UNIT 1: FOUNDATIONS

OF AMERICAN
DEMOCRACY
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT
Unit 1 Topic 1:
Ideals of Democracy
Democratic Ideals
•There are several foundational democratic
ideals on which the U.S. government is based:
•Social Contract
•Natural Rights
•Popular sovereignty
•Limited government
•Social Contract: an agreement between citizens and
their government, where individuals willingly give up
some of their freedoms in exchange for protection and
the promotion of the common good (e.g., enforceable
state laws against murder, theft, slavery, etc.)

•Natural Rights: fundamental human rights that are

inherent to all individuals, such as the rights to life,
liberty, and property, which are considered universal
• Popular sovereignty: the principle that ultimate political
authority and power reside with the people, who have the
right to participate in the decision-making processes

• Limited government: the concept that governmental

power should be restrained and defined by a constitution
or a set of laws, ensuring that the government's authority
is not absolute and that individual rights are protected
from other individuals and the government
Limited Government
• TheU.S. Constitution (the supreme law of the land)
uses different principles to create a limited government
• Federalism contributes to limited government by
sharing power between the central government and
regional governments, allowing for a distribution of
authority that prevents excessive concentration of
power in any one entity
• Republicanism, is a system of government where
power is held by the people and exercised through
elected representatives, provides mechanisms for
popular participation and accountability
Limited Government Continued
• The separation of powers divides the government into
three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) each
with distinct powers and responsibilities, preventing any
one branch from becoming too powerful

• Checks and balances further guarantee limited

government by establishing a system where each
branch has the ability to restrain and oversee the
actions of the other branches, ensuring that no single
branch can dominate or abuse its power
The Declaration of Independence
• The Declaration of Independence (1776), drafted
by Thomas Jefferson, with help from John Adams
and Ben Franklin, served as a public rationalization
for secession from the British Empire
• The Declaration restates the philosophy of natural
rights by asserting that all individuals are endowed
with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness
• It
declares that governments are instituted to secure
these rights, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed, emphasizing the idea
of popular sovereignty
The Declaration of Independence
Cont.
• By stating that governments derive their power from the
consent of the governed, the Declaration of Independence
establishes the principle that the authority of government
should be based on the will and consent of the people,
further reinforcing the concept of popular sovereignty
• The document lays the foundation for popular sovereignty
by declaring that it is the people who have the inherent
right to determine their form of government and have the
ability to participate in the decision-making process, either
directly or through their elected representatives
The U.S. Constitution
• The
U.S. Constitution was drafted by James
Madison at the Constitutional Convention in
1787 with the help of Alexander Hamilton and
members of the Grand Committee
• The Constitution functions as a social contract by
representing an agreement between the people and
their government, outlining the powers and
responsibilities of each
• Regarding limited government, the Constitution
divides powers between the federal government
and the states, which further restricts the central
government's power
The U.S. Constitution Continued
• The Constitution outlines the separation of powers
among the three branches of government and
incorporates a system of checks and balances,
where each branch has the ability to check the
actions of the other branches, ensuring that power is
distributed and shared
• Regarding protections for its people, it includes a
series of amendments, such as the Bill of Rights,
which protect individual rights and liberties, thereby
further limiting the government's authority over
personal freedoms
Unit 1 Topic 2 and
3:
Types of Democracy
and Government
Power
& Individual Rights
Representative Democracy
•TheUnited States is an example of a
Representative Democracy
•Representative Democracy: a system where
citizens elect representatives to make decisions
on their behalf, essentially acting as
intermediaries between the people and the
government
•DirectDemocracy: a system of government
where citizens directly vote on laws and policies
themselves (Example: Ancient Athens)
Types of Democracy
• Representativedemocracies can take several forms including the
following models:
• Participatory democracy: which emphasizes broad participation in
politics and civil society, meaning that citizens actively engage in the
political process by directly influencing policy decisions
• Pluralist democracy: emphasizes group-based activism by
nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision
making, allowing for competition and negotiation among different
interest groups to influence policy-making and governance
• Elite democracy: is where a small, privileged group of individuals or
institutions hold significant political power and influence, often based
on factors such as wealth, social status, or expertise, while the
majority of citizens have limited direct participation in decision-
making processes
Examples of Types of Democracy
•Participatory Democracy: town hall meetings,
ballot initiatives, referendums, social movements

