Required Founding Documents - AP Gov Review

Introduction: Revolutionary Ideas, Revolutionary Results

• America's independence was declared through foundational documents, not just actions.
• Key themes: liberty vs. order, federal power vs. state sovereignty, majoritarianism vs. minority rights.
• Documents provide blueprints and visions for government functions.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Context & Purpose

• Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, influenced by Enlightenment thinkers.
• Declared the 13 colonies' independence from Britain.

Core Ideas

• Natural Rights: Rights to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness.
• Social Contract: Government power comes from consent of the governed.
• Grievances: List of abuses by King George III.

Importance

• Ideological foundation of American democracy.
• Justified rebellion as a duty against tyranny.
• Inspired global revolutionary movements.

Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

Context

• America's first constitution, reflecting fears of centralized power.

Structure

• Unicameral Congress, no executive/judicial branch, each state one vote.
• Unanimous approval needed for amendments.

Powers and Weaknesses

• Powers: Declare war, make treaties, borrow money, maintain army/navy.
• Lacked Powers: Taxation, interstate commerce regulation, law enforcement, soldier drafting.
• Required 9/13 states for major legislation.

Collapse

• Economic chaos, no military response to uprisings, foreign policy failures.
• Led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

Federalist No. 10 (1787) - James Madison

Problem

• Dangers of factions.

Solution

• Control effects of factions through a large republic.
• Representative democracy to refine public views.

Legacy

• Justifies pluralism and large federal system.
• Supports federalism and bicameral legislature.

Federalist No. 51 (1788) - James Madison

Problem

• Preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Solution

• Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances.

Importance

• Supports judicial review, bicameralism, veto power, impeachment.

Federalist No. 70 (1788) - Alexander Hamilton

Argument

• Need for a single, energetic executive.

Reasons

• Unity = accountability.
• Speed & secrecy in national affairs.
• Multiple executives lead to conflict.

Federalist No. 78 (1788) - Alexander Hamilton

Purpose

• Defends judiciary and judicial review.

Key Points

• Judiciary as the least dangerous branch.
• Importance of lifetime appointments for independence.

Brutus No. 1 (1787) - Anti-Federalist Argument

Core Concerns

• Constitution gives too much federal power.
• Fears of elite ruling class and large republics.

Vision

• Advocating for small, decentralized government.

The U.S. Constitution (1787)

Structure

• Replaced Articles, established robust federal system.
• Three branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial.

Principles

• Popular sovereignty, limited government, checks and balances, federalism.

The Bill of Rights (1791)

• First 10 amendments protecting civil liberties.

Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963) - Martin Luther King Jr.

Context & Core Arguments

• Written during imprisonment for civil disobedience.
• Advocates for nonviolent action against injustice.

Relevance

• Connects to natural rights and social contract theory.

Summary Table of Required Documents

• A comparative overview of each document, its authors, main ideas, and related AP Gov themes.

Final Thoughts

• Foundational documents are alive in modern government actions and debates.
• They provide language and logic to understand democracy in motion.

Key Terms to Review

• List of significant terms with brief explanations related to the documents and their historical context.