Role of the federal Goverment on the lives of the American Citizens - Research Paper Example

? Role of the Federal Government in the lives of the American Citizens The role of the American Federal Government in the lives of the American citizens has undergone significant changes over the years. This paper has attempted to trace this changing role staring from the American Civil War (1861-1865) to the Civil Rights Era (1960s and 1970s). After the Civil War, ended the US Federal Government was compelled to ban slavery and provide political, social and economic rights to the African-American population. Following this, during the Progressive Period (1910s), the US Presidents declared a clear demarcation between the executive and the legislative branches of the Government. After this, in the era of the New Deal in the 1930s, the relationship between the Federal and local state governments and the private sector witnessed significant changes. Finally, in the Civil Rights era, the Federal Government enacted new legislation granting some more civil rights to the citizens. In addition, it also implemented a huge set of social welfare programs to foster economic growth. Era of Civil War or Reconstruction (1860-1877) The American Civil war occurred in USA during 1861-1865. Simultaneously, a period of Reconstruction began during the Civil War and lasted till 1877, which represented one of the most controversial periods in the history of the nation. During this time, the US Federal Government’s role expanded in safeguarding the rights of the US citizens and ensuring financial and racial justice to the cosmopolitan American society. During this time, the Federal Government formulated new legislation and enacted some amendments in the American constitution. These brought about a permanent change in the system of governance and altered the features of US citizenship. In an unprecedented move, the Federal Government took over the fundamental duty of enumerating and safeguarding the civil rights of the American citizens. In the Southern US States, the African-American men were accorded the right to cast their votes and assume a position of political authority. This was not allowed in the days prior to the Civil War. As a result, the African American community in Southern states along with the white population exercised their voting authority to bring the Republican Party to power. The Federal Government had also banned the slavery system in the country which generated a huge influence in the lives of the American citizens (Foner & Mahoney, 1997). The African-American people, most of whom had been slaves formerly liberated themselves from the control of the whites and established their independence in various spheres of life. The Progressive Period (1910s) The Progressive period during the 1910s, represents an important chapter in American history which heralded the entry of the American political system into a developed industrial society. The USA, as a country was experiencing a major change in its national and international priorities and the Progressives demanded that the Federal Government was required to play a more active role in this context. Both the US presidents at that time: Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson were influenced positively by the ideas of the Progressive strand of thought. They presented the office of the US President as the sole representative of the national interests of the American citizens. They criticized the role of the US Congress declaring that the legislative body only pursued materialistic interests. Therefore, the executive and the legislative branches of the US Government assumed a clear-cut division during this period. (Rae, 1998, p.7-9) The Era of New Deal (1932-1936) The significance of the US Federal Government again expanded during the period of the New Deal in the decade of the 1930s. The New Deal changed the traditional connection among the national government, the local state governments and the American private sector. During the period of the New Deal, the Federal Government assumed more responsibility in governing the economy. The American economy was experiencing an economic crisis due to the Great Depression. To address this situation, the national Government implemented a variety of measures to give a boost to the economy. These measures included a administering a number of job programs, providing subsidies in agriculture, providing government insurance on bank deposits, regulating the stock market, supervising disputes between the management and the labor unions and also implementing a system ensuring Social Security of the citizens. (Paddock, 2005, p.46) The Civil Rights Era (1954-1968) During the decade of the 1960s and the 1970s, the African-Americans again started pressurizing the Federal Government to enhance their civil rights. Other sections of the society also started demanding certain rights from the Government. The women population requested to be granted equal rights as men, while the “environmentalists, consumers and unions’ urged the Government to actively regulate the business sector and foster a conducive environment for economic growth. The role of the Government further expanded to cater to these demands. The then US President Lyndon Baines Johnson implemented a civil rights legislation in the US Congress and also administered a set of social welfare programs that was expected to foster a “great society”. The “Great Society” proposals expanded the role of the national Government and also altered the relationship between the Federal and the local state governments. Under the new social welfare activities, areas that were formerly monitored by the state governments now began to be funded by the Federal Government. The increased responsibilities of the US Government included the proper enforcement of law, ensuring fire protection, providing opportunities of public education and monitoring the urban population transit. To implement, regulate and enforce these new civil reforms, the Federal Government also established a number of new organizations and departments. (Welch, Gruhl & Corner, 2011, p.9) Conclusion: Initially, the US Federal Government had a restricted role in the life of the American citizens. However, as the paper exhibits, the Government has expanded its role through the years to exert a significance influence in the life of the US inhabitants. Though America is not a socialist economy (where the Government controls the major aspects of the political, social and economic life), even its capitalist Government presently enacts an important role in the national activities. References 1. Foner, E., Mahoney, O. (1997) America's Reconstruction: people and politics after the Civil War USA, LSU Press 2. Paddock, J. (2005) State and National Parties and American Democracy USA, Peter Lang Press 3. Rae, N.C. (1998) Conservative Reformers: the Republican freshmen and the lessons of the 104th Congress USA, M.E Sharpe 4. Welch, S., Gruhl, J. & Corner J. (2011) Understanding American Government USA, Cengage Learning Read More