Ideals of Democracy (Topic 1)

Essential Question: How are democratic ideals reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution?

Democratic ideals are reflected in the Declaration of Independence through its emphasis on natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the consent of the governed, while the U.S. Constitution puts these ideals into practice by creating a representative government with separation of powers, checks and balances, and protections for individual rights.

John Adams

(This person) helped persuade others in the Continental Congress to support independence. Played a major role in getting the Declaration of Independence adopted. Believed in a government with checks and balances to prevent tyranny.

Declaration of Independence

Provided moral and legal justification for the rebellion.

• “All men are created equal.”

• “God-given unalienable rights.”

• “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

• “Government derives power from the consent of the governed.”

• “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive, it is the right of the people to abolish it.”

Grievances:

• Abuse of Legislative Power: Refused to approve colonial laws, dissolved colonial legislatures, and prevented colonies from passing needed laws (violates popular sovereignty)

• Obstruction of Justice: Refused to establish fair courts, and made judges dependent on his will (salary/control) (violates the rule of law)

• Military Control & Abuse: Kept standing armies in peacetime, made the military independent of civilian control, and forced colonists to house soldiers (Quartering) (threat to liberty)

• Economic Restrictions: Cut off trade with other countries, and imposed taxes without consent (violates consent of the governed)

• Unfair Trials & Punishment: Denied trial by jury, and transported colonists overseas for trial (violates basic legal rights)

• Undermining Colonial Governments: Suspended legislatures, and declared colonies outside his protection (stripped colonists of self-government)

• Acts of War Against the Colonies: Plundered seas, burned towns, destroyed lives, hired foreign mercenaries, and forced colonists to fight against each other

• Inciting Conflict: Encouraged Native American attacks on colonists

Benjamin Franklin

(This person) proposed the Albany Plan of Union, an early attempt to join the colonies under one government, helped draft the Declaration of Independence, secured French support during the American Revolutionary War, and participated in the Constitutional Convention.

Grand Committee

was a group at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the Great Compromise, creating a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House.

Alexander Hamilton

(This person) supported a strong national government. Co-authored the Federalist Papers, defending the United States Constitution. Believed the federal government should be stronger than the states. Created a financial system (national bank, federal debt plan). Supported the Elastic Clause.

Thomas Hobbes (The Leviathan)

(This person) argues that when humans live in a state of nature, rather than in a civilized society, the result is anarchy and war, and human life is solitary, poor, and brutish. The solution to this would be for everyone to give up some of their rights, as long as others also did, so that everyone gets to live in peace. In his view, an absolute sovereign would be able to hold society together and still honor a social contract, as long as the leader took the good of society into account.

Thomas Jefferson

(This person) emphasized natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness). Opposed Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists. Believed the federal government should only use powers explicitly listed. Won the Election of 1800.

Limited Government

A government kept under control by law, checks and balances, and separation of powers.

John Locke (Second Treatise of Civil Government)

(This person) argued that natural law is the law of God and that this law is acknowledged through human sense and reason. Proposed that under natural law, people were born free and equal, in contrast to Hobbes. “No one can be subjected to political power without his own consent.” Natural law required and obligated people to rebel when the rule of kings did not respect the consent of the governed. (Inalienable rights: Life, Liberty, Property - Declaration of Independence)

James Madison

(This person) played a major role at the Constitutional Convention. Co-wrote the Federalist Papers. Argued that dividing government power prevents tyranny. Led the effort to add the Bill of Rights.

Baron de Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws)

(This person) saw a republican form of government as one having defined and limited power while granting political liberty to citizens. He argued for the separation of powers in the administrative government, comprised of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Natural Law

(John Locke) basic rights and moral rules that exist independently of government and come from human nature or a higher authority (like reason or God). (Inalienable rights: Life, Liberty, Property - Declaration of Independence)

Popular Sovereignty

(Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Social Contract) the principle that the people are the ultimate source of government authority and legitimacy. (Consent of the Governed - Declaration of Independence)

Representative Republic

a collection of sovereign states gathered for the national interest, national needs, and national defense.

Republicanism

Citizens in a republic elect leaders for a limited period of time; leader’s job is to make and execute laws in the public interest.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract)

(This person) was very influenced by John Locke. The social contract he describes is the agreement of free and equal people to abandon certain natural rights in order to find secure protections for society and to find freedom in a single body politic committed to the general good. He envisioned popular sovereignty.

U.S. Constitution

is the supreme law of the United States that establishes the structure, powers, and limits of the federal government.

George Washington

(This person) led the colonies to victory in the American Revolutionary War. Ensured debates led to a strong, unified Constitution. Established presidential precedents, like the two-term limit and cabinet system. Advocated for avoiding foreign entanglements and respecting the law.