Foundational Documents
Document written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson, in it the colonies declare independence from Britain.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Group of individuals who favored a strong central government.
The Enlightenment Philosopher who argues for separation of powers and republicanism.
Who is Montesquieu?
A meeting of the Founding Fathers that was called after Shay's Rebellion. Lasted from May to September of 1787.
What is the Constitutional Convention?
The type of government in Britain when they controlled America. Led by a King or Queen.
What is a monarchy?
Federalist Essay arguing that factions are inevitable and the only solution is a national Union.
What is Federalist 10?
Who are Anti-Federalists?
The type of democracy that relies on factions and interest groups to influence goverment.
What is Pluralist Democracy?
The type of rights protected by the Bill of Rights.
What are individual rights?
A reason the colonists had tensions with Britain.
What is taxation without representation?
What is the occupation of British soldiers in the colonies?
Anti-Federalist essay that argues the "Necessary and Proper" and Supremacy Clauses in the constitution give the Federal government too much power.
What is Brutus I?
The argument made by Madison in Federalist 10.
What is factions are inevitable, but can be controlled by a large diverse national government?
The three types of democracy we have covered in class.
What are Participatory, Pluralist, and Elitist Democracies?
Another term for the specific powers of Congress. Listed in the last three sections of Article I.
What are enumerated powers?
Known as "The Great Charter", a document written in 1215 that took power from King John and have it to a council of barons.
What is the Magna Carta?
Attack by farmers in Massachusetts for unfair tax laws. Revealed the need for a national military.
What is Shay's Rebellion?
The reason Anti-federalists feared the executive.
The principle pushed by both John Locke and Rosseau, claims that people must give up some freedoms to live in a peaceful society.
What is Social Contract?
The constitutional clause that has been used by the federal government to enforce federal laws on the state level.
What is the Commerce Clause?
A concurrent (shared) power held by both Federal and State governments.
What is levying taxes?
What is enforcing laws?
A weakness of the Articles of Confederation.
What is the inability to Federally tax citizens?
What is the lack of a national army?
What is the requirement for every state to approve any change in the Articles?
The compromise that created the legislature we have today - a bicameral legislature with a Senate with 2 representatives per state and a House with representation based on state population.
What is The Great Compromise (The Connecticut Compromise)?
The argument made through Popular Sovereignty.
What is the power belongs to the people?
The purpose of the 10th Amendment.
What is to declare any powers not mentioned in the Constitution under the discretion of the states?
This document focused on self-governing in the colonies and popular sovereignty. It was written by 41 pilgrims in Massachusetts.
What is the Mayflower Compact?