What issue from the American Revolution is evident in the Framers' belief in civic participation?

Answer 1

Clearly, religion played a significant role in the development of the ideas and philosophies that formed the basis for the American Constitution. However, religious freedom--and hence diversity--was one of the primary reasons people had left their homesacrossthe ocean to come to America. The references to the Bible notwithstanding, it was to be a nation that had no official religion and placed no limitations on civic participation on the basis of religious beliefsor practices. In the placeof a national religion, the Framers envisioned a new civicreligion that could bind the people together in support of the principles championed by the Declaration of Independence, the Revolution and the new Constitution.

While much has been made of the lack of references to morality or virtue in the United States Constitution, it would be a mistaketo conclude thatthe Framers did not believe civicvirtuewas necessary to the survival of the republic. On the contrary, Madison argued that in the republic to be created by the Constitution, civic virtue was of central importance. In The Federalist No. 55 he argued that:

As there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust, so there are other qualities in human nature which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence. Republican government presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form. Were the pictures which have been drawn by the political jealousy of some among us faithful likenesses of the human character, the inference would be that there is not sufficient virtue among men for self-government; and that nothing less than the chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another.

In Madison's view, without civic virtue, all of the structures and precautions of the Constitution, as important as they were, would not be sufficient to safeguard liberty.

In The Federalist No. 64, John Jay further emphasized the importance of internal checks on individual behavior. Speaking of the trustworthiness of those who would be Senators, he remarked that "every consideration that can influence the human mind, such as honor, oaths, reputations, conscience,the love of country, and family affections and attachments, afford security of their fidelity." It is when such considerations fail, he concluded, that the constitutional provisions must be brought to bear on those who violate the public trust. However, it was presumed and hoped that such violations would be rare. If the precautions in the Constitution were the only means of prevent