AP Gov Base Docs

Declaration of Independence

Signed July 4, 1776. 13 United States, outlines grievances against Great Britain (27). These include taxation without representation, trade restrictions, and the quartering act. All men are created equal with unalienable rights to life liberty and pursuit of happiness. Main author is Jefferson with Adams and Franklins help. Colonies are free and independent with full power to peace war and trade.

Articles of Confederation

First constitution of the United States from 1781 to 1789. Had a very weak central government with no executive power, single legislative body, loose league of friendship between states. All states have one vote in congress, no president or federal court. No taxation power, commerce control, everything requires unanimous consent.

US Constitution

Ratified June 21, 1788. Representative democracy, power divided between federal gov and individual states. Preamble, 7 articles, and 27 amendments. 1: legislative branch. 2: executive. 3: judicial. 4-6: state relationships, amendments, supremacy clause. 7: ratifying process

Bill Of Rights

Passed immediately after constitution in 1788. 1: freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly. 2: bear arms. 3: no quartering. 4: no unreasonable search and seizure. 5: due process, no double jeopardy. 6: speedy and public trial, impartial jury, defense. 7: jury trial. 8: excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment banned. 9: fundamental rights. 10: powers not given by gov controlled by individuals and states.

Brutus no 1

October 18 1787. Opponents of constitution. 16 arguments countered by federalist papers. Says constitution will combine 13 states to 1, gov takes powers and has near total control. Forced federalist papers and bill of rights. Argued massive country means rulers lose touch with their citizens.

Federalist no 10

November 1787, written by Madison. Defines problems of factions united by shared passion. Solutions are destroying liberty (foolish) or giving all people same opinions (impossible). Can only mitigate effects. Republic solves this by electing representatives. Large country means more variety of opinion, and so many spread out factions makes uniting and crushing others harder.

Federalist no 39

January 16 1788. Madison. Republican Gov gets power from great body over favored class. Federal gov is power from sovereign states, national is power from a single government. Foundation is federal, sources of power are mixed, operation of powers is national (acts on citizens), extent of powers is federal (states have sovereignty), amendments are mixed (consent of supermajority of states). Fair balance of federal and national power, constitution is a combination of both.

Federalist no 51

February 8, 1788. Hamilton or Madison. Answers how power is balanced in federal gov. Departments are very seperate, ambition made to counteract ambition, gov enabled to control itself as well as citizens, divide offices to balance power. Republic- power is submitted to gov by people, divided, and controlled to protect rights of people.

Federalist no 70

Hamilton. Strong single executive- necessary for federal government. Creates unity through speed, secrecy, and decisive action. Created accountability- easy fault and responsibility, cannot hide bad behavior from public. Created safety and checks to balance power- legislature, checks and balances, impeachment.

Federalist no 78

May 28 1788. Hamilton. Explains and defends structure of judicial branch. Rewarded to serve with good behavior, lifelong appointment provide stability and impartiality, master their field. Constitution has supremacy, any act against it is void, acts as body between ppl and law. Least dangerous branch, no force or will, rely on reasoning.

Emancipation proclamation

Jan 1, 1863. Abe Lincoln. Lists states in rebellion. Declared all people enslaved in said states free, Gov will maintain this freedom. Free to abstain from violence, labor, join armed forces. Act of justice, allowed by constitution, military necessity.

Gettysburg address

November 19, 1863. Abe Lincoln. Four score and 7 years ago, conceived in liberty, all men are created equal. War tests ability of nation to endure. Field dedicated to those who died there. Fought, created significance that cannot be taken away. World won’t remember what was said there but what was done. Dead can’t die in vain, living must take up what they died for, nation and its ideals cannot be allowed to disappear from earth.

Letter from Birmingham jail

August 1963. MLK. Responding to letter abt unreasonable protests. Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere. Collect facts, negotiate, self purified, direct action (4 steps to nonviolent campaign). Never a right time, cannot wait, privileged don’t want to give up privilege. Break laws bc injust law is not a law at all. White moderates want order over justice. 3 groups: 1(big)- given up. 2(small)- insensitive middle class. 3(big)- violent. Argues must let people express nonviolently. Disappointed with church for following popular opinion and not speaking up. Commend non violent activists rather than police.