Foundational Documents

Question 1

Declaration of Independence core ideas

Answer 1

• Natural Rights: All men are endowed with “unalienable rights,” including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• Social Contract: Governments derive power from the consent of the governed. When they fail to protect rights, citizens have a right to revolt.
• Grievances: The bulk of the document is a list of abuses by King George III—dissolving colonial legislatures, quartering troops, imposing taxes without consent, and more.

Question 2

structure under Articles of Confederation

Answer 2

• A unicameral Congress.
• No executive or judicial branch.
• Each state got one vote.
• Amendments required unanimous approval.

Question 3

powers Congress HAD under Articles of Confederation

Answer 3

• Declare war
• Make treaties
• Borrow money
• Maintain an army/navy

Question 4

powers Congress DIDNT HAVE under Articles of Confederation

Answer 4

• Couldn’t tax
• Couldn’t regulate interstate commerce
• Couldn’t enforce laws or court rulings
• Couldn’t draft soldiers
• Needed 9/13 states to pass major legislation

Question 5

Why did the Articles of Confederation collapse?

Answer 5

• Economic chaos: inflation, trade wars between states
• Shays’ Rebellion highlighted weaknesses
• Foreign policy failure: no unified diplomatic voice
• prioritized state sovereignty over national unity

Question 6

what was the solution posed in Fed 10 + legacy

Answer 6

problem with factions (contracts Brutus 1)
* Don’t suppress liberty (that would be tyranny).
* Instead, control the effects of factions via a large republic.
* A representative democracy refines and enlarges public views.
* A large republic dilutes factional influence across many interests and regions.

Legacy:
* Justifies pluralism and a large federal system.
* Supports the constitutional structure: federalism + a bicameral legislature.

Question 7

solutions posed in Fed 51

Answer 7

problem: How do you prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful? (structural protections against tyranny)

• Separation of Powers: Legislative, Executive, Judicial.
• Checks and Balances: Each branch can limit the others.
• Humans are flawed (“if men were angels…”), so power must check power.
• Encourages federalism: power further divided between state and national governments.

Legacy:
supports
ideas like judicial review, bicameralism, veto power, and impeachment—all mechanisms to avoid tyranny.

Question 8

Fed 70 argument

Answer 8

single, energetic executive (aka one strong president)

• Unity = accountability. One person can be held responsible for decisions.
• Speed & secrecy in national defense, law enforcement, foreign affairs.
• Multiple executives would create conflict, blame-shifting, and slow responses.
• FEARED: weak leadership leads to legislative dominance (tyranny by slow committee)

Question 9

Fed 78 argument

Answer 9

Hamilton defends the judiciary, especially judicial review, as a guardian of the Constitution.

• Judiciary is the “least dangerous branch”—it has no money (Congress) or army (Executive).
• Judges should serve for life to ensure independence.
• Introduces the concept of judicial review: courts can strike down unconstitutional laws. (philosophical basis for Marbury v Madison)

Question 10

Brutus 1 argument

Answer 10

warning that centralized power would erode state authority and threaten liberty.

Core Concerns:
* Supremacy Clause + Necessary and Proper Clause gives too much power to the federal government.
* Fears of an elite ruling class: too far removed from the people.
* Large republics lead to corruption, distant government, and loss of liberty.
* Standing armies = instruments of oppression.

Vision:
* Favored a small, decentralized government
* Believed only a decentralized democracy (small republics where leaders stay closely accountable to their constituents) could preserve liberty

Question 11

articles of the Constitution

Answer 11

• I: Legislative Branch (Congress)
• II: Executive Branch (President)
• III: Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
• IV: states (relationships between them, relationships with fed, admitting new states)
• V: outlines process of amending
• VI: supremacy clause
• VII: Ratification

Question 12

main ideas + relevance of Birmingham Jail

Answer 12

• Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
• Civil disobedience is justified when laws are unjust.
• Advocates for nonviolent direct action to create tension and force negotiation.
• Criticizes white moderates who prefer “order over justice.”
• Urges moral responsibility over blind obedience to law.

Relevance:
* embodies the moral vision behind American government and civil rights (uses Jefferson’s natural rights philosophy)