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Difficulty: MediumThe Constitutional Convention and Ratification Debates

"It appears to me, then, little short of a miracle, that the Delegates from so many different States (which States you know are also different in their manners, circumstances, and prejudices) should unite in forming a system of national Government, so little liable to well founded objections... and I do not conceive we can exist long as a nation without having some power which will pervade the whole Union in as energetic a manner as the authority of the State Governments extends over the several States."

— George Washington, Letter to the Marquis de Lafayette, 1788

The perspective expressed by Washington in the excerpt was most directly shaped by which of the following historical developments?

  1. A
    The development of permanent political factions divided over Alexander Hamilton's financial programs.
  2. B
    The argument that the Articles of Confederation had already established a highly centralized national authority with tax-collecting power.
  3. The inability of the national government under the Articles of Confederation to maintain domestic stability and manage the national economy.Answer
  4. D
    A widespread consensus that the newly proposed Constitution would weaken federal authority in favor of stronger state sovereignty.

Answer

The inability of the national government under the Articles of Confederation to maintain domestic stability and manage the national economy.
The correct answer is correct because Washington's call for a national power that could 'pervade the whole Union' in an 'energetic' manner reflects the nationalist critique of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles created a weak central government that was unable to levy taxes, regulate commerce, or suppress domestic insurrections. These structural weaknesses convinced leaders like Washington that a new constitutional framework was necessary for national survival.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the perspective and main argument of the author in the stimulus.
George Washington argues that the United States cannot survive without a central power that is 'energetic' and can pervade the Union in the way state governments rule over their states.
This establishes that Washington is defending the need for a stronger national government as proposed under the new Constitution.
2
Evaluate the historical context of the letter, dated 1788.
The letter was written during the ratification debates, immediately following the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which sought to replace the Articles of Confederation.
This helps connect Washington's argument to the contemporary debates surrounding the transition of power structures.
3
Identify the historical causes that led nationalists like Washington to seek a stronger central government.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government had no power to tax, regulate commerce, or effectively enforce laws, which became critical during events like Shays' Rebellion.
This links Washington's desire for an 'energetic' national power directly to the failures of the Articles of Confederation to maintain stability.

Key Concept

The transition from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution and the debate over federal power.
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Topics

The Constitutional Convention and Ratification Debates

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