Foundational Documents Flashcards
“Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King 1963
Parts- Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, Civil Rights Movement
Idea- Non-violent direct action
-Equal rights from the Constitution
Quotes- “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere
-Justice too long delayed is justice denied”
Federalist No. 10 by James Madison (1788)
Parts- 10 A CROWD
Tyranny of the Faction
Idea- 1. Only control is on limited power through diluting and competition for compromise 2. Republican government to represent
Quote- “Liberty is essential and factions are inevitable”
“Liberty is to faction what air is to fire”
Brutus 1 by Brutus (1788)
Parts- Confederacy Government over Republic
Idea- 1. The Necessary and Proper Clause plus Supremacy Clause trump all parts of state governments making them useless
2. Taxes for both state and government will drain the people
Quotes- Cites Baron de Montesquieu Large republics are tyrannical, unstable, and impossible
Articles of Confederation by John Dickson (1777)
Parts- Confederation of states limited government
Idea- 1. Single legislative where states meet to vote on foreign relations, amendments, and war
2. States held individual powers of militia, taxes
Quote-
Every state retains freedom, power, and independence
States under a firm league of friendships
Federalist 51 by James Madison (1788)
Parts- 1/5 SPLIT IS GREATER
Separation of Government
Idea- Checks and balances, competitive factions, large representatives in legislative
Quote- “If men were angels no government would be necessary”
Federalist No. 70 by Hamilton (1788)
Parts- 0 president
Single Executive
Idea-
1 Unity & energy
2 Reveals faults
Quotes:
“Feeble executive implies a feeble execution of government”
Federalist No. 78 by Hamilton (1788)
Parts- 8 handcuffs law
Judicial Branch Tenure & Power
Idea-
1 Life tenure on ‘good behavior’
2 Judicial review
The Constitution by James Madison (1787)
Parts- Preamble
Article 1 (Legislative & Necessary and Proper Clause)
Article 2 (Executive)
Article 3 (Judicial)
Article 5 (Amendments)
Article 6 (Supremacy Clause)
Idea-
Article 1 (Enumerated power, bicameral house)
Article 2 (Electoral college, Commanders, execution of law)
Article 3 (Supreme court/state court, original/appellate courts, judicial review)
The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson (1776)
Parts- Preamble, grievances, resolution
Idea- Reason for independence, rallying troops. Popular sovereignty and the social contract
Quotes- “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
“deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”
Bill of Rights by James Madison
Parts- Amendments
Idea- meant for the anti-federalist to ratify
1st Amendment
Right to freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition
Establishment Clause
Free Exercise Clause
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in homes
4th Amendment
Protection against unwarranted searches and seizures
5th Amendment
Right of the accused to remain silent and not testify against themselves
6th Amendment
Right to speedy trial
7th Amendment
Right to trial by jury with cases over $20
8th Amendment
Protection against cruel and unusual punishment
9th Amendment
All other rights are reserved for the people
10th Amendment
All other rights are reserved for the states
13th Amendment
13 break rules
Abolished slavery to be done by a certain date
14th Amendment
4+1=5 THE BEST
The equal protection clause
19th Amendment
9+1=10 Women’s suffrage won and gained the right to vote
22th Amendment
2- Limited the president’s term to two of 4 totaling 8
24th Amendment
2+6 counting
Abolished poll taxes against voting
26th Amendment
2+6=8 Allowed 18 year olds to vote