•Pluralist Democracy: Interest Groups, Political

Parties, States’ Interests

•Elite Democracy: Electoral College, Supreme Court

Federalists and Anti-Federalists
• Duringand following the Constitutional Convention, there was
serious debate between the Federalists and Antifederalists
• Debates
were over the strengths of the federal and state
governments and what types of democracy to use
• Federalists believed in a strong national government to
unite the states, and were instrumental in shaping the
Constitution
• Anti-Federalists believed in a weak central government and
strong states, feared the Constitution gave the national
government too much power, and opposed the ratification of
the Constitution
Federalists and Federalist No.10
• Federalistsbelieved that a stronger central government was
required to ensure a stable and competent United States
government
• The Federalist Papers are a collection of 85 articles and essays
written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to
promote the ratification of the United States Constitution
• Federalist No. 10
• Argues for the need to control the negative effects of factionalism
through a representative democracy
• It supports the pluralist and elite models by suggesting that a larger
and diverse republic would prevent any single faction from
dominating, thereby protecting minority interests and promoting a
more stable and balanced government
Federalist No.10 Continued
• ToMadison, who wrote Federalist No.10, a large
republic encompasses a greater diversity of interests
and factions, making it less likely for any one faction to
gain majority control and impose its will on others
• Madisonalso emphasized the importance of dispersing
power between the states and the national
government, advocating for a federal system
• Bydispersing power between the states and national
government, Madison argues that it not only protects
against tyranny but also allows for experimentation
and diversity in policy approaches
Anti-Federalists and Brutus No.1
• Anti-Federalists
opposed ratification in favor of a weaker
central government
• Theyargued for a more decentralized system where
power would be primarily held by the states, allowing for
greater local control and protection of individual liberties
• The Anti-Federalists also argued for the inclusion of a Bill
of Rights in the Constitution to explicitly protect individual
freedoms and limit the powers of the federal government
• Anti-Federalist
writings, such as Brutus No. 1, were
grounded in popular democratic theory, advocating for a
decentralized republic
Brutus N0. 1 Continued
• Brutus No. 1 was written in response to Federalist No.
10
• It
strongly criticizes the proposed U.S. Constitution,
arguing against a powerful central government and
advocating for more power to remain with the states,
essentially warning about the potential dangers of a
consolidated federal government on individual liberties
and state sovereignty
• It
advocates for a more direct participatory model,
emphasizing the importance of local control and direct
involvement of citizens in decision-making to safeguard
against the potential tyranny of the elite
Unit 1 Topic 4:
Challenges of the
Articles of
Confederation
The Articles of Confederation
• The Articles of Confederation (1777) was the
first government of the U.S.
• It
was setup as a confederation: a loose union of
sovereign states
• Gave the central government limited powers
• However, founders quickly found the Articles an
ineffective government due to several specific
incidents and legal challenges
• It
was ratified in 1781 and was in effect until 1789,
when the current Constitution was adopted
Shay’s Rebellion
• Anexample of one of the Article’s weaknesses was the lack of a
centralized military
• This
weakness was brought to attention during Shays’ Rebellion in
Massachusetts (1786-1787)
• Thestates were responsible for maintaining their own militias, and
without a central authority to coordinate a response, the rebellion
escalated and threatened the stability of the nation
• Whilethe state militia eventually put the uprising down, the
national government proved inept
• Theincident highlighted the weakness of relying on the states'
voluntary cooperation and demonstrated the need for a stronger
central government with the power to maintain law and order
No Executive Branch
•The absence of an executive branch under the
Articles of Confederation meant there was no single
authority responsible for enforcing laws, including
taxation
•This
allowed widespread tax evasion and non-
compliance, leading to financial difficulties for the
federal government
•The inability to effectively collect taxes weakened the
government's ability to fund its operations and pay off
its debts, highlighting the need for enforcement powers
No Judiciary
•Theabsence of a national court system under
the Articles of Confederation meant that there was
no unified mechanism for resolving disputes
between states or interpreting federal laws
•This
led to inconsistencies and conflicting rulings
among states, resulting in a lack of uniformity and
undermining the authority of the federal
government
•Theabsence of a national court system highlighted
the need for a centralized judiciary to ensure
No Commerce Regulation
•The
Articles did not grant the federal
government the power to regulate interstate
commerce
•This
lack of authority led to trade disputes and
economic conflicts between states, hindering
economic growth and cooperation
•Thishighlighted the need for a centralized authority
to establish consistent rules and regulations to
promote a harmonious economic relationship
among the states
Currency
•TheArticles of Confederation did not provide the
federal government with the power to coin money
or regulate currency
•This
lack of authority resulted in each state issuing its
own currency, leading to a chaotic monetary system with
inconsistent values and widespread counterfeiting
•The absence of a unified currency and monetary policy
highlighted the need for a centralized power to establish
and regulate a national currency, ensuring stability and
facilitating commerce
Unit 1 Topic 5:
Ratification of the
U.S. Constitution