Foundational Documents

Throughout our course you will create “Books for Dummies” for the required
Foundational Documents. These books will help you to better understand these
documents (which can admittedly be difficult to follow) and will serve as a
valuable review for the AP exam.

Objective: I will be able to understand and illustrate arguments found in

Foundational Documents.

Assignment: Using the PowerPoint template, create a “Complete Idiot’s Guide”

or “Book for Dummies” or “A Children’s Story” book based on the assigned
Foundational Document.

The first slide will be your cover page complete with a title, illustration and your
name. The title can be something as simple as “_________ for Dummies” or you
can be more creative.

For each document you will have a set number of paragraphs to summarize and
illustrate. Each paragraph should have 1-2 sentences in your own words to
explain the paragraph. You should not use big words! If it needs to be defined, do
it. Illustrations must be relevant to the paragraph being summarized and will help
you to make your connection to the document.

All illustrations can be pictures you find on the internet, drawings done on the
computer, or uploaded pictures of your own artwork. The illustrations do not have
to be amazing works of art if you draw them yourself - simply enough to make the
connections to the document.

At the end of the book are a series of guided reading questions to be answered in
your book.

Each book is worth 50 points.

CON-1.A: Explain how Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy are reflected in U.S.
foundational documents.

Use the document “Foundational Documents for Dummies Instructions” for general instructions on this assignment.

The first slide will be your title page. Be sure to include a title of your choosing, your name and an illustration or picture
representing the document.

You will pick 10 paragraphs from Federalist #10 to illustrate and summarize. A blue box is on each slide for you to directly
type in your summary of the paragraph (1-2 sentences). Each slide will have two paragraphs illustrated and summarized.
Remember, your illustrations can be pictures found on the internet, drawings done on the computer, or your own drawings
uploaded.

The last slides have the guided reading questions to answer.

Rubric
Title page with illustration
_____/5

Summarize 10 paragraphs
_____/15

Relevant Illustrations for all 10 paragraphs _____/15

All guided reading questions answered _____/15

Total
_____/50
Francisco Garcia
AP Government
Parker 2nd
Factions are evil, so we must have an effective Factions are groups that have a common mindset
republic to stop them. Minorities cant get voices in and goal in common.
factions
Liberty must be preserved even if a faction gains We tend to have diverse opinions and it is the
control. It is essential to life basically. government’s job to protect them. Else, it will be like
taking liberty from us.
Humans have an innate desire to join a faction to Elected officials will have some bias no matter what.
get a group of people to help defend their common On a financial side, humans do stuff to benefit
goal. It’s associated with how much property we themselves the most.
have.
Leaders aren’t always the best at solving problems Harmful groups and ideas can either be a majority or
with factions. They can only help easen tensions. minority opinion. They cannot be trusted if they are
on the majority, but it’s good for the nation if they
stay as minorities.
In a large republic, it’s unlikely that one factions will Another advantage of a small republic is that its less
rise above all the rest. A large republic makes it very likely that corrupt individuals will be elected to
hard to turn into tyranny. power. They may not get to focus on the nitty gritty
desires though.
1. According to Madison, what conditions have historically plagued “popular governments?”

Factions have often plagued governments.

2. Had the US effectively dealt with these conditions? Explain.

The U.S. encourages its citizens to represent their voice in the democracy and support their views.

3. Describe the two methods of removing the causes of factions.

The two methods are to destroy personal liberties or to make every citizen think the same.

4. Describe Madison’s position on these two methods.

Madison is very against both of them as they are both equivalent in his eyes.

5. What is the most common cause of faction?

Unequal distribution of property causes factions.

6. Is the “republican principle” more effective in controlling the effects of a minority faction or a majority faction?
Explain.

It is more effective for minority factions because they can express their views more effectively.

7. Is a republic or a pure democracy more suitable for controlling the effects of factions? List the differences that
Madison cites between these two forms of government.

A republic is better because they have delegates to represent and more distribution of citizens.

8. What are the benefits when there is a “delegation of the government to a small number of citizens?”

It will make sure the people can give their voice to a representative to vote on their behalf.

9. Why is a large republic more likely to control the effects of a faction than a small republic?

It will make sure large factions cant gain a lot of power over smaller factions.