American History-10
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Unit 1.2 Founding Documents Summary Questions
Fragment on the Constitution and Union-- Abraham Lincoln, January 1861
1.What does Lincoln believe are America’s founding ideals?
2. What does the metaphor from Proverbs illustrate about the relationship of the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence?
3. How does slavery undermine the Constitution’s goal of upholding the ideals of the Declaration?
Declaration of Independence-- July 4, 1776
4. What is main argument of the Declaration of Independence?
5. What is meant by the phrase "all men are created equal?"
6. How do the ideals of the Declaration establish the foundation of American government?
Vices of the Political System of the United States (Adapted)-- James Madison, April 1787
7. What problems does Madison identify under the system established by the Articles?
8. How do these problems undermine America’s founding ideals?
9. What changes must be made to correct these problems?
Federalist No. 9 (Adapted)-- Publius (Alexander Hamilton), November 21, 1787
10. What improvements in "the science of politics" did Publius think are necessary to make the republican
form of government better?
11. How do Montesquieu’s ideas support the establishment of a confederate republic?
Federalist No. 10 (Adapted)-- Publius (James Madison), November 22, 1787
12. What does Publius assume about human nature?
13. Why does the presence of faction pose a threat to America’s founding ideals?
14. What is Federalist 10's republican remedy for the problem of faction?
James Madison to Thomas Jefferson (Adapted)-- New York, October 24, 1787
15. What flaws does Madison see in the Constitution?
16. Why does Madison believe a national legislative veto (i.e. "constitutional negative on the laws of the
states") is necessary?
17. What does Madison believe will be the consequences of the omission of this legislative veto?
American Founders on Slavery
18. Did Washington, Jay, and Jefferson believe slavery was consistent with the ideals of the Declaration?
19. In his decision in the Dred Scott case (1857), Chief Justice Roger Taney argued that "All men are
created equal" only referred to Whites. Are Taney's claims supported by Jefferson's Rough Draft of the
Declaration and Notes on Slavery? Explain.
20. What might have been the outcome if the founders had not made concessions to slave states in the
Constitution?