Foundational Documents

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Written by Thomas Jefferson, authorized by Second Continental Congress

Declared Independence from Britain

Identified Natural Rights- Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness and govt's job to protect them

Influenced heavily by John Locke

Consent of the Governed

Limited Government

Social Contract Theory

Articles of Confederation (1781)

Written by John Dickinson, authorized by Second Continental Congress

Confederal Government; Weak- Congress not given many powers

Unicameral Legislature

Each State = 1 vote

2-7 Delegates

No Executive/ No Judicial

U.S. Constitution (1787)

Written by - Constitutional Convention

Outlines the structure of the government

Three branches of government

Relationships between states

Amendment process?

27 Amendments (including the Bill of Rights)

Federalist #10 (1787)

Written by Madison (Federalist)

Factions (political parties) are inevitable

Large Republic is the best form of government to address factions

Federalist #51 (1788)

Written by Madison or Hamilton (Federalist)

Power is divided between three branches of government

Power is divided between national/ state government

Checks and Balances

All keep power from becoming too centralized- prevent one person/ one group from taking over the government

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. …"

"you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."

Brutus #1 (1787)

Written by Yates (Anti Federalist)

Constitution gives too much power to central government

Necessary and Proper Clause

Supremacy Clause

Can do away with State Governments

Standing Army in peacetime is a destruction of liberty

Once you give up power the only way to get it back is by force- "Many instances can be produced where the people have voluntarily increased the powers of their rulers; but few, if any, in which rulers have willingly abridged their authority."

Federalist #78 (1788)

Written by - Hamilton (Federalist)

discusses the power of judicial review

Argues that the federal courts have the duty to determine whether acts of Congress are constitutional and to follow the Constitution when there is inconsistency.

Hamilton viewed this as a protection against abuse of power by Congress.

"It only supposes that the power of the people is superior to both (legislative and executive); and that where the will of the legislature, declared in its statutes, stands in opposition to that of the people, declared in the Constitution, the judges ought to be governed by the latter rather than the former.

Federalist #70 (1788)

Written by - Hamilton (Federalist)

Argues for a strong executive leader, as provided for by the Constitution, as opposed to the weak executive under the Articles of Confederation.

"energy in he executive is the leading character in the definition of good government."

Letters from a Birmingham Jail (1964)

Written by - MLK

Justice

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. …"

"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed"