Influences on the Founding of the United States of America

Complete each section of the matrix below. Include APA citations for all unoriginal ideas, facts, or definitions.

A.  Documents

In 2-3 sentences, provide a brief summary of each    document, and discuss each document’s significance or influence on the    values of the American political culture or the ideas for the structure and    organization of the U.S. Federal Government.

1. Magna Carta 
2. Mayflower   Compact
3. Declaration   of Independence
4. Articles   of Confederation
5. The   Virginia Plan
6. The New   Jersey Plan
7. The   Connecticut Plan
8. The U.S.   Constitution
9. The Bill   of Rights

B.   Philosophers

In 2-3 sentences, provide a brief summary of who each    philosopher was, and discuss how each philosopher’s writings and ideas    influenced the founding fathers as they developed the values of American    political culture and the nature and structure of the U.S. system of    government.

1. Thomas   Hobbes
2. John Locke
3. Montesquieu

C.  Selected Founders

In 2-3 sentences, provide a brief summary of who each   founding father was, and discuss the role of each person in the establishment   of the United States of America and its system of government.

1. Benjamin Franklin
2. Alexander   Hamilton 
3. George   Washington
4. Thomas   Jefferson
5. James   Madison
6. John Adams

D.   Political Factions

In 2-3 sentences, provide a brief explanation of    each of these factions, and discuss how each viewed the power and scope of    the U.S. Federal government.

1. Federalists
2. Anti-Federalists

E.   Types of Democracy

In 2-3 sentences, discuss the characteristics and   principles of each type of government, and describe how (if at all) those   principles are used in the structure of the U.S. system of government.

1. Representative   Democracy
2. Direct   Democracy

F.   Concepts

In 2-3 sentences, describe how each of these concepts   exists in the organization of the U.S. federal government, and discuss why   this concept is important in a representative democracy.

1. Separation   of Powers
2. Checks and   Balances