AP US Gov - Introductory Unit

Political Spectrum

• Far left - radicalism

  • want immediate and complete change

• Far right - reactionary

  • Want to keep things same or go back to the ideals of the past

Leftwing perspective

• hierarchies can become corrupt

• People at the bottom get left behind

• Change is important for society

• Often an accelerator of change

Rightwing perspective

• hierarchies and inequality are natural

• Social order is important

• Too much change is destabilizing

• Often acting as the “brakes” for change

Ideologies

• frameworks for understanding the world and directing action within it

Roots of Totalitarianism

• in the 1800s, Europe underwent rapid changes during the French & Industrial Revolutions

  • turned towards Rationalism, logica and reason over faith, leading to the secularization of society

• Presented challenges as Christian religion has been the foundation of Western society or “social glue”

Issues identified in the late 1800s

• Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky

  • “If there is not God, everyone is permitted” - no “fear” of God

• Removed moral foundation of society, moved away from one’s conscience

• German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche

  • Believed that God had lost meaning

  • Predicted that the 20th century would undergo pendulum swings between nihilism (life has no meaning) and totalitarianism (contains ideas that create meaning)

Carl Jung

• Swiss psychoanalytic psychologist

• Believed in the collective unconscious, the fact that the country, as a whole, has an unconscious mind

• Believed in the shadow, the inherent human dark side within all of us

Hitler

• embodiment of Germany’s shadow

• Voiced the dark side of its unconscious

• Nothing without the German people who see their darkest beliefs in his beliefs

Purpose of studying Europe Totalitarianism

• demonstrates worst case scenario of runaway government power used to enact evil ideologies

1917-1922

• Bolshevik Revolution & Russian Civil War

• Russia became the Soviet Union, the 1st Communist State, turning towards a Totalitarian system

Vladimir Lenin

• adopted Marxism to Russia

• Created dictatorship “of the proletariat,” using force and violence to remake society.

• Established central planning of economy, requiring the creation of a large bureaucratic government

  • Caused economic confusion & chaos, leading to a large scale famine

Lenin’s dictatorship “of the proleteriat”

• abolished private proverty

  • Attached “class enemies,” where were kulaks (middle class Russians)

• Tried to create new “socialist man,” intending to remold human nature

  • Force people unto reeducation camps or gulags

  • Otherwise people would not believe in his ideologies

• Targeted the Church

  • Since Communism is militant atheism

Lenin’s death

• 1924

• Joseph Stalin took control, winning power struggled with Leon Trotsky

  • Despite Lenin not wanting Stalin to take over

• Established “Socialism in One Country”

Theories of Communism (no definition)

• Classical Marxism

• Marxist - Leninism

Classical Marxism

• theory that in a society the proletariat would need to rise up and bring down the upper classes of the bourgeoisie and rules in a violent struggle among social classes in order to create a classless society

Marxist - Leninism

• theory that in a society a small group of proletariat (“Vanguard of the Revolution”) would need to take over the government and destroy the class system

• Then the group would use government to enforce a classless society in a top-down revolution

Stalinist goal

• make Russia an industrial power quickly (fear of being left behind)

• government central planning forced collectivization of Russian people

• Totalitarian control

  • Used propaganda and terror in the form of informants, secret police, and labor camps against criticism, etc.

Stalinist collectivization

• loss of property led to loss of selfownerrship

• Workers sent to factories

• State-run farms full of forced labor

  • Led to large scale famines

  • 1932: Ukrainian famine of the Holodomor (6 million dead)

“The Great Terror”

• 1930s

• Stalin felt paranoid, pursing political enemies

• Showed trials and mass executions, killing 1 million

Gulags

• forced labor/prison camps in the middle of nowhere

• Gulag systems empowered violent criminals to control political prisoners

  • Often harsher on prisoners than regular guards

History of Italy

• long history of regional, social, and political division

• Government was unable to deal with problems

• Wanted to re-establish the Roman Empire (the ideal)

1920s Italy

• faced threat of communism

• Right wing reacted with creation of fascism

Benito Mussolini

• leader of Fascist Party

• Mussolini’s followers referred to as Black Shirts

  • Fought to gain power, attacking communists

• Lead with intense nationalism, hoping to restore the glory of the ROman EMpire

1922 Mussolini

• used the March on Rome movement, utlilizing mass mobilization, intimidation, and elite support to legally seize power as prime minister

• Called “Il Duce” (The Leader)

