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Anti-Federalists
did not support the Constitution; feared a strong central government would easily lead to tyranny
Brutus no. 1
Anti-Federalist document commenting on the dangers of an over-centralized government
faction
an early term for what have now become political parties
Federalists
supported the Constitution; recognized the need for a centralized government that would provide stability and security
Federalist no. 10
one of the “Federalist Papers”; argued against factions and commented on the dangers they pose
Anti-Federalists
early American faction that believed a strong federal government would not adequately represent the diverse interests of the American people; opposed the Constitution and resented the initial lack of a Bill of Rights
elite democracy
a form of democracy in which only a small portion of the population is able to participate; represented in American through congress, the supreme court, and the electoral college
Federalist
an early American faction that believed a strong federal government was necessary in order to prevent too many competing individual interests from making democracy to hard to effectively execute; strong advocates of the Constitution
initiative
an example of participatory democracy in America; the power of the people to place a measure on the ballot for popular vote
interest group
an example of pluralist democracy in America; a group of like-minded individuals who lobby for issues that benefit them and campaign for candidates who represent their interests; examples include unions and the NAACP
participatory democracy
a form of democracy that relies on community participation in government actions; common in America at the local level where individuals can vote on laws and taxes
pluralist democracy
a form of democracy in which like-minded people form groups that campaign for representative and issues that they feel will benefit their cause or interests
representative democracy
a form of democracy in which citizens elect representatives that they feel will benefit them and act in their best interests; these leaders are then in charge of creating and passing laws, rather than direct citizen participation
John Adams
founding father; Federalist; part of the drafting committee for the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence
the document formally declaring the American Colonies’ departure from the British Empire
Benjamin Franklin
founding father; member of both the continental congress and the constitutional convention; part of the drafting committee for the Declaration of Independence
Grand Committee
group made of one delegate from each state represented at the constitutional convention
Alexander Hamilton
founding father; federalist; instrumental in shaping the formation of the new constitution; first secretary of the treasury
Thomas Hobbes
British philosopher and author of The Leviathan; argued that man needed an absolute sovereign to hold society together
Thomas Jefferson
founding father; author of the Declaration of Independence
limited government
a government kept under control by checks and balances, separation of powers, and respects individual liberties
John Locke
British philosopher; argued that all men are born free and equal and that there is an obligation to rebel when the rule of kings fails
James Madison
founding father; nicknamed the “father of the Constitution”
Baron de Montesquieu
French philospher; argued for the separation of powers
natural law
the idea that all men are born free under God and cannot be subjected to another’s power without consent
popular sovereignty
the concept that the people are the ultimate ruling authority
representative republic
a governmental system in which citizens elect officials who are tasked with making and carrying out laws with the people’s best interests in mind
republicanism
a form of government in which citizens elect their leaders
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
French philosopher and author of The Social Contract; argued for the concept of an agreement between free people to abandon certain rights in order to be secure under a single governing body
U.S. Constitution
the foundational document of American government; sets out the rules for government action and policy
George Washington
founding father; first American president
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