These people were in favor of a federal government, united by the constitution.
Who were the federalists?
This essay outlines the reasons for supporting a federal government, and the plan that will make it succeed.
What is Federalist Paper #1?
Hey, George! We are born with rights, you're doing a bad job, and we're leaving.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
What is an election?
This concept of government allows for the people to vote on government actions.
What is democracy?
These people were worried about the leader of a federal government becoming like a king.
Who were the anti-federalists?
If you want to know how the founders planned to keep government working for the common good (and not for a select few), read this document.
What is Federalist Paper #10?
People are pretty selfish, so we need a government to keep us safe from each other.
Who is Hobbes?
A system where individual people vote directly for laws, and other government actions (no representatives needed!).
What is a direct democracy?
This is a system where people elect representatives to govern.
What is a Republic?
Hamilton, John Jay, and Madison wrote the Federalist papers to persuade these people.
What is #51?
Humans are born with certain rights that nobody can take away (Life, Liberty and Property) and people form a social contract with to lock in those rights.
Who is John Locke?
If a power is specifically listed and named in the constitution, you can call it one of these powers.
What is enumerated?
These thinkers from the 1700's shed light on ideas about the purpose and structure of government?
What are Enlightenment thinkers?
These people insisted that the constitution have 10 amendments before they would vote for it.
Who are the anti-federalists?
To understand how the judicial branch keeps the laws in line, read this Federalist Paper.
What is 78?
Governments need a separation and balance of power so control doesn't skew toward a tyrant.
Who is Montesquieu?
This first plan for the newly independent colonies failed, for many reasons- one of which was no power to collect taxes.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
This ancient civilization had a senate and assembly that inspired the American senate and house representative system.
What is Rome?
This group of people thought the constitution was so limiting of the federal powers that no protections for individual liberty were needed.
Who were the federalists?
Hamilton argues that the Bill of Rights poses a threat to our rights, by ensuring only those in the 10 amendment in this paper.
What is #84?
Majority rules, we have to give up some freedoms to live with each other, and we have to work for the common good.
Who is Rousseau?
This safeguard is built into the constitution and keeps any one branch of government from getting to powerful, and checks that they balance and share the work to get things done.
What is checks and balances?
This concept states that government gets its power from the consent of the people, and people control the government by voting and changing it, if needed. Majority Rule, baby!!
What is Popular Sovereignty?