Required Founding Documents
Anna Garcia
13 min read
Listen to this study note
Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers key foundational documents for AP US Government, including the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Federalist 10, Federalist 51, Federalist 70, Federalist 78, Brutus 1, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Letter from Birmingham Jail. It emphasizes key concepts like unalienable rights, factions, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, and civil disobedience. The guide also provides practice questions and exam tips.
#AP US Government: Foundational Documents - The Ultimate Study Guide 🚀
Hey future AP GOPO master! Let's make sure you're feeling super confident about those foundational documents. We're going to break it all down so it sticks, and you'll be ready to rock that exam! Let's get started!
#🏛️ Core Principles & Key Documents
#Declaration of Independence 📜
- Author: Thomas Jefferson
- Purpose: To declare the colonies' independence from Great Britain.
- Key Ideas:
- Unalienable Rights: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- Government's Role: To protect these rights; if it fails, the people can alter or abolish it.
- Grievances: A list of complaints against King George III.
- Impact: Justified the American Revolution and set the stage for a new nation.
Remember 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness' as the core unalienable rights. Think of it as the American Dream starter pack.
Practice Question
Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
A) To establish a new form of government B) To declare the colonies' independence from Great Britain C) To outline the structure of the judicial branch D) To create a system of checks and balances
Answer: B
The concept of 'unalienable rights' as described in the Declaration of Independence refers to rights that are:
A) Granted by the government and can be revoked B) Subject to the will of the majority C) Inherited and cannot be taken away D) Defined by the legislative branch
Answer: C
Briefly explain how the Declaration of Independence reflects the philosophy of natural rights.
Answer: The Declaration of Independence asserts that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which are not granted by any government. This philosophy, rooted in natural rights theory, holds that these rights are self-evident and precede government, thus justifying the colonies' separation from British rule.
#Articles of Confederation 📜
- Context: First attempt at a national government after independence.
- Structure: Weak central government, strong state governments.
- Powers of Congress: Limited to foreign affairs, war, postal service, and coining money.
- Weaknesses:
- No power to tax 💸
- No power to regulate interstate commerce 🚧
- No national currency 💰
- No national army 🪖
- Unanimous consent needed to amend ✍️
- Impact: Proved too weak to govern effectively, leading to the Constitutional Convention.
Think of the Articles of Confederation as a 'Confederation of Weaknesses.' It had good intentions but lacked the teeth to govern effectively. Remember: No Tax, No Trade, No Troops!
Practice Question
Which of the following was a significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
A) The establishment of a strong national court system B) The power of the national government to tax C) The lack of a national currency D) The ability of the national government to regulate interstate commerce
Answer: C
Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government's power was primarily limited by:
A) A strong executive branch B) A powerful judiciary C) The sovereignty of the states D) The ability to directly tax citizens
Answer: C
Identify and explain two major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and how they contributed to the call for a Constitutional Convention.
Answer: Two major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were the inability of the national government to tax and its lack of power to regulate interstate commerce. The inability to tax meant the government could not effectively fund its operations or pay off debts, while the lack of power to regulate interstate commerce led to economic disputes and instability among the states. These weaknesses demonstrated the need for a stronger national government, prompting the call for the Constitutional Convention.
#Federalist No. 10 📝
- Author: James Madison
- Main Idea: Factions are inevitable but can be controlled in a large republic.
- Factions: Groups of people with common interests, which can be a source of instability.
- Problem: Factions can lead to tyranny of the majority.
- Solution: A large republic with representation can dilute the power of factions.
- Why it works:
- More representatives = more diverse viewpoints.
- Larger territory = harder for one faction to dominate.
- Impact: Argued for a large republic as a safeguard against tyranny.
Think of Federalist 10 as 'Factions are a Fact, but a Republic is the Antidote.' Madison says that factions are natural, but a large republic can control their negative effe...
How are we doing?
Give us your feedback and let us know how we can improve