Foundational Documents

Declaration of Independence

• Natural Rights (John Locke) - given to all, governments exist to protect them

• Popular sovereignty - power comes from the people, can abolish unjust governments

  • explains it to the world

• You must rebel or revolt against a bad government.

Constitution*

• Much more power than the Articles of Confederation

• Republican-style government

• Preamble - goals

• Articles

  • Lets - Legislative

  • Eat - Executive

  • Juicy - Judiciary

  • Steak - State/State Interactions

  • And - Amendments

  • Spicy - Supremacy

  • Rice - Ratification

• Article 1 - Legislative - represents the people, lawmaking powers

  • House and a Senate

  • Necessary and Proper Clause - incredibly important — expands congressional powers dramatically. allows them to make laws that concern their other powers

• Article 2 - Executive Branch

  • Commander and Chief

  • Take care that the laws are executed.

• Article 3 - Judicial

  • Supreme Court

    • Original Jurisdiction - State v. State, diplomats, ambassadors

    • Appellate - appeal

  • Congress makes more courts

Letter from Birmingham Jail

• Ideals of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution (Equal Protection) are applied to all

• List of grievances

• Freedom is not given, it requires fighting for

• Advocates for civil disobedience

  • direct action

• Injustice anywhere hurts injustice everywhere