How Is The Principle of States’ Rights Reflected In The Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence intended to give state governments more power with more liberty so that they can solve their internal affairs in their own ways.
The principles of states’ rights ensured that the previous 13 colonies’ new state governments can take most of the decisions without depending on the United States Federal Government.
They believed, providing more states’ rights would be more effective for American citizens to protect their life, liberty, and the ways to pursue happiness in the newborn country.
So, it wanted to make the country’s State governments governing rights more intense.
Many leaders of the American Congress believed that they should make the United States Federal government powerful only in some very limited aspects.
They believed giving the Federal government unlimited power could fuel interference and violation of states’ rights.
How States’ Rights Created Problems For The United States of America?
The purpose for which the 13 colonies had gained independence struggling against the Empire of Great Britain, that objective was comparatively easy to achieve due to the strong standing of the state governments’ rights.
The states’ rights were added to the US constitution in 1787.
But after a few decades, problems started escalating due to the rise of some controversies.
For example, during the period of the American Civil War, the Southern States easily declared independence seceding from the Union, due to the standing of a weak federal government.
Again, federal and Southern state governments also came face to face over the issue of slavery.
Facts About The States’ Rights In The United States
1. Did you know? The states’ governments’ rights are protected by the “Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution”.
The tenth amendment clearly says that the rights not delegated to the United States federal government are to be reserved for the states’ governments.
2. Did you know? Earlier, the states of the union (USA) had no stronger constitutional solidarity among themselves.
They just consider the union a league of friendship.
However, during and after the Civil War, it was clearly declared that no state of the country has the right to secede from the union.
