39). Levinson, a lawmaker asserted that, the imbalance in terms of distribution of resources to the 50 states of America was a creation of the constitution even after its ramification. Levinson argued that, it is to the best interest of the people of America to receive national resources in an equal basis and there was need to amend the constitution to allow such critical aspect to prevail.
The USA constitution also failed to address the issue of gambling. It is notable that, this remained a thorny issue, which lacked proper prediction on how the constitution was to be amended such that the citizen’s rights on gambling can be protected (Berkin, 43). It is evident that the 18th amendment on gambling did not consider internet gambling. The framers of the amendment never thought of the emergence of internet gambling.
In conclusion, the USA constitution however much it addressed the citizen’s rights it equally failed in addressing numerous aspects of the constitutional rights of the American people consequently agitation for further amendment has been on such that laws that deem fit for the American people can be embraced.
