Constitution
3 branches, bicameral legislature. Basic rights of all Americans. Supreme law of the nation
Declaration of Independence
The formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the American colonies from Great Britain
Federalist 51
Argued for checks and balances/
separation of powers
Letter from Birmingham Jail
Response to fellow clergymen who deemed his actions in Alabama to be too extreme. The case against "wait".
Makes the case for non-violent civil disobedience to cause tension and bring about equality
Federalist 78
Federalist 10
Factions are undesirable but inevitable in a republic
to destroy factions is to destroy liberty, the cure is worse than the disease
pit factions against each other in a large republic
Brutus I
Need for bill of rights
Saw article I, especially the elastic clause, as dangerous
Wanted a weaker central gov and more power to the states
Energetic, powerful executive
Balance the legislative branch through the veto
Easier to blame one person than a bunch of them
Articles of Confederation
1st Constitution
unicameral federal gov that dealt with forign affairs
no taxes, army, or regulate trade
had no executive or judical
