APGOV Required Documents

Written by James Madison

a strong, united republic would be more effective than the individual states at controlling “factions”
a large republic will help control factions because when more representatives are elected, there will be a greater number of opinions. Therefore, it is far less likely that there will be one majority oppressing the rest of the people.

Written by Robert Yates

an Antifederalist series of essays designed to encourage New Yorkers to reject the proposed Constitution
the immense power of the federal government requires the people to sacrifice their liberties
a bill of rights was necessary to protect the people from the government
Congress possesses far too much power: taxation, standing army, taxes, Elastic Clause
a free republic cannot exist in such a large territory as the United States
Judicial authority will broaden federal gov’t’s power (thus, tyranny)

Written by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.

All people created equal (Natural Rights of Life, Liberty, Property)
Governments are created to protect these rights
If Gov’t does not protect these rights, then the People have the duty to change/destroy
Imperfect gov’ts should not be destroyed, only ones that seek to subject the People to Tyranny (destruction of Natural Rights)

Written by John Dickson

Confederation of states, with an extremely limited central government.
limitations placed upon the central government rendered it ineffective at governing the continually growing American states
Each state remains sovereign
Unicameral legislature, each state one vote
No President, No Judiciary
Could not force taxation; No standing Army

Written by James Madison and others

Outline of federal gov’t structure, powers, and limits to those powers
Three branches (L, E, J) [Sep. of P’s] that can limit each other [Ch & B’s]
Federal system of government
Constitution as Supreme Law
Bill of Rights o 1-8: Individual Rights o 9: Rights not listed are NOT denied to the People o 10: Powers not given to Federal Gov’t nor denied to the states are State Powers
Other Amendments o Generally, amendments are expansions of Peoples’ rights o 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26

Written by: James Madison

Proposes a government broken into three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
Each branch should be self-sufficient, but each should have some kind of power over the other in order for them to keep each other from taking over the government.
The Legislative branch needs to be split further into the House of Representatives and the Senate because it's the most powerful branch, and members of the Judicial branch need to be chosen by the President with the Senate's approval because they want qualified candidates for a position that lasts for life.
This style of government also helps keep down the power of factions, a recurring theme from Federalist 10.

Written by: Alexander Hamilton

Argues that unity in the executive branch is a main ingredient for both energy and safety. Energy arises from the proceedings of a single person, characterized by, "decision, activity, secrecy, and dispatch," while safety arises from the unitary executive's unconcealed accountability to the people.
Justifies executive strength by claiming that the slow-moving Congress, a body designed for deliberation, will be best-balanced by a quick and decisive executive.
Also maintains that governmental balance can only be achieved if each branch of government (including the executive branch) has enough autonomous power such that tyranny of one branch over the others cannot occur.
Makes the case for duration, meaning a presidential term long enough to promote stability in the government.
Support can be defined as a presidential salary, which insulates government officials from corruption by attracting capable, honest men to office.
Support can be defined as a presidential salary, which insulates government officials from corruption by attracting capable, honest men to office.

Written by: Alexander Hamilton

As “the weakest of the three departments of power,” the Judiciary needs strengthening.
Without an independent judiciary, any rights reserved to the people by the Constitution “would amount to nothing,” since the legislature cannot be relied upon to police itself.
lifetime appointments, guaranteed “during good behavior” to insure that judges can resist encroachments from the legislature (to which presumably they would be vulnerable by means of bribes or threats)

Written by: Martin Luther King Jr

King argues that he and his fellow demonstrations have a duty to fight for justice.
It is up to the oppressed to take charge and demand equality.
Segregation is used to debase one population (blacks) while uplifting another (whites), which makes it immoral in the eyes of God. Immoral laws are laws that are neither just nor fair. According to St. Augustine's logic, unjust laws aren't actually laws, so they don't have to be followed. King believes people are under a moral obligation to oppose segregation by refusing to abide by the so-called laws that govern the practice.
White Americans who say they agree with the notion of desegregation but criticize the manner in which civil rights activists go about achieving it are the biggest obstacle standing in the way of racial equality. The demeaning and "paternalistic" attitude of white moderates shows a lack of real understanding about the realities of segregation. It is this group that perpetuates the notion that time, not human intervention, will be the great equalizer—which discourages others to join the campaign for civil rights.
The civil rights movement will ultimately be successful because "the goal of America is freedom."
want brown b board no jim crow African Americans were being denied the rights of the 15th amendment energized the civil rights movement