We left off last time with the Constitutional Convention.
The revolution succeeded, but
the Articles of Confederation have failed, and the states have sent delegates to
a convention in Philadelphia to propose changes.
The delegates represent states with lots of different views, and above all,
there's a tension between the first two lessons of American history.
The Revolution teaches that a general government can become tyrannical,
and that the states can stand up to defend the liberty of their citizens.
But the failure of the articles teaches that the states can't be
relied on to cooperate and do the right thing.
They can be selfish.
They can be competitive.
They can fight a war over oysters.
So someone has to keep them in line.
The Constitution accommodates these competing ideas in a very novel way.
It's what we call Federalism.
There's going to be a division of power between the states and
the federal government.
The federal government is going to handle somethings,
international relations for instance.
Commerce among the states, and in the areas where it has power,
its power is supreme.
It will be superior to the states.