The New Deal and American Federalism - 885 Words

Federalism may be described as a system of government that features a separation of powers and functions between the state and national governments. This system has been used since the very founding of the United States. The constitution defines a system of dual federalism, which ensures sovereignty of the state and national governments. This is put in place in order to limit the national government’s power. However, the Great Depression of 1929 greatly weakened the nation’s economic systems. President Roosevelt made many changes in the relationship between the national and state governments, thus revolutionizing our understanding of federalism, through the New Deal. This essay seeks to explore the changes and attributes that define†¦show more content†¦The President adopted and developed socioeconomic policies through the creation of various national regulatory bodies, as seen in his ‘alphabet soup’ of the New Deal. Institutions such as the Nation al Recovery Association were expected to supervise economic efforts around the country. For example, the institution promoted labor efforts in the country through jobs and wages, therefore, improving economic conditions. This created problems under the traditional definition of federalism. The concept of interstate commerce effectively spelt doom for the federal government’s efforts. State governments had additional powers over the national economy, and could, therefore, impede the efforts attempted under the New Deal. For successful implementation of President Roosevelt’s economic policies, the understanding of federalism had to be redesigned. Since the founding of the country, factors such as industrialization and globalization had emerged. This created a need for greater control of the economy by the national government. The industrial nature of the economy at the time demanded greater control by the federal government over issues such as labor. Similarly, the globa lization of trade necessitated control by the federal government as it had better links to the outside world. To get Americans back to work effectively, and the economy progressing, a new way for interaction between the state and national governments was required. In response, FDR’sShow MoreRelatedThe Evolution of Federalism990 Words   |  4 PagesThe Evolution of the Constitution American federalism has changed drastically since its genesis. In 1776 the thirteen colonies adopted the Articles of Confederation in order to coordinate their efforts in the war for independence. The Articles of Confederation bound the states together in two main aspects; foreign and military affairs. The Articles of Confederation worked well while all the states had a common cause. However, as soon as the war ended and interests began to change, it became obviousRead MoreEssay about The Evolution of Federalism981 Words   |  4 Pages The Evolution of Federalism American federalism has changed drastically since its genesis. In 1776 the thirteen colonies adopted the Articles of Confederation in order to coordinate their efforts in the war for independence. The Articles of Confederation bound the states together in two main aspects; foreign and military affairs. The Articles of Confederation worked well while all the states had a common cause. However, as soon as the war ended and interests began to change, it became obviousRead MoreDual Federalism Vs Dual Federalism732 Words   |  3 PagesC.J. Diehl Ms. Crouse U.S Government 10/23/17 How come we can go from Pennsylvania to New Jersey without paperwork but pay a different amount of state tax for purchases made in the different state? 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While former President James Madison had a very concrete understanding of that form of governance, â€Å"In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments† (Madison, 1788, p. 67), the United States has never had a conclusive division of power between the stateRead MoreAmeric A Nation Under Federalism Essay1653 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica: A Nation Under Federalism Throughout the history of this nation, the Constitution, from the formation to the execution thereof, has set forth the precedent for the demonstration of excessive federal power that is clearly illustrated by history and modern America. Sufficient documentation to back up this premise includes primary documents such as James Madison’s Federalist No. 10, the Constitution of the United States, and other historical pieces. Ample consideration should be given to the