Updated V 23 Mod 1 Study Guide

Module 1: We the People Study Guide
I. Declaration of Independence and founding principles
A. Ancient Greece & Rome
- The concept of direct democracy, where citizens participate directly in decision-making, was
present in Ancient Greece.
- The Roman Republic provided ideas of representative government and the rule of law, which
later influenced the United States.
B. Judeo-Christian Influence
- The principles of individual worth, equality, and moral values found in Judeo-Christian
traditions have influenced the development of democracy in the United States.
C. Magna Carta
- The Magna Carta, signed in 1215 in England, limited the powers of the monarch and
established the principle of the rule of law.
D. English Bill of Rights
- The English Bill of Rights, enacted in 1689, further limited the powers of the monarchy and
reinforced the rights of individuals.
- It guaranteed free elections, the right to a fair trial, and protection against cruel and unusual
punishment.
E. Enlightenment
- Enlightenment philosophers advocated for concepts like natural rights, reason, and the
social contract between the government and the governed.
II. John Locke and the Social Contract
A. Social Contract Theory
- According to Locke, governments are formed to protect the natural rights (life, liberty, and
property) of individuals.
- In the social contract, people agree to give up some of their liberties to follow laws and gain
protection of their rights.
B. Popular Sovereignty
- Locke believed that the power of the government should be derived from the consent of the
governed, known as popular sovereignty.
III. Events leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence
A. Stamp Act
B. Boston Massacre
C. Boston Tea Party
D. Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"
IV. Declaration of Independence Organization
A. Introduction & Beliefs
B. List of Grievances
1. Taxation without Representation
2. Forcing the Colonies to Quarter British Soldiers
3. Restricting the Colonists' Trade
4. Shutting Down Colonial Legislatures
5. Limits to Due Process of Law
C. Formal Declaration
V. Founding Principles
A. Natural Rights: Life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness
B. Popular Sovereignty: People are the source of authority
C. Social Contract: “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends,
it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it”
D. Limited Government: Those in power should have clearly defined authority to prevent
abuse of power
E. Equality of all persons: Equality before the law
F. Due process of law: A government must respect all legal rights and processes that are
owed to a person
G. Natural law: God-given law
VI. Articles of Confederation vs Constitution
A. Articles of Confederation (AOC)
1. Lack of federal judicial branch
2. No federal power to raise an army
3. Unicameral legislature
B. Constitution
1. Establishment of the presidency
2. Federal power to tax
3. Federal power to raise an army
4. Federal control of trade
II. Similarities between AOC and Constitution
A. Establishing government structures
B. State power to tax
III. Compromises
A. The Great Compromise
2. Combination of the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
3. Resulted in a bicameral legislature (House of Representatives and Senate)
B. Virginia Plan
1. Emphasized a strong national government with three branches
2. State representation based on population
C. New Jersey Plan

1. Proposed a unicameral (single chamber) legislature
2. Favored equal representation for all states (one state, one vote)
D. 3/5 Compromise and Slavery
1. Agreement on counting slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation and

taxation
E. The Electoral College
1. State legislatures choose electors to cast their votes for President
VII. Federalists vs Anti-Federalists
A. Federalists
1. Supported the Constitution with a stronger federal government
2. Dividing the government into separate branches would prevent tyranny
B. Anti-Federalists
1. Preferred to just amend the AOC
2. They did not want the US Constitution to be ratified
3. Supported adding the Bill of Rights
VIII. The Constitution
Llamas Eat Juicy Raspberries And Spicy Radishes
Article I- Legislative
Article II- Executive
Article III- Judicial
Article IV- Reserved
Article V Amendment
Article VI- Supremacy
Article VII Ratification
The Bill of Rights (RASSDATEPS)

1. R= religion, assembly, speech, press, petition (RASPP)
2. A= Arms
3. S= Soldier quartering
4. S= Search & Secure (privacy amendment)
5. D= double jeopardy, due process, eminent domain, self-incrimination
6. A= Attorney and fair and speedy trial
7. T- Trial by jury
8. E= excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
9. P= people’s rights
10. S= states rights (reserved powers)
IX: Other types of government & foreign policy
A. Forms of government:
1. Autocracy: run by 1 person with total power (monarchy or dictatorship)
2. Democracy: ruled by the people (representative democracy, direct

democracy)
3. Oligarchy: small group of people have control
B. Government systems:
1. Unitary government: most power in the federal government
2. Federal government: power is shared between state and federal government
3. Confederate government: states have the power and national government is

weak
C. Democratization indicators:
1. GDP per capita: market value for all final goods and services
2. Literacy & internet usage: higher literacy rates and internet usage indicate a
stronger democracy
3. Economic freedom (command= communism, free market= capitalism, mixed)
D. US Foreign policy
1. Goals: national security, spread democracy, humanitarian aid, spread world

peace
2. Declaration of human rights 1948
3. Trade: tariffs (taxes on imports), embargoes & sanctions
4. Foreign policy approaches: isolation, diplomacy, intervention, imperialism

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Module 1: We the People Study Guide

I. Declaration of Independence and founding principles

A. Ancient Greece & Rome

D. English Bill of Rights

II. John Locke and the Social Contract

A. Social Contract Theory

III. Events leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence

C. Boston Tea Party

D. Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"

IV. Declaration of Independence Organization

A. Introduction & Beliefs

1. Taxation without Representation

2. Forcing the Colonies to Quarter British Soldiers

3. Restricting the Colonists' Trade

4. Shutting Down Colonial Legislatures

5. Limits to Due Process of Law

A. Natural Rights: Life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness

B. Popular Sovereignty: People are the source of authority

E. Equality of all persons: Equality before the law

VI. Articles of Confederation vs Constitution

A. Articles of Confederation (AOC)

1. Lack of federal judicial branch

2. No federal power to raise an army

1. Establishment of the presidency

2. Federal power to tax

3. Federal power to raise an army

4. Federal control of trade

II. Similarities between AOC and Constitution

A. Establishing government structures

B. State power to tax

A. The Great Compromise

2. Combination of the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

3. Resulted in a bicameral legislature (House of Representatives and Senate)

1. Emphasized a strong national government with three branches

2. State representation based on population

C. New Jersey Plan

D. 3/5 Compromise and Slavery

1. Agreement on counting slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation and

E. The Electoral College

1. State legislatures choose electors to cast their votes for President

VII. Federalists vs Anti-Federalists

1. Supported the Constitution with a stronger federal government

2. Dividing the government into separate branches would prevent tyranny

1. Preferred to just amend the AOC

2. They did not want the US Constitution to be ratified

3. Supported adding the Bill of Rights

VIII. The Constitution

Llamas Eat Juicy Raspberries And Spicy Radishes

Article II- Executive

Article III- Judicial

Article IV- Reserved

Article VI- Supremacy

Article VII Ratification

The Bill of Rights (RASSDATEPS)

4. S= Search & Secure (privacy amendment)

5. D= double jeopardy, due process, eminent domain, self-incrimination

6. A= Attorney and fair and speedy trial

8. E= excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment

10. S= states rights (reserved powers)