Foundational Documents/Supreme Court Cases: AP U.S. Government

Declaration of Independence - 1776

Big Idea: Natural rights, social contract, and popular sovereignty. All men are created equal with unalienable rights; government exists only by the “consent of the governed”

Why written: To justify independence from Britain by arguing that the government violated colonists’ rights

AP Gov Connection: Establishes core American ideals—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and the idea that people can overthrow an unjust government/Forms the philosophical basis for limited government and social contract theory

The Articles of Confederation- 1781-1788

Big Idea: Weak national government and strong state power/State Sovereignty. A “firm league of friendship” where states kept most of the power leaving the central government weak.

Why written: To create a loose alliance of states after independence while avoiding tyranny/To create a nation that was polar opposite of the British Monarchy

AP Gov Connection: Shows failures like no taxation power and no strong executive → leads to the Constitutional Convention/Illustrates the weakness of a decentralized system (no power to tax, no executive, no national court, leads to constitution)

The US Constitution- 1788

Big Idea: Federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances. A blueprint for a republic that balances national power with state power.

Why written: To fix the weaknesses of the Articles by creating a stronger but limited national government

AP Gov Connection: Forms the structure of government and divides power between national and state governments/The supreme law of the lanmd. Defines the three branches and the relationship between the Federal and State governments

Federalist No. 10- 1787

Big Idea: Factions are inevitable but can be controlled/A large republic is the best way to control the “mischiefs of factions”

Why written: To argue that a large republic will prevent any one faction from dominating/To convince NEw Yorkers to ratify the constitution by arguing that a large country prevents any one group from dominating.

AP Gov Connection: Supports pluralism and explains how diversity of interests protects minority rights/Essential for understanding pluralism and why the U.S. is a Representative Republic rather than a direct Democracy.

Brutus No. 1- 1787

Big Idea: Strong national government threatens individual liberty/Anti-Federalism: A large, centralized government will inevitably destroy liberty and the power of the states.

Why written: To oppose ratification of the Constitution and warn it would overpower the states/To argue against the constitution fearing the “Necessary and Proper” and “sovereignty” clause gave the Federal Government unlimited Power.

AP Gov Connection: Reflects Anti-Federalist concerns that led to the addition of the Bill of Rights/Represents the participatory Democracy view and the persistent American fear of “big Government”

Federalist No. 51- 1788

Big Idea: Checks and balances control government power/”Ambition must be here to counter ambition”.

Why written: To explain how each branch will limit the others to prevent tyranny/To explain how the structure of the new government (Separation of powers) protect liberty

AP Gov Connection: Key idea behind separation of powers—“ambition must be made to counteract ambition”/The definitive explanation of why we have three branches and how they keep each other in line.

Federalist No. 70- 1788

Big Idea: A strong, single executive is necessary/A single “energetic” president is better than agroup of weak leaders.

Why written: To argue that one president ensures accountability, energy, and quick decision-making/To justify having one person in charge of the Executive branch for accountability and quick decision making.

AP Gov Connection: Explains why the presidency has significant power and is led by one individual/Focuses on Executive Power and the importance of presidential leadership.

Federalist No. 78- 1788

Big Idea: Judicial review and an independent judiciary/Hamiltion arguwed that the judicial branch must be independent so it can interpret laws and protect the constitution from unconstitutional actions by the other branches, courts act as a safeguard for individual rights

Why written: To defend the role of courts as the least dangerous branch/To defend the role of the judiciary under the constitution

AP Gov Connection: Establishes the idea that courts can declare laws unconstitutional, Foundations of judicial independence and the power of the supreme court.

MLK's Letter from a Birmingham Jail- 1963

Big Idea: Civil disobedience and moral responsibility to oppose unjust laws/Social justice and Equal protection. Nonviolent direct action is necessary to force the government to live up to its founding promises.

Why written: To defend nonviolent protest and criticize those who supported gradual change instead of immediate justice/A response to white clergyment who thought the civil rihts movement should wat; King argues that “justice too long delayed is justice denied”.

AP Gov Connection: Connects to civil rights, equal protection, and the role of citizens in influencing government/Connects to the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause and the power of grassroot movements to influence policy.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

Schenck v. the United States (1919)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases:

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Background:

Majority Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Constitutional Principle:

Enduring Legacy:

Analogous Cases: