Foundational Documents Review

Question 1

Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

-A weak central government designed as a unicameral. Little government power and more state power/protection. Lacked taxation authority, national executive or judicial power, and created “loose league of friendship” between states.
-Established need for stronger national government.

Question 2

U.S. Constitution

Answer 2

-Created a federal government balancing powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches with checks and balances.
-List the Bill of Rights
-Establishes the relationship between states and the federal government, outlining the reserved powers for the state, the delegated powers for the federal government, and the concurrent powers for both.

Question 3

Declaration of Independence

Answer 3

-Separated America from Britain and outlined the grievances against British Monarchy.
-Rooted in Enlightenment ideas especially John Locke
-Established basic human rights: life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Question 4

Brutus I

Answer 4

-Written by anti-federalist to prevent the ratification of the U.S. Constitution
-Afraid of a strong national government destroying state governments and threatening personal liberties
-Argues that the proposed federal government’s powers—especially taxation, military control, and the Elastic Clause—would lead to tyranny.
-Big republican cannot represent the people
-Smaller government establishes a protected democracy.

Question 5

Federalist 10

Answer 5

-Factions: groups of people with a common interest seeking to influence the government (interest groups).
-James Madison argued for a strong national government to manage the dangers of factions
-To protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority, we need a diverse republic
-More groups formed, the less likely tyranny would occur.

Question 6

Federalist 51

Answer 6

-James Madison explains the separation of powers and the checks and balance system between the branches of government in the constitution

Question 7

Federalist 70

Answer 7

-Alexander Hamilton argued for a single energetic president (executive) that could respond to crisis quick
-Multiple leaders was not efficient in quick decision making
-A powerful presidency is essential for national unity and effective leadership.

Question 8

Federalist 78

Answer 8

-Alexander Hamilton defines the judicial branch as the weakest
-Advocates for judiciary independence
-Establishes judicial review to allow the judiciary to declare a law void if it is in violation of the Constitution
-Lifetime appointments for justices protect the judiciary from political influence from Congress or the Legislative

Question 9

Letter from a Birmingham Jail (Martin Luther King Jr)

Answer 9

-Advocates for civil disobedience against unjust laws that violate basic human rights
-Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause provides a constitutional basis for fighting discrimination and achieving civil rights.
-Argued that individuals had a moral obligation to break these unjust laws rather than wait for justice.