This excerpt from the Anti-Federalist Papers clearly represents the arguments as to why a bill of rights is necessary. This excerpt outlines how a federal government with too much control can result in no individual liberties for citizens. Along with this, it also outlines how too weak a federal government results in an ineffective government. This is why the author of this excerpt favors a bill of rights, as this will clearly outline the rights of citizens while also allowing for the federal government to have enough power to provide protection for these citizens without taking away their liberties.
During the period of 1850 to 1920 CE, China embraced Westernization in a way that it had never done before. The most important catalyst for this change were the Opium Wars. The First Opium War ended in 1840 with the defeat of China, and the Treaty of Nanking (1842). The treaty ceded Hong Kong to Great Britain and allowed the importation of opium. As the use of opium increased, many social problems followed, including social unrest and the weakening of the government.
This situation created the conditions for many other problems, such as the Taiping Rebellion, the Punti–Hakka Clan Wars, the Nian Rebellion, the Dungan Revolt, and the Panthay Rebellion. The cost of putting down these rebellions further weakened the government. A weak government was unable to stop the influence of imperialist nations. Nations such as Japan, France, Great Britain, Germany and Russia wanted to expand their sphere of influence in China, and this influence encouraged westernization within the country. Westernization also developed due to trade, as China began to depend more on Western supplies to defend against its many internal conflicts.
Made elected officials more directly accountable to their constituents
