Pol115 V3 Week 1 Assignment Worksheet

Pol115 V3week 1 Assignment Worksheet

Complete each section of the matrix below. Include APA citations for all unoriginal ideas, facts, or definitions. For each document, provide a 2-3 sentence summary and discuss its significance or influence on American political culture and the organization of the U.S. Federal Government. Documents include the Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, The Virginia Plan, The New Jersey Plan, The Connecticut Plan, The U.S. Constitution, and The Bill of Rights.

For philosophers, provide brief summaries of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Montesquieu, and discuss how their ideas influenced the founding fathers and the development of American political values and government structure.

For selected founders, give brief summaries of Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Adams, and their roles in establishing the U.S. and its government system.

Describe each political faction, Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and their views on the power and scope of the federal government.

Discuss the characteristics and principles of representative democracy and direct democracy, and explain how these concepts are reflected in the U.S. government and why they are important.

Describe how the concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances exist in the organization of the U.S. federal government and their importance in a representative democracy.

Paper For Above instruction

The foundation of the United States of America was influenced by a variety of historical documents, philosophical ideas, influential individuals, political factions, and democratic principles. Analyzing these elements provides insight into the development of American political culture and the structure of its government. This essay examines such influences by discussing key documents, philosophies, founders, political factions, and core democratic concepts that shaped the nation.

Influential Documents

The Magna Carta (1215) laid the groundwork for constitutional law by limiting the power of the monarchy and establishing the principle that everyone is subject to the law (Bell, 2008). Its significance lies in its introduction of ideas like due process and the rule of law, which influenced later American constitutional developments. The Mayflower Compact (1620) was a social contract among the Pilgrims that established self-governance and majority rule in Plymouth Colony, emphasizing the importance of consent of the governed (Philbrick, 2006). The Declaration of Independence (1776) articulated the colonies' grievances and justified independence based on rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, establishing foundational democratic ideals (Gibson, 1991). The Articles of Confederation (1781) created a loose union of states with limited federal power, which ultimately proved ineffective and led to the drafting of the Constitution (Gordon, 2004). The Virginia Plan (1787) advocated for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature, representing the population, whereas the New Jersey Plan (1787) proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for states, reflecting tensions between large and small states (Madison, 1787). The Connecticut Plan, or the Great Compromise, combined these ideas into a bicameral legislature balancing proportional and equal representation (Wood, 2005). The U.S. Constitution (1787) established the framework for federal government, incorporating principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. The Bill of Rights (1791) guaranteed fundamental civil liberties and limited government powers to protect individual rights (Lutz, 1998).

Philosophers and Their Influence

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) argued in «Leviathan» that a strong central authority was necessary to prevent chaos and anarchy, advocating for an absolute sovereign (Hobbes, 1651). His ideas influenced the emphasis on order and stability in government. John Locke (1632–1704) believed in natural rights to life, liberty, and property and that government must protect these rights; his social contract theory justified overthrowing unjust rulers (Locke, 1689). Locke’s ideas directly impacted American founders, especially regarding liberty and consent of the governed. Montesquieu (1689–1755) promoted the separation of powers within government to prevent tyranny; his «The Spirit of the Laws» inspired the framers to divide government responsibilities (Montesquieu, 1748). These philosophies underpin foundational principles of American governance, including liberty, limited government, and structural checks.

Selected Founders and Their Roles

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was a diplomat, inventor, and elder statesman who contributed to uniting the colonies and securing foreign aid during the Revolution (Isaacson, 2004). Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804) was a Secretary of the Treasury who advocated for a strong federal government and established financial systems that solidified federal authority (Chernow, 2004). George Washington (1732–1799), as the first President, set many presidential precedents and prioritized national unity (Flexner, 1965). Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) authored the Declaration of Independence and promoted states’ rights and agrarian ideals (Maier, 2010). James Madison (1751–1836), known as the «Father of the Constitution,» drafted key components of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (Rakove, 1996). John Adams (1735–1826) was a diplomat and second President who championed independence and helped shape early American diplomacy and governance (McCullough, 2001). These founders were instrumental in establishing the foundational principles and structures of the U.S. government.

Political Factions and Their Views

The Federalists, led by Hamilton, advocated for a strong centralized federal government, assuming that stability and economic growth depended on federal authority (Ellis, 2015). Conversely, Anti-Federalists, including Jefferson and Madison in opposition, favored states’ rights and feared that a powerful federal government threatened individual liberties (Finkelman, 2011). The debate between these factions was central to the adoption of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, illustrating contrasting visions of government power and scope.

Types of Democracy

Representative democracy involves citizens electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf, allowing for manageable governance and accountability, as seen in the federal structure of the U.S. (Dahl, 2000). Direct democracy entails direct participation by citizens in decision-making processes, exemplified by initiatives and referenda at the state level, which are limited in the federal system but vital at the state level. Both types of democracy underpin American political practice, with representative democracy forming the basis of federal governance while direct democracy is integral to local and some state decision processes. These principles ensure public participation and legitimacy, vital for a functioning democracy (Barber, 2004).

Concepts of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

The U.S. Constitution established the separation of powers by dividing government into three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—each with distinct responsibilities to prevent any one branch from becoming dominant (Madison, 1788). Checks and balances allow each branch to limit the powers of the others, fostering accountability and safeguarding democratic principles. These concepts are crucial for maintaining a balanced government that protects individual rights, prevents tyranny, and ensures effective governance within a representative democracy (Hart, 2003).

References

• Barber, B. (2004). Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age. University of California Press.
• Bell, W. (2008). The Magna Carta and Its Legacy. Cambridge University Press.
• Chernow, R. (2004). Alexander Hamilton. Penguin Books.
• Dahl, R. A. (2000). On Democracy. Yale University Press.
• Ellis, J. J. (2015). American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Vintage Books.
• Finkelman, P. (2011). An Imperfect Union: The Civil War's Racial Division. Routledge.
• Flexner, J. T. (1965). George Washington: A Biography. Little, Brown and Company.
• Gibson, A. (1991). Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Gordon, M. (2004). The Articles of Confederation: An Interpretation of the Original Documents. Nova Science Publishers.
• Hobbes, T. (1651). Leviathan. Cambridge University Press.
• Isaacson, W. (2004). Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. Simon & Schuster.
• Locke, J. (1689). Two Treatises of Government. Cambridge University Press.
• Madison, J. (1787). The Federalist Papers. Harvard University Press.
• Madison, J. (1788). The Federalist No. 51. Independent Journal.
• Maier, P. (2010). American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. Hill and Wang.
• McCullough, D. (2001). John Adams. Simon & Schuster.
• Montesquieu, C. de S. (1748). The Spirit of the Laws. Cambridge University Press.
• Rakove, J. (1996). James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Philbrick, N. (2006). Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War. Viking.
• Wood, G. S. (2005). The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787. University of North Carolina Press.