Foundational Documents Practice

The people enter into an agreement with the government to keep law and order; in exchange, they give up SOME (but not all) of their natural rights.

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• US Constitution

Creates a system of federalism sharing power between a national government and state governments

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• US Constitution

Argues that a representative democracy is the best protection against the dangers posed by small groups determined to take other people's rights way.

• Brutus 1

• Federalist 10

• Federalist 70

• Federalist 78

Argues that the new Constitution gives too much power to the Federal Government

• Brutus 1

• Federalist 10

• Federalist 70

• Federalist 78

The Federal Government should NOT have the power to enforce taxation

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• US Constitution

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity...

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• US Constitution

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• US Constitution

Gives Congress the power to make all laws "necessary and proper"

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• US Constitution

Argues that the existence of many competing groups in a large republic is the best protection against factions.

• Brutus 1

• Federalist 10

• Federalist 70

• Federalist 78

Criticizes the new Constitution, arguing that the United States is too large of a republic for representative democracy to work.

• Brutus 1

• Federalist 10

• Federalist 70

• Federalist 78