About 255 years ago, Britain taxed heavily on the colonists without their consent. The colonists revolt and America declared its independence. The king was removed, but people are still filled with the fear of tyranny. Tyranny is when a leader in office held supreme power and abused its power. In May of 1787, they called for a Constitutional Convention. Representatives sent from almost all states working to construct a tyranny-free new government that can hold the states together. The Constitution guard against tyranny by having federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, and Congress.

Federalism guards against tyranny by dividing the power between the state government and the central government. Certain powers were given to the states, to the federal government, and some powers are shared between the two. According to various sources, the powers given to the federal government include regulating trade, conduct foreign relations, and print money. The state government can hold elections, establish schools, and regulate in-state businesses. Both states can borrow money and enforce laws. The federal government, in general, held more nationwide powers than the state government. According to Federalist Paper #51, 1788, as James Madison said, "double security arises to the rights of the people." Both governments have enough power that they can take care of their own businesses and check on each other at the same time.

Separation of Powers guards against tyranny by dividing the power of the three branches of government. According to James Madison, Federalist Paper #47, "Liberty requires that the great departments of power should be separate and distinct." This means that all three branches(legislative, executive, and judicial) should be completely different. The legislative branch has the power to make laws, the executive branch has the power to enforce laws, and the judicial branch has the power to declare laws unconstitutional. This ensures that no branch will become too powerful.

Checks and Balances guard against tyranny by having each branch check on each other. According to various sources including the Constitution of the United States of America, Congress(legislative branch) can override a President's veto, the president nominates judges, and the judicial branch can declare that a law written by Congress was unconstitutional. The three branches all limit each other in various ways. In Federalist Paper #51, 1788, James Madison said, the branches are arranged "in such a manner as that they may be a check on the other" and "should not be so far separated as to have no constitutional control over each other." This means that no branch will become overpowered, which protects against tyranny.

Congress guards against tyranny by balancing the power between small and large states. According to the Constitution of the United States of America, 1787, Article 1 Section 2, the number of representatives a state would have in the House of Representatives of Congress "shall be appointed, according to…[population]." This satisfied the large states because they would have more representatives. The way that Senate members of Congress are appointed, according to the Constitution of the United States of America, 1787, Article 1 Section 3, is "composed of two senators from each state." This makes the small states happy because all states would have the same amount of senators; they have equal power. This is a compromise between the small states and large states, and equality prevents tyranny.