Required Foundational Documents
Document | Big Ideas | Major Quotes | Key terms, concepts, people |
Declaration of Independence 1776 | A letter to the king to justify independence; all men have natural rights, which have been violated by the king; when this happens, people have the right to alter or abolish their government; doc. does NOT establish a form of government, but an ideological foundation for popular sovereignty and moral standards for the U.S. | “Declare the causes which impel them (people) to separate” “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…” “All men are created equal…” | John Locke; popular sovereignty; republicanism; authored primarily by Jefferson |
The Articles of Confederation 1781-1788 | First Constitution; limited federal government w/ legislative branch only; no ability to tax; each state maintained sovereignty; one vote per state in Congress; all states required to amend; designed to protect states rights and best represent the interests of the people | “Each state maintains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence” “A firm league of friendship and a common defense” | Shay’s Rebellion; unicameral house; limited government |
The U.S. Constitution 1789 | Created a three-branch federal government with checks and balances; enumerated powers & denied other; maintained federalism; republicanism; Bill of Rights not an original part (agreed to be added to gain Anti-federalist support for ratification) | “We the people...more Perfect Union...establish justice...insure domestic tranquility, common defense, general welfare, and secure liberty” “All legislative power is vested in a Congress” “The President shall be Commander in Chief…” “Federal laws….supreme law of the land...:” | Constitutional Convention-Great Compromise, 3/5s Compromise; Electoral College Compromise; Federalists v Anti-Federalists; Supremacy Clause; Necessary and Proper Clause; Amendment Process; Congressional limitations (no export tax, no bills of attainder, cannot deny habeas corpus, no ex post facto laws) |
Federalist No 10 1787 | Factions (interest groups) can be dangerous but should NOT be eliminated; a large, representative and pluralist democracy is the best cure; factions will neutralize one another; Republic>Democracy in large nation; emphasizes delegating authority to wise elected representatives | “The same advantage a republic has over a democracy, in controlling the effects of faction, is enjoyed by a large over a small republic…” “A pure democracy...can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction…” | The Federalist Papers (Hamilton, Madison, Jay) written to support ratification of Constitution; Madison authored No. 10; supports elite model of democracy |
Brutus No 1 1787 | Opposed to ratification because the Constitution threatens states & individual rights; necessary and proper clause and supremacy clause are both too expansive; country too large to elect a group to represent everyone; country too diverse as is; 13 states can NOT be one | “This government is to possess absolute and uncontrollable power, legislative, executive, and judicial…” “...in a republic of the extent of this continent, the people...would be acquainted with very few of their rules; would know little of their proceedings, and it would be extremely difficult to change them” | Reflects Anti-Federalists; necessary and proper clause; supremacy clause; state’s rights; dual federalism; author unknown; 10th Amendment appeased many Antifederalists; supports participatory model of democracy |
Federalist No 51 1788 | Separation of powers in the Constitution guards against tyranny; bicameral legislature elected differently with different powers ensures branch doesn’t dominate; checks and balances should cause branches to compete with one another | “The society itself will be broken into so many parts, interests, and classes of citizens, that the rights of individuals, or of the minority, wlil be in little danger from interested combinations of the majority” “You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself” | 3 branches; bicameral legislature; federalism; federalists and anti-federalists; authored by Madison |
Federalist No 70 1788 | One person executive ensures unity and accountability; energetic executive can be active/decisive when necessary | “Wherever two or more persons are engaged in any common enterprise or pursuit, there is always danger of difference of opinion…” “is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy.” “A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the government.” | Chief Executive; power of president; Federalists and; authored by Hamilton |
Federalist No 78 1788 | Judicial branch being independent is essential to securing liberties; appointed (not elected) and serving for life w/good behavior ensures a judicial branch free from legislative interference and politics; assumes judicial review is coming (essay states that this is the job of the judiciary) | “It proves incontestably, that the judiciary is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power; that it can never attack with success either of the other two; and that all possible care is requisite to enable it to defend itself against their attacks.” “A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to the judges to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body…” | Separation of powers; independent judiciary; bill of rights; individual rights; liberties; judicial review (precursor to Marbury v Madison); authored by Hamilton |
Letter From a Birmingham Jail by MLK 1963 | Dr. King’s response to “A Call For Unity”, a letter penned by Southern White clergy; social movements expand civil rights; NONVIOLENT direct action as a final means; postponed until after election to not bias the result or taint the movement as a mere political stunt; | “I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure.” “Collection of the facts...negotiation...self purification...direct action…” “For years now I have heard the word, “wait”,...I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say “wait”” | Civil Rights; freedom of assembly; elections; 14th amendment-equal protection clause; civil Rights Act of 1964; Voting rights Act of 1965; Jim Crow Laws |