States vs. Whole Country

When the United States was established in the 18th century, a debate emerged about whether the Federal government should wield all the power or if the states should have more control. After the Revolutionary War, the government formed the Articles of Confederation, essentially the first draft of the Constitution. In this system, the Federal government only had authority when all of Congress agreed, leaving the states with significant power. It was almost as if each state acted like a separate country, handling different commerce, with no power for the national government to tax, no centralized court system, and an inadequate military, among other challenges.

Recognizing the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, in May of 1787, representatives from the states gathered in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention. During this significant event, they designed the structure of Congress, establishing the three branches of the Federal Government – Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, as well as the division of power between the National and State levels. This system, known as federalism, allows the Federal Government to handle specific tasks like printing money, regulating trade, and declaring war. Meanwhile, the states maintain control over their own affairs, including areas such as education, aid distribution, and industry regulation. Consequently, laws and taxes may differ from one state to another, but decisions made by the Federal government, whether through the Supreme Court or legislation, apply uniformly across all states.