Ideals & Principles of American Democracy
The fundamental values that inform how are democratic government is legitimated and organized are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution of the United States. These principles and founding documents, along with a discussion of other founding documents like the Articles of Confederation, Federalist papers, Bill of Rights, are discussed in the first and second chapters of MindTap.
Studying these democratic principles and ideals, as well as our founding documents, can help position you for success not only in this course, but also as you prepare to take the FCLE (Florida Civic Literacy Exam) in the future!
In this 1,000-word minimum essay, your goal will be the following:
“To identify and discuss the basic ideals and principles of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.”
Please complete BOTH parts of this essay:
1st part of essay Ideals & Principles of American Democracy
· Briefly describe the democratic ideals and principles expressed in our nation’s founding documents.
· Analyze how these principles and ideals have shaped America as a constitutional republic.
2nd part of essay
· Briefly differentiate among our nation’s founding documents – including the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Federalist Papers.
· Explain the role of each of these documents in the founding of the United States.
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Democratic ideals and principles expressed in founding documents,
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How principles and ideals have shaped America as a constitutional republic,
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Differences among founding documents (Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Federalist Papers),
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Role of each document in the founding of the United States,
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How these documents collectively define American democracy.
Comprehensive Essay
Part I: Democratic Ideals and Principles in the Founding Documents
The United States was founded on a set of core democratic ideals that define its political and moral foundation. These principles—liberty, equality, justice, popular sovereignty, limited government, and rule of law—are deeply rooted in the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution of the United States (1787).