FCLE Pre-Constitution Documents - Tunez

Front

Magna Carta

Back

 

1215 Document that limited the power of the king, challenging the Divine Right Theory.

Ideas that influenced U.S.:

·        Rule of Law

·        Trial by jury of peers

·        Limited Government

·        Consent of the Governed

·        No Taxation without Representation

 

Front

English Bill of Rights

Back

 

·        1689 Document that established rights for every British Citizen (including colonists in America).

·        Inspired U.S. Bill of Rights

·        Also protected Citizens from standing armies and taxation without representation.

 

 

Front

Weaknesses of

The Articles of Confederation

Back

Weak central government:

1.      No executive or judicial branches

2.      Only a single chamber congress that needed 9/13 votes to pass laws and 13/13 to amend The Articles

3.      No military power

4.      No power to tax states

5.      No power to regulate economy (couldn’t standardize money or interstate trade)

Front

Accomplishments of

The Articles of Confederation

Back

 

·        Won the Revolution (War for Independence)

·        Negotiated Treaty of Paris (to end the war)

·        Passed The Northwest Ordinances

 

 

Front

Mayflower

Compact

Back

 

·        1620 Document that established the government of the Plymouth, Massachusetts settlement.

·        First real-life example of a Social Contract.

 

 

Front

Virginia

Declaration of Rights

Back

 

·        1776 Document that declared natural rights of men, including the right to reform or abolish inadequate government.

·        Influenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

 

 

Front

Common

Sense

Back

1776 pamphlet that urged Americans to go to war against Great Britain for Independence.

·        Same ideas as Declaration of Independence

o   Rule of Law

o   Limited Government

o   Natural Rights

o   Popular Sovereignty

o   Social Contract Theory

·        Also rejected The Divine Right of Kings

Front

Brutus 1

(Anti-Federalist)

Back

Anti-Federalists argument that Constitution creates a gov that is too powerful and oppressive:

o   Centralized power distant from people

o   Too many interests to make good policy

o   Power to tax: Money is power

o   Money attracts corrupt people to gov.

o   Centralized Military power

o   Unpopular laws will be forced on people

o   No Bill of Rights to protect people

 

Front

Declaration

of

Independence

Back

Official statement to the world of separation from Great Britain

·        Described republican values that would lay the foundation for government:

o   Rule of Law

o   Limited Government

o   Natural Rights

o   Popular Sovereignty

o   Social Contract Theory

·      Does NOT have legal force today

Front

Federalist 10

Back

Pro-Constitution argument against Brutus 1. Claims national congress better than state ones:

o   Large congress: More competition = more qualified congresspeople.

o   Small congress: Like a ‘popularity contest;’ prone to corruption.

o   Small congress: 1 group can take over and oppress minorities.

o   Large Congress: Groups must compromise to gain majority.