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Changing Patterns in The Relationship Between the U.S. National Government and
The States
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Post-Civil War Era: Federal Dominance and Reconstruction
The federal and state systems of the United States of America have significantly evolved
since the Civil War and the era of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) (Frazier, 2023). These changes
portray the dynamics of federalism in the United States, with legal, political, and social changes
evident over time.
The era after the Civil War is a significant structural change in federal-state relations. The
Civil War reconstruction was between 1865 and 1877, and the government had great control over
the states, especially the southern states (Frazier, 2023). This was due to the secession and
assimilation of the ex-slaves into the society in America, which was forming at that time. The
Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) were substantial in terms of the devolution of
power back to the states (Frazier, 2023), where the 14th Amendment allows the Federal
Government to intervene in state affairs in the name of protection of rights.
The New Deal Era: Expansion of Federal Power
The Great Depression started during the 1930s and was another notable move. As a result
of New Deal policies, the federal government took a more active role in managing the American
economy and society. Other acts like the Social Security Act and agencies like the Works
Progress Administration (WPA) are clear examples of federal interference. The Supreme Court
first declined the New Deal before the 'the switch in time that saved nine' in 1937 (Erkulwater,
2019), which validated federal power, especially in regulating commerce.
Modern Federalism: Cooperation and Conflict
After FDR, federal-state relations have been swinging between cooperative and coercive
federalism. Cooperative federalism, characteristic of the American political system during the
middle of the twentieth century, had the Federal and State governments working together more
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closely, often through grants-in-aid. However, some occurrences in the late 20th and early 21st
centuries indicate that the federal government exercises coercive federalism through mandates
and conditions to shape the states' policies (Erkulwater, 2019). Some outstanding historical
examples of federal laws and decrees enforcing national standards across states include the Civil
Rights Movement and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Comparing California to Federal Trends
California, my adopted state, illustrates these federal-state dynamics well. As one of the
most progressive states, California has always been at the forefront of opposing federal policies,
particularly in environmental conservation and immigration. For instance, the state's stringent
environmental laws are much in conflict with federal deregulation campaigns. There are
examples of California's battle with Trump's administration on sanctuary City policies and the
state's refusal to relinquish its Paris Climate Accord provisions (Brown, 2022).
On the other hand, California also receives significant federal revenues, particularly in
the healthcare sector, through Medicaid and transportation. The relationship is, therefore,
symbiotic, or a mix of cordial and adversarial simultaneously.
Recent Developments and Current Trends
In recent years, the primary relationship has remained the same, although new
federal/state conflict areas, such as health care, education, and marijuana legalization, have
emerged. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a good case where federal policy requires states to
do so with the Medicaid expansion, but some states have refused, thus drawing attention to
present-day conflicts (Baumgartner et al., 2020). Also, the current situation where there is
legalization of marijuana in some states, such as California, but it is prohibited at the federal
level, shows how challenging federalism remains.
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Conclusion
The social contract between the national authorities of each state as well as the nation has
changed since the Civil War and FDR's New Deal. It means that the federal government's role
increased significantly during these periods. However, the federal and state government relations
are still volatile and shift between cooperation and confrontation. California is a prime example
of this dichotomy – it can actively oppose most federal programs while relying on them. These
patterns remain important for deeper insight into the modern American federalism systems.
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References
Frazier, T. (2023). The Reconstruction Era: As Taught in United States History.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=history_mat
Erkulwater, J. L. (2019). Constructive welfare: the social security act, the blind, and the origins
of political identity among people with disabilities, 1935–1950.HStudies in American
Political Development,H33(1), 110-138. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0898588X18000172
Brown, R. (2022). The New" Sanctuary State": United States v. California and Lessons for
Comprehensive Immigration Reform.HLoy. LAL Rev.,H55, 185.
https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/lla55&div=7&id=&page
Baumgartner, J., Collins, S., Radley, D., & Hayes, S. (2020). How the Affordable Care Act
(ACA) has narrowed racial and ethnic disparities in insurance coverage and access to
health care, 2013‐18.HHealth Services Research,H55, 56-57.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1475-6773.13406
