Document Based Question Essay

Question: The debate over the extent of federal power with regard to the states dominated the political scene the first twenty years of the post-Revoluntionary War United States and would set the stage for future division within the nation.

Instructions: Use the majority of documents to frame your answer as well as your knowledge of the period.

Document A: The Constitution of the US
Document B: Kentucky Resolves: Thomas Jefferson (1798)
Document C: Marbury vs. Madison, a opinion written by John Marshall (1803)
Document D: Mississippi Leaves the Union, Secession Resolution (1860)
Document E: Quote from Alexander Hamilton (1787)
Document F: Quote from Thomas Jefferson (1787)
Document G: Quote from ALexander Hamilton (1799)
Document H: Quote from Thomas Jefferson (1787)
Document I: Quote from George Washington (1786)

5 answers

That's a great question!

How would you like us to help you with it?
I just need a few ideas, so I can get a thesis started. So maybe a few points that I can use. I understand that the nation was split between Anti-Federalists and Federalists, but it needs to be more than three pages, so I need to add more depth, so if you can help me with that, that will be great!
I suggest you start by studying each of the recommended documents. Take lots of notes.

You'll get more ideas about how this issue has affected the U.S. throughout the rest of its history in this article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States'_rights
The states united themselves under a very feeble federal government, in accordance with Articles of Confederation, in the time connecting the American Revolution and the ratification of the United States Constitution. The United States’ politicians disputed over the extent of federal power with regard to the states, throughout the first twenty years following the Revolutionary War. Some of the political figures in this debate favored a centralized government, while others leaned toward state rights. This debate set the stage for the future partition within the nation. Throughout these twenty years the nation was split between Federalists, and Anti-Federalists.

how is this for the first paragraph?
That's a good start.