AP Government: Unit 1 Foundations of American Democracy

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, concepts, people, and foundational documents for AP Government Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy.

Natural rights

A key concept listed under the Principles/Ideals of Democracy topic in Unit 1.

Social contract

A foundational concept listed under the Principles/Ideals of Democracy topic.

Popular sovereignty

A core principle and ideal of democracy listed in the Unit 1 study guide.

Limited government

A principle/ideal of democracy specified for study in Unit 1.

Separation of powers

A principle/ideal of democracy included under What to Study in Unit 1.

Checks and balances

A foundational principle/ideal of democracy listed in the review guide.

Federalism

A core principle/ideal of democracy featured in the Unit 1 study guide.

Republicanism

A principle/ideal of democracy listed under What to Study for Unit 1.

Equal protection

An ideal/principle of democracy listed under the Principles/Ideals of Democracy topic.

The Declaration of Independence

A foundational document listed under Principles/Ideals of Democracy in Unit 1.

Pluralist democracy

A specific model/type of democracy listed in the Unit 1 study guide.

Elite democracy

A specific model/type of democracy featured under Models/Types of Democracy.

Participatory democracy

A model/type of democracy listed under What to Study for Unit 1.

Articles of Confederation

A topic covering the early government framework and its structural weaknesses.

Shays’s Rebellion

An event listed under the Articles of Confederation topic in the review guide.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Deficiencies of the early government framework including the inability to tax, inability to raise an army, and no executive.

James Madison

A key person listed under the Federalist 10 & Brutus 1 study topic.

Factions

A concept studied in relation to Federalist 10 & Brutus 1.

Representative democracy/republic

A concept listed under the Federalist 10 & Brutus 1 topic in Unit 1.

Direct democracy/pure democracy

A concept categorized under the Federalist 10 & Brutus 1 study topic.

Federalist 10

A foundational document studied alongside Brutus 1 under Unit 1 topics.

Brutus 1

A foundational essay studied alongside Federalist 10 under Unit 1 topics.