Chapter 2 Blog

1. How important was the switch from the Articles to the Constitution?

The United States under the Articles of Confederation operated as a loose group of individual states. States were able to interfere with one another with no power over them to make them act as equals and the federal government had little authority to act as a government with foreign nations. If the switch hadn’t been made to a government with a stronger federal system, individual states would have probably gone their own ways as they tried to do before the Civil War.

2. How important are the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights is very important.  One reason why it is so important is that it was used by Antifederalists as a gathering point to argue in favor of the independent states operating under the Articles of Confederation.  Another reason that the Bill of Rights is important is that it implies that the federal government's power is limited and gives the individual certain rights that neither the government nor majority can infringe on.

3. Is Capital Punishment constitutional?

The Fourteenth Amendment says that life cannot be taken without due process which suggests that it can be allowed with correct proceedings.  My opinion in this matter is that someone who has committed a horrible crime shouldn’t be put out of their misery by the death penalty.  For instance, a person who raped and murdered a victim should have to, in my opinion, work 18 hour days and sleep on a concrete floor with soup for every meal.  Someone who is that evil and mean should have to spend the rest of their lives thinking and regretting about what they did; they shouldn’t be put to death, instead they should suffer like their victims had to.