foundational documents

Declaration of Independence

• has three parts: preamble, list of grievances, resolution for independence

• influenced by the enlightenment (natural rights, social contract, popular sovereignty)

• purpose of document was to rally troops and secure foreign allies

Articles of Confederation

• weak central government (couldn’t tax, raise armies, and only had a legislative branch)

• power was in the hands of the states who weren’t very unified (acted as 13 independent nations)

• legislation required 9 out of 13 states to pass

• amendments required unanimous decisions

• Shay’s Rebellion pointed out it’s weakness, calling for a stronger, central government

Constitution

• strong central government

• 3 branches (legislative, executive, judicial)

• amendment process to adapt over time (Article V)

• included a separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and republicanism

Brutus no. 1

• critiques the Constitution

• argues against a strong central government

• fear of corruption, loss of local control, and tyranny

• concerned with the necessary and proper clause AND the supremacy clause giving Congress too much power

• led to the creation of the Bill of Rights

Fed 10

• written by James Madison

• argued for a strong, centralized government

• a strong republic will be able to control factions

• multiple factions—they will compete with one another and divide the population, preventing one group from becoming too powerful (pluralism)

• electing representatives filters out bad ideas

Fed 51

• written by James Madison

• describes the system of checks and balances AND the separation of powers—will prevent tyranny and corruption as the branches check each other’s power

• each branch acts independent of each other

• federalism also prevents the federal government from gaining too much power and some goes to thee states

Fed 70

• written by Hamilton

• argues the need for a strong executive

  • able to respond swiftly

  • ensures accountability as it’s easy to spot corruption

  • protects against foreign attacks and internal chaos (commander-in-chief, executive orders, etc)

• there are still checks on the executive to prevent tyranny

Fed 78

• written by Hamilton

• describes the judiciary and judicial review

• courts are the least dangerous branch (neither the power of the purse or sword)

• judges serve lifetime terms, preventing them from being influenced by the masses and ensuring they uphold the Constitution

• judicial review is essential (implicitly argued before Marbury v Madison)

Letter From Birmingham Jail

• Martin Luther King Jr calls for civil disobedience

• 14th amendment’s equal protections clause guarantees their rights

• calls for urgency

• emphasizes nonviolent protesting

• calls out white moderates for being too passive