foundational documents

Question 1

Declaration of Independence 4

Answer 1

All people have natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness)

Governments get power from the people (popular sovereignty)

People can overthrow a bad government

Lists complaints against the king and breaks away from Britain

Question 2

Articles of confederation 5

Answer 2

States had most of the power

Weak national government (no power to tax or enforce laws)

No executive or judicial branches

Needed unanimous vote to change the Articles

Replaced by the Constitution because it didn’t work well

Question 3

Constituion 6

Answer 3

Set up a stronger national government

Separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism

Bicameral legislature (House + Senate), president, courts

Includes protections for slavery (at the time)

Limits government (specific powers listed)

Added Bill of Rights to protect civil liberties

Question 4

Federalist 10 (Madison)

Answer 4

Factions (interest groups) are a threat to democracy

Can’t eliminate factions without taking away liberty

Best solution: large republic to prevent one group from gaining too much power

Pluralism: many voices = no tyranny

Question 5

Brutus 1 4

Answer 5

Anti-Federalist warning against a strong central government

Big republic = bad; reps will be too distant from the people

Elastic and supremacy clauses give too much power to the federal government

Taxes, standing army = tyranny

Question 6

Federalist 51 (Madison). 5

Answer 6

Government needs to control itself (“if men were angels…”)

Separation of powers and checks & balances are key

Ambition must check ambition

Congress is the strongest branch, but it’s split in two for balance

Federalism protects liberty by dividing power

Question 7

Federalist 70 (Hamilton). 4

Answer 7

Need a single, strong president to respond quickly

One leader = more accountable and more decisive

A weak president = a weak government

Congress is slow and deliberate — the president must act fast

Question 8

Federalist 78 (Hamilton) 4

Answer 8

Judiciary is the weakest branch (no money, no army)

Courts have judicial review — can strike down unconstitutional laws

Life terms = independent judges, free from politics

Courts protect the Constitution and people’s rights

Question 9

Letter from birgham jail (MLK JR). 5

Answer 9

Defends civil disobedience against unjust laws

Calls out white moderates and slow change

Justice delayed is justice denied

Freedom and rights must be demanded, not waited for

Civil rights = making the ideals of the Constitution real for everyone