•Outline the major philosophical themes of the U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation.

•Use specific references from the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution to support your position.

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The U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation are two important documents that helped shape the United States government. They both reflect key philosophical themes that were prevalent during the founding of the nation. Let's outline the major philosophical themes of each document and provide specific references to support our assertions.

1. Limited Government: Both the U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation emphasize the concept of limited government. This means that the powers of the government are clearly defined and restricted to prevent abuse of power. In the Articles of Confederation, this can be seen in Article II, which states that "each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled." This clause emphasizes the sovereignty of individual states and limits the powers of the central government. Similarly, the U.S. Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances, dispersing power between the three branches of government, as seen in Articles I, II, and III.

2. Separation of Powers: The concept of separating powers among different branches of government is another important philosophical theme found in both documents. The Articles of Confederation, while leaning towards a weak central government, still established a Congress with the power to make laws (Article IX), and the U.S. Constitution builds on this principle. In the Constitution, Article I establishes the legislative branch, Article II establishes the executive branch, and Article III establishes the judicial branch. This separation of powers ensures that no single branch becomes too powerful, preventing tyranny and promoting a system of checks and balances.

3. Popular Sovereignty: Both documents recognize the importance of popular sovereignty, the principle that the government's authority comes from the consent of the governed. The Articles of Confederation state in Article XIII that "Every State shall abide by the determination of the United States in Congress assembled on all questions which by this Confederation are submitted to them." This implies that the states, as representatives of the people, have the authority to abide by the decisions made by the central government. Similarly, the U.S. Constitution begins with the phrase "We the People," highlighting the idea that the power of the government flows from the people themselves, as stated in the Preamble.

4. Individual Liberties: The protection of individual liberties is a crucial philosophical theme found in both documents. The Articles of Confederation, in Article IV, guarantee the free movement of citizens from one state to another, without facing unjust restrictions. The U.S. Constitution goes further in its protection of individual liberties, addressing them in the Bill of Rights, specifically the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

In summary, the major philosophical themes of the U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation include limited government, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and the protection of individual liberties. These themes are evident in specific references throughout both documents, such as Article II and Article XIII of the Articles of Confederation, as well as Articles I, II, and III of the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.