Foundational Documents

Question 1

Brutus No. 1(1787)

Answer 1

• Written by Brutus, an anonymous anti-federalist
• wanted NY to reject proposed US Constitution
• Brutus feared that the central gov would override states rights

Question 2

Federalist No. 10(1787)

Answer 2

• this essay urges NY to ratify the Constitution
• written by James Madison
• Large republic is ideal b/c it can balance majority rule v. minority rights

Question 3

Federalist No. 51(1788)

Answer 3

• urges NY to ratify the Constitution
• written by James Madison
• argues against Anti-Federalist who say the federal gov was given too much power, Madison says that SOP and CAB fix that concern
• Gov should get it’s power from the people
• “if men were angels, no gov would be necessary”-but they aren’t

Question 4

Federalist No. 70(1788)

Answer 4

written by Alexander Hamilton

• urges NY to ratify the Constitution
• defends idea of unitary executive
• unitary executive allows people to observe the branch-couldn’t conceal faults
• president would have to support expanded presidential powers

Question 5

Federalist No. 78(1788)

Answer 5

• written by Alexander Hamilton
• urges NY to ratify the Constitution
• talks about the role and structure of the judicial branch
• Hamilton argued for the judiciary as an independent branch
• Hamilton supports limited authority
• judiciary’s main power: power of judgement

Question 6

Letter From a Birmingham Jail(1963)

Answer 6

• Letter written by MLK after he was arrested for protesting in Birmingham
• detailed explanation of MLK’s approach to nonviolent resistance
• he argues that taking protests to street is a legal, political, and religious obligation
• main theme of letter: protests should be nonviolent