AP Gov & Politics Required Docs

The 9 required documents for AP US Government and Politics

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Big Idea: Justify breaking away from Britain

Key points:

• Natural rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

• People can overthrow an unjust gov

• Inspired by Enlightenment (John Locke)

Articles of Confederation (1781)

Big Idea: First U.S. government—too weak!

Key Points:

• States had all the power

• No strong central gov 

• Led to problems like Shays’ Rebellion → Constitution needed

U.S. Constitution (1787)

Big Idea: Blueprint for a stronger national government

Key Points:

• Separation of powers

• Created 3 branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial

• Includes the Bill of Rights

Federalist No. 10 – James Madison

Big Idea: Large republic = best defense against factions

Key Points:

• Factions are inevitable, but can be controlled

• A big, diverse republic makes it harder for one group to dominate

Federalist No. 51 – James Madison

Big Idea: Separation of powers/checks & balances protect liberty

Key Points:

• "If men were angels, no government would be necessary"

• Each branch checks the others → prevents tyranny

Federalist No. 70 – Alexander Hamilton

Big Idea: We need a strong, single executive (President)

Key Points:

• One president = energy, speed, accountability

• Multiple executives = confusion and blame game

Federalist No. 78 – Alexander Hamilton

Big Idea: Judiciary should be independent and have power of judicial review

Key Points:

• Life terms for judges = independence from politics

• Courts protect rights and check other branches

Brutus No. 1 – Anti-Federalist Paper

Big Idea: Constitution gives too much power to the national government

Key Points:

• Worried about loss of state power and individual rights

• Feared a large republic would be too distant from the people

Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963) – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Big Idea: Defending nonviolent protest against injustice
Key Points:

• Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere

• Moral obligation to break unjust laws

• Advocates civil disobedience and equal protection under the law