Post WWI Germany

• Treaty of Versailles left German bitter and desperate

• Led by the Weimar Republic that created economic and social problems

  • Full of hyper-inflation and the threat of communism

1920s Adolf Hitler

• leader of National Socialist (nazi) Party

History of Hitler

• soldier in WWI and failed artist, but a powerful speaker

• Belief in Nazi ideology of intense nationalism and racial homogeneity

  • Anti-communist and anti-Jewish

• 1933: appointed chancellor

  • Right after the Reichstag Fire, a crisis that led to the Enabling Acts (granted dictatorial power)

Nazi Rule

• Hitler had unlimited power

  • Arrested communists and restricted freedom and liberties

    • Secret policed silence opposition

  • Controlled press and education system

    • Use of propaganda to boost popularity and create cult of personality

  • Stocked and unleashed German anti-semitisM, blaming Jews for German problems

    • 1938: 1st mass arrest then Holocaust

German Nazis

• rejected laissez faire, wanting Government to control private business

• Ultimate goal was autarky, or national self-sufficiency

  • No dependence on foreign trade

    • British hunger blockade in WWI which was scarring to country

  • Made war and expansion inevitable

Policies & Actions of 1930 German Nazis

• was initial success

• Expanded the military → decreased unemployment

• Industrial policy (similar to fascism)

  • Tariffs on foreign competition

  • Bullies business on prices and production decisions

  • Intended to limit private ownership

• Controlled money supply

  • Suspended the gold standard

  • Expanded credit (debt) by printed money

• Huge public works programs

  • Instituted jobs programs (Decr. unemployment)

  • Created autobahns or highways

• Healthcare

  • National healthcare and unemployment insurance

• Ran huge deficits → increased national debts

Nazi Germany (1930s–1945):

Extreme nationalist and reactionary ideology suppressed minorities and political opponents to enforce a “traditional” social hierarchy.

1840s-1940s China

• western imperialism weakened China politically and socially, creating the “Century of Humiliations”

• Long period of foreign domination and internal crisis made radical solutions, including communism, appealing as a path to national revival and independence

1949 China

• Communist forces defeated Western supported Nationalist Chinese government

  • Mao Zedong declared the People’s Republic of China

Maoism

• adaptation of Marxist-Leninism to China

• Anti-imperialism and class based social revolution

• Targeted “class enemies” (property owners and counterrevolutionaries)

  • “Bitterness meetings” used to identify and mobilize against class enemies

1949 - 1976 China

• Communists purged, planned, and scapegoat killing as high as 100 mil.

1957 China

• Hundred Flowers Campaign (“Let a hundred flowers bloom”

• Allowed dissent and expression to identify class enemies, purging them

1958 - 1962 China

• “the Great Leap Forward”

• Forced industrialization so used agricultural collectivization

  • Caused famine of 55 million dead

1966 - 1976 China

• “The Cultural Revolution”

• Mao’s comeback where he purged enemies in society and government and increased his cult of personality

• Utilization Red Guards, gangs of youth/teens ideologically possessed by Maoism

  • Harassed, arrested, tortured, and executed

  • Destroyed ancient artifacts

  • Implemented “out of Countryside Movement” in which urban people moved to rural land for forced labor

• 2 - 20 mill died

Ancient Roots Of Democracy

• Western Civilization governed by Greek rationalism, Roman Law, and Judeo-Christian ethic

Ancient Greece

• birthplace of Western Civilization

• Politically divided into city-states, but culturally united

• Usage of political terminology we know today: Oligarchy, aristocracy, monarchy, etc.

• Governing philosophy of rationalism

  • Thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

Ancient ROme

• built on Greek achievement

• Republic of 3 parts

  • Pioneered checks and balances

  • Senate influenced decisions

  • Executive figures: 2 consuls

  • Popular assemblies passed laws

• Embraced imperialism, becoming an empire

• Influential figures: Cincinnatus (aligned with GW), Cicero (aligned with J Adams), Marcus Aurelius

Post-Fall of Rome

• Europe was politically shattered

• Developed decentralized feudalism

• Germanic tribes formed small kingdoms

• Culturally unified by Catholicism

late Middle Ages

• France governed by decentralized feudalism, then a centralized absolute monarchy

• England governed by an absolute monarchy, and then a limited monarchy

Re-emergence of trade

• created a money economy

• As Europe politically decentralized, there was relatively more freedom esp in travel, leading to economic growth

15 & 1600s

• Reformation in Europe, breaking Church’s monopoly

• Unleashed chaos on Europe, including wars of religion killing millions

  • 30 Years War, which started as religious war then turned into a national war

  • Reinforced importance of separation of Church and State

English History

• overall a struggle to enlarge freedom

• Magna Carta, Parliament, Civil War, the Glorious Revolution

• The American Revolutionaries’ aligned with this struggled, seeing themselves as Englishmen trying to regain rights

1700s Europe

• The Enlightenment, built on the Scientific Revolution

• Applied logic and reason to the social world

  • Theories of human nature: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, etc.

