Unit one focuses on the philosophies, documents, and events surrounding the establishment of the Constitution. It includes comparative documentary analysis focusing on federalism, anti-federalists, and the roots of the democratic ideals in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. It was a document that came out of desires to reform the Articles of Confederation, which led to a central government so weak that it could not effectively govern, as demonstrated by Shay's Rebellion.
Review Materials
AP US Government - Unit 1 on Khan Academy
- Civics101 Podcast - Federalist vs. Antifederalist - More episodes available at their Civics101 Megaphone page
- Civics101 Podcast - Articles of Confederation
- Articles of Confederation Review Game (a PowerPoint)
- KhanAcademy - Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
- USHistory.org - Brief Review - Independence & Articles of Confederation
- History.com - Checks and Balances
- KhanAcademy - Relationship Between States and Federal Government
Quizlet - Vocab AP US Government Unit 1
US Constitutional Amendments with Mnemonic Devices to help memorize (Quizlet)
Primary Sources
United States Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
The Declaration of Independence for the United States of America.
Constitution of the United States of America
September 17, 1787
The Constitutionus.com version of this document is very helpfully hyperlinked and annotated to indicate where amendments affect each other, among other things.
You can also look at a more in-depth annotation of the Constitution here: Constitution Annotated at Congress.gov
Federalist 10
November 23, 1787
The Same Subject Continued
The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
From the New York Packet. Friday, November 23, 1787.
MADISON
To the People of the State of New York: