WGU C963 TFN1 Task 1: Founding
Ideologies
TFN1 Task 1: Founding Ideologies
Diana Chaffin
C963 – American Politics and the U.S. Constitution
Western Governors University
A. Enlightenment Thought and U.S. Foundations
The birth of the United States was rooted in ideas developed during the Enlightenment, a European
movement focused on reason, liberty, and limiting government authority. These ideals guided early
American leaders as they structured a new political system.
Philosopher John Locke emphasized that individuals naturally possess rights such as life and freedom. He
maintained that a government's purpose is to protect these rights, and when it fails to do so, citizens are
justified in challenging or changing that government. Locke's arguments directly inspired the language in
the Declaration of Independence, especially its claim that government legitimacy comes from the
people.
Another Enlightenment figure, Montesquieu, warned against the dangers of concentrated power. He
proposed dividing authority among branches, so that each part of government would hold the others in
check. This became the foundation for the three-part system laid out in the U.S. Constitution, helping
prevent any single branch from becoming dominant.
B. Resolving Representation Disputes
At the Constitutional Convention, states disagreed over how they should be represented in the new
national legislature. Larger states supported population-based representation, while smaller ones
wanted equal voice regardless of size.
The disagreement was settled through the Great Compromise, which established a two-house legislative
structure. In one chamber, the number of seats per state would be based on population. In the other,
each state would receive two votes, no matter its size. This arrangement helped unite the delegates and
allowed the Constitution to move forward.
C. Powers Shared and Divided
The Constitution delegates different responsibilities to three branches of government, making sure
power is distributed:
•
Congress (Legislative): Has the ability to declare war, ensuring that such a decision involves the
elected representatives.
•
President (Executive): Can reject proposed legislation using the veto power, which acts as a
check on Congress.
•
Supreme Court (Judicial): Interprets laws and ensures they align with the Constitution.
Assigning distinct powers like these promotes balance and accountability.
