Key Federalist and Anti-Federalist Documents: Principles and Debates

Fed 10

1. Strong, united republic more effective than states at controlling factions

2. Large republic has more representatives which fosters more diverse opinions

3. Less likely that one majority oppressed less people because of the diversity (solves "tyranny of the majority")

Brutus 1

1. Bill of rights necessary to protect people from the government

2. Congress possesses far too much power (taxation, standing army, taxes, Elastic Clause)

3. Free republic cannot exist in such a large territory as the US

Declaration of Independence

1. All people are created equal (natural rights)

2. Governments are created to protect these rights

3. If government does not protect rights, then the people have duty to change/destroy existing gov

Articles of Confederation

1. Unicameral legislature (each state has one voter)

2. Could not force taxation or standing army

3. Each state remains sovereign

Constitution (+ Bill of Rights & Other Amendments)

1. Outline of federal government structure, powers, and limits to those powers

2. Three branches (LEJ - Sep of P) that limit each other (Ch and B)

3. Constitution as supreme law

Federalist 51

1. Proposes government broken into three branches: LEJ

2. Branches should remain independent but have power over each other to keep others from taking over the government

3. Legislative branch needs to be split further into House of Representatives and the Senate because it is the most powerful branch

Federalist 70

1. Unity in exec branch is main ingredient for both energy and safety (singular executive)

2. Quick and decisive executive balances slow-moving congress

3. Supports duration in which presidential term is long enough to promote stability in the government

Federalist 78

1. Judiciary needs strengthening because it is the weakest of the three branches

2. Judiciary needs to be independent because legislature will not hold up the Constitution by itself

3. Lifetime appointments to insure judges resist encroachments from the legislature (bribes/threats)

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

1. Unjust vs just laws, do not need to follow unjust

2. Nonviolent civil disobedience is necessary to undo wrongs

3. White clergymen who stand by are complicit in the problem since they are not doing anything