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Difficulty: MediumThe Constitutional Convention and Ratification Debates

“The unlimited power of taxation, the command of the standing army, and the supreme judicial authority, will slowly but surely swallow up the legislative and executive powers of the individual states. A constitution that lacks a declaration of rights, and that establishes a national government independent of the will of the state legislatures, must eventually terminate in a consolidated government that will destroy the liberties of the people.”

— Mercy Otis Warren, writing as "A Columbian Patriot," Observations on the New Constitution, 1788

The concerns expressed in the excerpt highlight which of the following central debates during the ratification of the United States Constitution?

  1. The division of authority between the national government and the state governmentsAnswer
  2. B
    The debate over whether the Articles of Confederation should be amended or entirely replaced
  3. C
    The dispute over whether the British Parliament had the authority to impose direct taxes on the colonies
  4. D
    The conflict between formal political parties over the establishment of a national bank

Answer

The division of authority between the national government and the state governments
The correct answer is correct because the excerpt directly expresses the Anti-Federalist fear that a strong central government with powers of taxation, control over a standing army, and supreme judicial authority would diminish the legislative and executive powers of individual states. This central tension between national power and state sovereignty was one of the defining features of the ratification debates.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source and context of the excerpt.
The excerpt was written in 1788 by Mercy Otis Warren (under a pseudonym) during the ratification debates, presenting an Anti-Federalist perspective.
Identifying the author, date, and historical context helps locate the argument within the debate over the ratification of the Constitution.
2
Identify the core argument presented in the text.
The author argues that the new Constitution's provisions—specifically the power to tax, maintain a standing army, and exercise supreme judicial power—would erode state authority and lead to a consolidated national government that threatens personal liberties.
Determining the main argument is necessary to match it with the correct historical debate.
3
Evaluate the options against the core argument.
The debate over national vs. state power (federalism) matches the concern about national powers swallowing up state governments. Other options describe events from different time periods (the Constitutional Convention, the pre-Revolutionary era, or the 1790s party system).
Evaluating the options ensures that the selected answer is correct and that historical misconceptions in the distractors are identified.

Key Concept

Federalist and Anti-Federalist Debates on Federalism
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

The Constitutional Convention and Ratification Debates

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