Part 6/10:
This system of checks and balances divided power among the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, each capable of restraining the others. The Constitution formalized this structure, supplemented by the concept of federalism, which granted individual states autonomy so long as they adhered to the union's overarching laws. This innovative separation of powers sought to prevent tyranny and promote a balanced, consensual government.
The Trials and Resilience of the American Experiment
Hanson reminds us that the United States' history has been marked by numerous conflicts spanning over two centuries—from the Revolutionary War, through the War of 1812, and the Civil War, during which approximately 700,000 Americans died fighting over issues like slavery.