AP Governmant : Foundational Documentation

Declaration of Independence

A document declaring independence from Britain, authored by Thomas Jefferson.

Natural Rights

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness; rights that the government is obligated to protect.

Declaration of Independence

A document declaring independence from Britain, authored by Thomas Jefferson.

Natural Rights

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness; rights that the government is obligated to protect.

John Locke

Philosopher whose ideas influenced the Declaration, emphasizing consent of the governed and limited government.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the U.S., characterized by a weak confederal government.

Confederal Government

A system where states retain most of the power, resulting in a weak central authority.

U.S. Constitution

The foundational document outlining the structure of the U.S. government and its processes.

Federalist #10

An essay by James Madison arguing that factions are inevitable but manageable in a large republic.

Federalist #51

An essay discussing the division of power between branches of government and the need for checks and balances.

Brutus #1

A response by Robert Yates arguing that the Constitution gives too much power to the central government.

Federalist #78

An essay by Alexander Hamilton advocating for judicial review and the independence of the judiciary.

Federalist #70

A paper by Hamilton emphasizing the need for a strong executive leader in government.

Letters from a Birmingham Jail

A letter by Martin Luther King Jr. emphasizing justice and the necessity of demanding freedom.