Foundational Documents
Created a weak central Government
Articles of Confederation
a model of democracy that stresses vigorous competition among various interests in a free society; no one group dominates politics
pluralist democracy
An armed uprising in Massachusetts (mostly in and around Springfield) during 1786 and 1787.
Shays' Rebellion
Wrote The Leviathan
Thomas Hobbs
The supreme law of the United States, outlining the structure of the national government and defining the rights and freedoms of American citizens.
US Constitution
A series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Federalist Papers
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
republic
a group, usually within a larger group, that has different ideas and opinions than the rest of the group.
Faction
Wrote Second Treatise of Civil Government
John Locke
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that protect individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and press; right to bear arms; protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; etc.
The Bill of Rights
An essay written as part of the Anti-Federalist Papers, in which the author raised concerns about the concentration of power in the national government and the potential for elected representatives to become an elite class, disconnected from the people they were supposed to represent.
Brutus No. 1
a theory of democracy that limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing leaders; elite holds power
elite democracy
A political system where the powers of the government are restricted by law, usually through a written constitution
Limited Government
The Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
the division of powers between national and state governments, and is central to the American structure of government.
Federalism
Document adopted on July 4th, 1776, which announced that thirteen American colonies were no longer under British rule and had become independent states.
Declaration of Independence
a system of government where rank-and-file citizens rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf
participatory democracy
political ideology centered on citizenship in a state organized as a republic.
Republicanism
the law of God and that this law is acknowledged through human sense and reason.
natural law
A principle stating that all government power comes from the people. The government exists only with consent from its citizens who are the source of all authority.
Popular Sovereignty
an American statesman, diplomat, expansionist, philosopher, author of Federalist 10, and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of United States from 1809-1817. He is hailed as "Father of Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting U.S constitution, and the Bill Of Rights.
James Madison
A form of government where citizens vote directly on laws and policies.
Direct Democracy
The formal approval or acceptance of a decision, action, or plan. In the context of US Government, it often refers to the process by which proposed laws or constitutional amendments are approved and become legally binding.
Ratification
In this form of government, citizens elect leaders for a limited period of time; the leaders’ job is to make and execute laws in the public interest.
republicanism
Federal law has authority over state laws when the two are in conflict.
Supremacy Clause