Question

How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, who had experienced living under a government by the British king, influence the framers of the US Constitution in terms of their intent to:

a) establish a national church with government support?
b) limit the federal government by giving it specific powers?
c) give citizens the right to use arms against the federal government?
d) decrease the powers of state governments in favor of the federal government?

Answer 1

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were influenced by their experience living under a government by the British king in terms of limiting the federal government by giving it specific powers and balancing the powers of the federal government and the states.

Step-by-step explanation:

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were influenced by their experience living under a government by the British king in several ways:

1. Establishing a national church with government support was not their intent. The framers of the US Constitution believed in the separation of church and state, and they did not include any provisions for establishing a national church or giving government support to any particular religion.
2. They limited the federal government by giving it specific powers. The Constitution outlines the powers granted to the federal government, such as the power to regulate commerce, coin money, and declare war. Any powers not specifically given to the federal government are reserved for the states.
3. They did not give citizens the right to use arms against the federal government. The Second Amendment of the Constitution does protect the right to bear arms, but it does not grant citizens the right to use arms against the federal government. The intent of the Second Amendment was to allow citizens to defend themselves and their property.
4. They did not decrease the powers of state governments in favor of the federal government. The framers of the Constitution sought to strike a balance between a strong central government and the powers of the states. The Constitution outlines the powers of the federal government, but it also reserves certain powers for the states.