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Blog Post #5

Reflections on Federalism
There were three documents to analyze that reflect on the idea of the United States of America's federal system. The three documents are The Seventh of March Speech, The Diffusion of Innovations among the American States, and The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made It.
The Seventh of March Speech: This was a speech made on the 7th of March 1850, and was made to directly speak to the Senate to unify all moderates. This speech was risky because it put his career on the line but he hoped of this speech was enough to get votes from moderates to pass the compromise of 1850. The speaker begins by explaining the moral differences between people that do and do not believe in slavery and how this has polarized the north and south. He explains people who are raised from birth to believe that they have a right and are raised with slavery as a part of their morals, by this logic they are not doing anything immoral. He then explains that states sovereignty is not being respected when the north harbors slaves that are fugitives which is directly contrary to the constitution. He then requests all northern men respect them constitutional obligation to let go of their fanatical ideas and listen to the proposal as thoughtful unbiased men. He then explains the norths excitement to protect and liberate these new members of the United States and give them the opportunity of American prosperity. This understanding of both sides and asking for a compromise is so that he could quash the idea of secession and maintain a united country (preventing the civil war).
The Diffusion of Innovations among the American States: on the 69th page of this book starts the chapter John C. Calhoun: the Marx of the Master Class. One of the most difficult challenges of congressional representation is the need to defend minority interest. Calhoun then examines how sectional the American political system is and foreshowed similar ideas to Marxism before the communist manifesto was published. It states Calhoun ideas were as followed "He was for more troops, more funds, for manufactures, federal roads, a higher tariff, and a new national bank." John Qunicy Adams even praised the honor and patriotism of Calhoun in his diary when they were colleagues during his time as secretary of war. His analysis of how much tariffs would benefit the economy of plantation owners solidified his belief in higher tariffs. He was on track to win the presidency until he joined the anti-Jackson movement, his belief in defending the south and the minority rights ruined his chances.
The Diffusion of Innovations among the American States: This essay opens stating at the time of writing (1969) Americans have been more engaged in the political system than ever before. There were many studies cited at the opening of the document and summed up as the rise of personal income and the increase of urban population. The goal of the document was to present a decision-making process for innovative political ideas that people can use as a guide in the future. One of the ideas is an innovation score which was base by analyzing 88 different programs and their impact. The score is based on a system from 1.000 to 0.000 which is an attempt of taking complex programs and measuring it potential. This is also helpful for measuring how the rapid adoption of programs effectiveness if they meet the prerequisites. While this method, in theory, could have help congressional representatives it faces many problems if it were applied today. With the rapid increase in technology, variables are going to become so numerous and complex it would be impossible for humans to calculate. This would create a need for artificial intelligence and analysis for trying to figure out all factors, then calculating relevant and irrelevant correlations. This study has a heavy reliance on correlations however all good political scientist know correlation does NOT equal causation. If this study was replicated with modern consideration, larger sample size and verified with follow up studies we could understand the impacts of policies before they even make it to the floor of the house.

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