Unit One: Constitutional Underpinnings

This page introduces fundamental principles of democracy and early influences on American government. It covers the transition from direct to representative democracy and explores key historical documents and philosophical ideas.

Definition: Direct democracy is a system where citizens vote directly on government decisions, while representative democracy (republic) involves citizens electing officials to make policy decisions.

The Magna Carta of 1215 is highlighted as the first attempt to limit monarchical power. Enlightenment philosophers like Locke and Rousseau introduced influential concepts such as consent of the governed and natural rights.

Highlight: The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, built on principles of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," consent of the governed, and social contract theory.

Other core democratic principles discussed include:

• Common good
• Popular sovereignty
• Majority rule

The page concludes by introducing the Articles of Confederation as America's first government, noting its weaknesses that led to the Constitutional Convention.

Example: Shays' Rebellion in 1786-1787 demonstrated the weakness of the central government under the Articles of Confederation, prompting calls for reform.

Constitutional Debate and Compromise

This page delves into the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the debates surrounding the creation of the new U.S. Constitution. It examines key compromises and arguments between different factions.

The Connecticut Compromise (also called the Great Compromise) established the bicameral legislature, balancing representation between large and small states. This resolved a major point of contention between supporters of the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan.

Vocabulary: Bicameralism refers to a legislative system with two chambers or houses.

The debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists is explored, highlighting their differing views on central government power. The Federalist Papers, particularly numbers 10 and 51 written by James Madison, are discussed as important arguments in favor of the Constitution.

Quote: "Federalist Paper #10 discusses the importance of factions, arguing that factions are inevitable, but are best handled by a large republic."

The page also covers compromises between Northern and Southern states, including the infamous Three-Fifths Compromise which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.

A table compares weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation with how the Constitution addressed these issues, demonstrating the strengthened federal powers in areas like taxation and interstate commerce.