foundational documents

Declaration of Independence

Declared independence from Britain; justified separation; identified natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) and government’s duty to protect them; consent of the governed; limited government

John Locke Influence (Declaration)

Government gets power from the people; popular sovereignty; social contract theory

Articles of Confederation

Weak central government; Congress had almost no powers; no executive; no judiciary; states had 1 vote each; 9/13 votes for laws; could not tax or raise an army

U.S. Constitution

Outlined structure of government; checks and balances; separation of powers; relationships between states; necessary improvements from Articles; includes 27 amendments including Bill of Rights

Federalist No. 10

Factions are inevitable; must control effects of factions; large republic prevents faction takeover; competition of ideas prevents corruption; prevents tyranny of majority

Brutus No. 1

Constitution gives too much power to federal government; necessary and proper clause and supremacy clause make federal government uncontrollable; fear of standing army; large republic can’t represent people well

Federalist No. 51

Power divided among 3 branches; each checks the others; separation of powers prevents tyranny; government must control the people but also control itself; ambition must counteract ambition

Federalist No. 70

Argues for a single energetic executive; one president can act decisively; plural executive leads to disagreement, blame-shifting, slow action; single executive ensures accountability

Federalist No. 78

Judiciary is least dangerous branch; has no force or will, only judgment; lifetime appointments for independence; courts must be able to declare laws unconstitutional; judicial review protects Constitution

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere; people have a duty to fight unjust laws; justice delayed is justice denied; nonviolent direct action creates tension to force negotiation; oppressed must demand equal protection under law