The Decleration of Independence
Who Wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson was the primary author.
what is the articles of confederations about
the first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, establishing a "league of friendship" among the 13 sovereign states.
When did the Consitituion get put in place?
The U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788 and effective since 1789.
Alexander Hamiltion, Publius
what year were the amendments ratifyed?
1791
When was the Declaration Of Independence Adopted?
The Continental Congress voted to approve the declaration on July 2, 1776, but the final text was approved on July 4, 1776.
who had the most power under the articles of confederation?
the states
what does the constitution do?
It sets up, defines, and protects the basic rights of Americans.
How many essays were written for the federalist papers?
85
what does the bill of rights contain?
the first 10 amendments
How many colonies were originally represented by the Declaration of Independence
13 Colonies
What was the main purpose of the Articles?
To establish a, albeit weak, central government to manage the Revolutionary War, conduct foreign affairs, and manage western territories.
How many amendments does the constitution have?
27
what was the purpose of the federalist papers?
to persuade new york to ratify the constituion.
why was the bill of rights put in the constituion?
to appease states demanding protection of freedoms like speech and religion
What are the Unalienable Rights you have that are stated in the Declaration of Independence?
Rights that cannot be taken away, including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," which Jefferson argued are self-evident.
why was the articles replaced with the constitution?
the initial government was too weak to manage the new nation, lacking the power to tax, regulate commerce, or maintain order.
how are changes made in the constitution?
Proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress (or two-thirds of state legislatures) and ratified by three-fourths of the states.
Why did the authors argue a large republic was better than a small democracy?
A large republic makes it harder for a single faction to gain majority power and oppress others
how were the bill of rights applied back then and how are they applied now?
Initially, these amendments only applied to the federal government, not state governments, though many have since been applied to states through the 14th Amendment.
What was the main purpose of this document?
To declare that 13 colonies were free and independent states.
what were the reasons the articles of conderations failed?
the deliberately weak central government that lacked the power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws.
How many original states had to ratify the Constitution for it to become effective?
9 out of 13
what were the federalist papers that we learned about and what were there main arguments?
Federalist No: 70, Federalist No. 70, written by Alexander Hamilton in 1788, argues that an "energetic" and unitary executive (a single president) is essential for good government, national defense, and protected liberty. Hamilton contends that a single executive ensures accountability, secrecy, and decisiveness, unlike a slow, divided council, which he argues would hide faults and hinder action.
Federalist No 78 :Federalist No. 78, written by Alexander Hamilton in 1788, is a foundational essay defending the U.S. Constitution's Judicial Branch, arguing it's the "least dangerous" branch, advocating for judicial review (the power to declare laws unconstitutional) to protect rights, and justifying lifetime judicial appointments for independence
Federalist 51: Federalist 51 is an essay by James Madison (under the pen name Publius) arguing that the Constitution provides a system of checks and balances through the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny.
what are the first 10 bills of rights about?
1st Amendment: Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.