9 Required AP GoPo Docs

The Main Idea - Natural Rights and Popular Sovereignty are foundations of a Democracy

• Federalist 78

• Declaration of Independence

• Letter from Birmingham Jail

• Brutus I

The document declares to the world natural rights such as “all men are created equal” and they are endowed by God (Creator) the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

• Brutus 1

• Federalist 10

• Federalist 51

• Declaration of Independence

The idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness comes from life, liberty, and property (John Locke)

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• Federalist 78

• Letter from Birmingham Jail

focuses on the concept of popular sovereignty (power of the people). Government should get its powers from the consent of the governed (permission of the people). We do this by voting.

• Articles of Confederation

• Letter from Birmingham Jail

• Federalist 51

• Declaration of Independence

Government is a “social contract” between people and their rulers, which can be dissolved if rulers fail to promote the people’s welfare

• Articles of Confederation

• U.S. Constitution

• Federalist 78

• Declaration of Independence

America’s first constitution. It gave states powers (confederal)

• Articles of Confederation

• The U.S. Constitution

• Declaration of Independence

• Federalist 51

Congress had little to no power to make laws (9 of 13 states had to approve); No executive (President) to enforce laws; No national court system

• The U.S. Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

• Declaration of Independence

• Federalist 10

Took a unanimous vote of states to change this constitution; Congress could not collect taxes; Congress could not coin money

• Brutus I

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• U.S. Constitution

Congress could not raise a national military; Congress could not regulate commerce

• Bill of Rights

• U.S. Constitution

• Brutus I

• Articles of Confederation

Contains the Preamble (6 goals), 7 Articles, and 27 amendments (the first 10 are called the Bill of Rights)

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• U.S. Constitution

• Federalist 70