Throughout history, especially when a new country is formed, there are many controversial issues. These problems emerge when not everyone agrees on how the country should be run. In the United States, especially in the early years, there were various problems. These issues divide the United States into 2 political parties. In the early 1800s, these two parties were the Democratic Republicans and the Federalists. Democratic Republicans believed in a strong state government. Federalists believed in a strong central government. Some of the issues they disagreed on were the ratification of the Constitution and the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. Before the Constitution was adopted, the United States had a series of laws called the Articles of Confederation, which were passed in 1781. The Confederacy gave a lot of power to the states and little to the central government. Soon after the Articles of Confederation were created, many problems arose. As stated in Document 1, Congress could not tax or pay its own bills or debts. He could neither protect his country from European mercantilist empires nor supply his army. They could not even revise the Articles of Confederation in order to collect taxes since the unanimous consent of all thirteen states was required. The state was too powerful, leaving the federal government nearly powerless. In 1787, 55 delegates from 12 states gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation. During the convention, they crafted a plan that created three branches of the federal government. The Constitution created a strong government with much power given to the federal government and stripped the state government of much of its power. This created 2 sides, Federalist... center of the card... and w Orleans. Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on an expedition, to explore and map the newly acquired territory, hoping to encourage settlement there and proving that the land was good. Although the nation's territorial expansion has now ended, the westward movement of people continues to this day. America had multiple controversial issues to deal with, especially as a newly formed republic. While these issues create tension within the government, they have strengthened the country to where it is today. Ratification of the Constitution strengthened the United States by empowering the federal government. The purchase of the Louisiana Territory strengthened the United States by expanding its territory, thus expanding its dominance in world politics. Works Cited Prentice Hall - America – Pathways to the Present-Pages 132, 133, 139, 140, 141, 142, 186, 187