• Informed and inspired American revolutionaries

1700s Britain

• mercantilist empire

• Government had an active role in economy

  • Granted monopolies, like the British East India Company

• Colonies exist for benefit of Britain

  • Set prices on goods

  • Limited colonial economies

1777 Continental Congress

• made 1st national constituency (Articles of Confederation)

  • Ratified in 1781

  • U.S. established as loose confederation or league of independent states

Cont. Congress’s Power

• purposely limited

• Could declare war & conduct foreign policy and administer relations with Native Americans

• Could not tax or regulate interstate commerce or foreign trade

Problems of Continental Congress

• economic & political

• Couldn’t tax, increasing the nation debt + the gov’t could default on debt

• Post-war depression deepened

  • Debts, bankruptcies, and foreclosures created an uneasy economic situation

• Foreign nations didn’t respect US

  • Britain denied access to to British West Indues and right to export goods to Britain on American ships

  • Spain forbade American trade with New Orleans

  • British soldiers in frontiers forts, occupying the Northwest territory

Who wanted revision to A of C?

• nationalists/Federalists

  • Hamilton

  • Madison

  • Franklin

Shays’ Rebellion

• catalyst for change

• MA govt printed money during war

  • Inflation led to & losing value

    • Desperate veterans sold at small % of value to “speculators” or wealthy investors (many in gov’t or connected)

  • State gov’t voted to refund bills at face value

    • Tax people to pay, leading people to foreclose on their farms when couldn’t pay

Daniel Shays

• 1787, Rev. War officer

• 1000 farmers protested taxes and farm enclosures, so the courts had to close

  • State send militia, who ended up joining the rebellion

• Shays and men tried to raid federal arsenal

  • Revolt failed

• Chaos scare people, especially GW

  • Nationalists pushed for stronger central gov’t

1786 Const. Convention

• Annapolis Convention where only 4 states sent delegates

• Issued report calling for wider convention

• Not much happened

1787 Const Convention

• convention in Philadelphia in response to Shays Rebellion

• Stated purpose of revising Articles of Confederation

  • Instead created a new cont. (“runaway convention”)

  • Opponents were either absent or unprepared

  • Madison had created a thorough plan, researching how to create Const.

Views of 1787 Cont. Convention

• top-down counter revolution

  • Pushed against ideas of 1776, hoping to create a more centralized document/government

• Counter argument: opponents were included in new government

Constitutional Convention

• 53 delegates from 11 states came

  • Most helped write state consistitions

  • 21 fought in resolution

  • 8 signers of Decl of Independence

  • Most were rich, lawyers, merchants, and planter elites

  • North was underrepresented (RI and NH absent, NY left midway)

    • Gave southern states and reps advantage

James Madison

• leading Nationalists (Federalists)

• “After of the onstitution”

• Served in Cont Congress

• Came prepared to convention, creating plan of gov’t

Alexander Hamilton

• leading nationalist (federalist)

• Strong nationalist prescience

• Served under GW in war

• Supported powerful central government (shifting convo to centralized systems)

• Argued for British model

  • Will see in his economic system as treasurer

GW

• leading nationalist/federalist

• President of convention

• Gave legitimacy to convention

• Celebrity, attracting crowds

Ben Franklin

• leading nationalist/federalist

• Elder statesman

• Added experience, wisdom, and prestige

• Also international celebrity

James Madison Ideas

• legislative republicanism (central gov’t to counteract state gov’ts)

  • Emphasized legisl. Branch

  • Understood “paradox of gov’t”(checks and balances)

  • Originated theory of a large republic

Federalist #51 and Madison

• understood the “paradox of government” (system of checks and balances)

  • Distrusted state governments, viewing them as ridden with corruption and threat to liberty

    • Wanted stronger national government to check and balance and nation gov’t to have them too

Federalist #10 and Madison

• originated theory a large republic

  • Historically republics had been small

    • Believed large could work

  • Many diverse interests so they need to check each other to preserve te common good

