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Tyranny Dbq Essay

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“Tyranny is most often defined as harsh, absolute power in the hands of one individual like a dictator” (Background Essay). The Articles Of Confederation just wasn’t working for the United states, there was no court system, no chief system and no way for the government to tax people. They had a chance to create a perfect government with no tyranny, which they succeeded in making a government without tyranny. The constitution protects us from tyranny because of checks and balances, federalism and the connecticut compromise.
Checks and balances is one way the constitution guards against tyranny. “...the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices,” James Madison states about checks and branches. This means that they need to divide …show more content…

The United States is divided into two distinct governments and they both have different powers. The two governments will keep each other from gaining too much power. “In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments…” says James Madison (Doc A). By saying this he means that the united states should have two governments, a national and state government and they each should have their own powers. The national government’s powers are to regulate trade, conduct foreign relations, provide an army and navy, declare war, print and coin money, set up post offices and make immigration laws. The powers given to the state government is set up local governments, hold elections, establish schools, pass marriage and divorce laws and regulate in-state businesses. Because there is two distinct governments, there is less of a chance of …show more content…

The constitution states “...Each state shall have at least one representative” (Doc D). This means that each state should get a say, and that each state deserves representatives on their side. Each state gets 2 senators in order to favor the smaller population states. Also each state gets representatives in the House Of Representatives based on population. “The accumulation of all powers.. In the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many (is) the very definition of tyranny.” (Background essay). This means that tyranny can be from one person or a group of people. If larger states had more power they could become a tyrant to the smaller states. If smaller states had more power they could be a tyrant to larger states. Since small states are favored in the Senate and larger states are favored in the House Of Representatives there should not be any

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