1.3 - Government Power and Individual Rights

Learning Objective

Explain how Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy are reflected in U.S. foundational documents.

Essential Knowledge

Madison’s arguments in Federalist No. 10 focused on the superiority of a large republic in controlling the “mischiefs of faction,” delegating authority to elected representatives and dispersing power between the states and national government.

Anti-Federalist writings, including Brutus No. 1, adhered to popular democratic theory that emphasized the benefits of a small, decentralized republic while warning of the dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized government.

1.4 - Challenges of the Articles of Confederation

Learning Objective

Explain the relationship between key provisions of the Articles of Confederation and the debate over granting the federal government greater power formerly reserved to the states.

Essential Knowledge

Specific incidents and legal challenges that highlighted key weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation are represented by the:

• Lack of centralized military power to address Shays’ Rebellion

• Lack of tax law enforcement power

1.5 - Ratification of the U.S. Constitution

Learning Objective

Explain the ongoing impact of political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the constitutional system.

Essential Knowledge

Compromises deemed necessary for adoption and ratification of the Constitution are represented by the:

• Great (Connecticut) Compromise

• Electoral College

• Three-Fifths Compromise

• Compromise on the importation of slaves

Debates about self-government during the drafting of the Constitution necessitated the drafting of an amendment process in Article V that entailed either a two-thirds vote in both houses or a proposal from two-thirds of the state legislatures, with final ratification determined by three-fourths of the states.

The compromises necessary to secure ratification of the Constitution left some matters unresolved that continue to generate discussion and debate today.

The debate over the role of the central government, the powers of state governments, and the rights of individuals remains at the heart of present-day constitutional issues about democracy and governmental power, as represented by:

• Debates about government surveillance resulting from the federal government’s response to the 9/11 attacks

• The debate about the role of the federal government in public school education