    • Appreciated dynamism of PA vs. stagnation of VA

  • Protect minority rights against tyranny of majority

    • Individuals most vulnerable of minority

Alexander Hamilton views

• executive republicanism

• Emphasized the executive branch

• Believed in a strong executive to effectuate laws

• Conservative, distrusted democracy

  • Wanted balance of aristocracy/oligarcy, monarchy, and republicanism

Federalist #70 and HHamilton

• believed in a a strong executive to effectuate laws

  • Wanted to be a prime minister figure

  • Very influential on government function post-ratification

Proposed Plan

• James Madison’s VA PlaN

VA Plan

• strong national government

  • Can tax, regulate commerce, and veto state laws

• Senate and a house of reps based on popul

  • Bad for small states

• Individual executive

  • Command military/manage foreign relations

  • Designed with GW in mind

Opposition Plan

• William Patterson’s NJ Plan

NJ Plan

• Unicameral legislature

  • 1 vote per state

  • Good for small states

• Executive by committee, not 1 leader

• States retain sovereignty

  • National gov’t w few powerS

“Great Compromise” Or CT Compromise

• 2 House in Congress

  • Lower house w rep by state popul

  • Upper house w each state having 2 senators

    • Secured support of small states

Federal vs. Nationalist System

• Federal system - power divided between national and state gov’ts

  • States still retained sovereignty

• Nationalist system → central gov’t is dominant

  • Certain powers forbidden to states

3/5 Compromise

• 3/5 of enslaved population counted towards representation

  • Congress and electoral votes for pres elections

  • Illogical position of southerners viewing enslaved people as property

• Slave trade protected for 20 yrs

  • Fugitive Slave Law created

Slave Rep in Congress

• big issues in convention

• Southern states more represented at Convention so more control

• Demanded special privileges in Const

Ratification

• convention created new process

• Special state conventions not state legislatures (elected by ppl)

• 9 out of 13 needed to ratify (no longer 13/13)

Federalists view on Constitution

• united in support

Key voices of the Federalists

• James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton

• Wrote the Federalist Papers

  • Series of essays to persuade/defend the Const

Federalist 10 summary

• Madison warns factions are unavoidable because of human differences, but dangerous since they threaten minority rights.

• Instead of eliminating them, the Constitution controls their effects through a large republic.

• In a big, representative republic, diverse interests make it harder for one faction to dominate, protecting liberty and stability.

Federalist 51 summary

• Madison argues that government must control itself to prevent abuse of power

• He proposes separation of powers, giving each branch indep authority and the ability to check the others

• But letting each branch’s ambition counteract the others, and combining this with federalism, liberty and individual rights are better protected

Federalist 70 summary

• Hamilton argues that a strong, energetic executive is essential for good government.

• A single president, rather than a group, ensures accountability and clear decision-making.

• Unity in the executive allows for swift action, protects the public, and defends against legislative encroachment.

Federalist 78 summary

• Hamilton argues that an independent judiciary is essential to uphold the Constitution.

• Judges should have lifetime appointments to remain impartial and resist political pressure.

• Judicial review allows courts to strike down laws that violate the Constitution, protecting liberty and preventing legislative overreach.

Those in favor of Const. Besides Federalists

• Ben Franklin & GW

• Frontiersmen/land speculators

  • actively want to go west, would be protected by military against natives

• Artisans/manufacturers

  • Central gov’t regulate interstate and national trade

  • Standardization of currency

  • Big businesses could petition for tariffs against foreign businesses

Opposition to const

• Anti-Federalists who oppose ratification

Anti-Federalists

• seen as losers in American history but made many important contributions to US gov’t

  • Many key figures in gov’t anti-Fed

• Against concentration of power in distant elite

  • Local gov’t easy to monitor for corruption

  • Didn’t believe in Madison’s large repub theory

• Feared a loss of individual liberties

  • Concerned by lack of a bill of rights

• Problem: not united or prepared

Anti-Federalist constituents

• Samuel Adams, George Clinton (govt of NY), and Patrick Henry (big figure in VA)

  • Henry didn’t attend Cont Convention

• Farmers (avg citizens)

  • General distrust in lawyers and wealthy ppl

  • Const threatened debtor relief laws in states

Ratification Process for Constitution

• Mid - Jan 1788 - 5 states ratified

  • PA ratified as part of Fed rush job

    • Inc A.F. suspicions

  • Promise of Bill of Rights led to 4 states ratified

• NY & VA were most important states left

  • VA down to Henry vs. Madison

    • Ratify in end

  • NY down to Clinton vs. Hamilton

Bill of Rights

• product of Anti-Fed opposition

  • Unofficial 8th section of Const

  • Compiled and edited by Madison

• Led 4 states to ratify in Jan 1788 after initial 5

Political and historical significance of Bill of Rights

• republicanized and liberalized the Const at points of contact w citizens

  • Police, military, courts

• Enshrined certain individual rights as a defense against gov’t oppression

  • Until 14th amendment, only applied to nat gov’t not states