Historical Documents: AP gov

Question 1

Declaration of Independence

Answer 1

-natural rights(all men created equal
-social contract(purpose of gov is to secure the natural rights
inspired by John Locke
-popular sovereignty(consent of the governed)

Question 2

Quotes from the Declaration of Independence

Answer 2

-all men are created equal
-life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness

Question 3

articles of confederation

Answer 3

-Shay’s rebellion(showed the weakness of the central government: caused more people to support a new, stronger government)
-weak central gov(unicameral legislative, states had a lot of power)

Question 4

US Constitution

Answer 4

-exclusive powers:(Congress: coin money, regulate commerce, declare war… President: pardons, commander-in-chief… Judicial: life terms, judicial review
-necessary and proper clause/elastic clause
-shared powers
-checking powers
-commerce clause
LEG(J)S

Question 5

Brutus 1

Answer 5

-anti-federalist paper
-favors power to be held on state level, more democratic and smaller republic
-concerned about the elastic and supremacy clause(the federal government will destroy the state govs.)
-did not agree with the ability to tax

Question 6

Federalist 10

Answer 6

FACTIONS –> representative democracy –> pluralism
-a large republic is the best way to control the negative effects of factions
-also to protect the minority rights while maintaining majority rule
-if we remove the causes of factions then we destroy liberty, not good

Question 7

Federalist 51

Answer 7

-Separation of powers
-checks and balances
-favored bicameral legislature
-federalism(sharing of power)
-justice is the ultimate purpose of government

Question 8

Quote from federalist 51

Answer 8

-if men were angels, no government would be necessary

Question 9

Federalist 70

Answer 9

-favored unitary executive (all the power of presidency to one person)
-ENERGY (an active and decisive executive)
-people need to have power over the president, with one president, it is easier to point blame at one, they will be more responsive to public opinion

Question 10

Federalist 78

Answer 10

all about the JUDICIAL BRANCH and JUDICIAL REVIEW and LIFE TERMS
-life terms allow the judges to be INDEPENDENT from the other branches and society, no influence

Question 11

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Answer 11

Written by Martin Luther King
-touched on the Declaration of Independence and Constitution(all men created equal, 14th: equal protection clause)
-seen as a thesis statement for the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
-NATURAL RIGHTS: uses this to justify the civil disobedience against unjust (not equal) laws