Posi Exam 1

Quote author begins with / who wrote it / school of thought / nation

“The worth of the state, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it,” John Stuart Mill — Utilitarian — England

James Madison’s description of democracy in Federalist 10

Unstable, incapable of protecting rights or property; America was NOT designed as a democracy but as a republic; republic = representation

Four core American values

Liberty, Individualism, Equality, Self‑Government

Definition of Political Culture

Widely shared, deep‑seated beliefs of a people and their politics

Creedal nation / thinker / electric cord

Nation defined by ideas; Lincoln; the Declaration of Independence is the “electric cord”

Definition of Politics (book)

Means by which society settles conflicts and determines who gets benefits and who pays costs

Definition of politics (Aristotle/Plato)

Method of arranging a city so humans can thrive

Definition of Authoritarianism

Government that represses opponents through intimidation, limits expression, sometimes brute force

Systems preventing authoritarianism

Democratic system (popular sovereignty), Constitutional system (checks on power), Free market system (private ownership of production)

Hamilton quote beginning chapter

“Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint,” Alexander Hamilton

Pre‑constitutional America / England’s uniqueness

Love for limited government from British heritage; rights of Englishmen & common law tradition

Salutary neglect / why it mattered

British non‑governing during French war; encouraged insistence on local self‑government

First act of independence by 13 states

Deceleration of independence

Who wrote first draft of Declaration

Thomas Jefferson

Full title / meaning of “unanimous” / capitalized “United”

“The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America”; unanimous = agreement among separate states; capitalized U = “united” is a modifier, not a proper name

Self-evident truths

All men created equal; endowed with unalienable rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

Purpose of government (Declaration)

To secure rights

Rights & duties when government becomes destructive

Right and duty to rebel

What each person is entitled to according to the declaration

Separate and equal station under laws of nature and nature’s God

Why causes of separation must be declared

A decent respect to the opinions of mankind

Support for declaration / reliance on

Firm reliance on protection of divine Providence; pledge lives, fortunes, sacred honor

Thinker Jefferson paraphrased

John Locke

Definition of constitution

Basic law defining how government legitimately operates

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. Constitution

Event during which Articles were created

Revolutionary War

What articles reflected

Colonists’ tradition of self‑government

Bodies retaining full sovereignty under Articles

States

Legislative supremacy / did Articles embody it?

Legislature is most powerful body; yes

Articles legislature type / who was more powerful

Unicameral; states more powerful than central government

Shay’s Rebellion / why farmers upset / why gov couldn’t stop it / who stopped it

Farmers not paid for service and taxed; government too weak; merchants paid to put it down

Event Shay’s Rebellion led to

Constitutional Convention

Virginia Plan

Big‑state plan: separate judiciary, separate executive, bicameral legislature, population‑based representation

New Jersey Plan

Small‑state plan: unicameral, state‑based representation, more regulation of interstate commerce, more taxing power, Articles mostly unchanged

Great Compromise

Bicameral legislature: House by population, Senate by equality of states

Federalists / famous names / authors of Federalist Papers

Wanted Constitution ratified; Franklin, Washington, Adams, Madison, Hamilton, Jay; Papers written by Hamilton, Madison, Jay

Antifederalists / famous names / preferred level of government

Opposed Constitution as written; Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, George Mason, Edmund Randolph; preferred state government

Who demanded a Bill of Rights

Antifederalists

Definition of Federalism

System dividing sovereignty between federal & state governments

Opening quote / author / school / meaning

Woodrow Wilson; federalism is evolving and changes with political/economic development

Dual Federalism

Defined roles for federal & state governments based on Constitution

Cooperative federalism

No defined roles; federal government influences states through funding

Andrew Jackson on states’ rights

Federalism permanent; union preserved by protecting states’ rights; strongly dedicated to states’ rights

Jackson on nullification & secession

Opposed both

First Democrat elected president

Andrew Jackson

Melancton Smith & Brutus party

Antifederalists

Two principled arguments for federalism (Brutus & Smith)

Communal representation; need for middle‑class governance

First Texas constitution / under which government

State constitution under republic of mexico

Who suspended it / effect

Santa Anna; led to Texas Revolution

Second constitution (1836) / differences

Secured property & religious rights; limited executive power

Third constitution (1845) / government

United States

Fourth constitution (1861) / government / change

Confederate States of America; prohibited freeing slaves

Changes in 1866 Constitution

Abolished slavery; nullified secession ordinances; renounced future secession

Nickname of 1869 constitution / radical changes

Carpetbagger Constitution; stronger executive, radical centralization

Current constitution written / did it keep 1869 changes / authors

1876; rejected 1869 changes; none of the 1869 authors contributed

Articles of Texas Constitution

Article 1: Bill of Rights

Article 2: Separation of Powers

Article 3: Legislature

Article 4: Executive Department

Article 5: Judicial Department

Article 6: Right of Suffrage