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SAGE Journal Articles

SJ-userguide.pdf

Article 1: Cain, M. J. G. and Dougherty, K. L. (April 1999). Suppressing Shays' Rebellion: Collective Action and Constitutional Design under the Articles of Confederation. Journal of Theoretical Politics 11(2). 233-260.

This article discuss the inherent flaws in the Articles of Confederation, most importantly how the American states systematically failed to pay their requisitions to the national government. In order to illustrate this the authors analyze Shay’s Rebellion and find that the articles failed to prevent free riding among states, which contributed to the conflict of the union, and prevented Congress from accomplishing its tasks.

Questions to Consider:

1. What led the states to pursue policies of self-interest? What factors influenced these rational states from withholding their contributions?

2. What led to Shay’s Rebellion and why was Congress unable to suppress the opposition?

3. What influence did the Articles of Confederation have on the states need to suppress their contributions?

Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe how the colonies’ experience in self-government contributed to their willingness to revolt

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Article 2: Zink, J. R. (December 2013). James Wilson versus the Bill of Rights: Progress, Popular Sovereignty, and the Idea of the U.S. Constitution. 67(2). 253-264.

This article discusses the Bill of Rights controversial inclusion in the U.S. Constitution. In order to understand the controversies of the Bill of Rights and the complexity and diversity of the American founding era, the author research’s James Wilson, a statesman of the era and chief opponent of the Bill of Rights.

Questions to Consider:

1. What were James Wilson’s contributions to American politics?

2. What are James Wilson’s arguments against the Bill of Rights? Were they warranted?

3. Do you believe that the Bill of Rights has discouraged individuals from exerting their sovereign power?

Learning Objective(s): 2.3 Identify the issues the Founders considered when drafting the Constitution; 2.4 Discuss the debates over ratification of the Constitution

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Article 3: Dougherty, K. and Moeller, J. (November 2012). Constitutional Change and American Pivotal Politics. 40(6). 1092-1120.

This article discusses the transition from the Articles of Confederation to the U.S. Constitution and how it affected gridlock. The authors find that the U.S. Constitution decreased gridlock, but also made policy more responsive to the issue of gridlock.

Questions to Consider:

1. In the section, “A Tale of Two Governments,” what are the issues of gridlock that were apparent during the Articles of Confederation?

2. What was the structure of the Articles of Confederation? How was legislation passed under the Articles?

3. What are the author’s findings in terms of preference between presidential systems and confederal systems?

Learning Objective: 2.2 Explain how the challenges of collective action under the Articles of Confederation undermined early American independence

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CQ Researcher

Logic7eCh2-usforeignpolicy.pdf

Wanlund, B. (March 2014). U.S. Foreign Policy. CQ Researcher.

This article discusses the current issues facing U.S. foreign policy in Russia, Syria, Israel, and Egypt. The author discusses America’s foreign policy achievements and failures and the questions about America’s loyalty to its allies, its commitment to democracy and its legacy after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Questions to Consider:

1. Do you believe that U.S. diplomacy bring lasting solutions in Ukraine, Syria, Russia, Israel, and Egypt?

2. What has President Obama done to make U.S. foreign policy more cooperative?

3. What is the U.S. war legacy and how has it impacted President Obama’s foreign policy?

Learning Objective: 2.6 Identify ways in which U.S. political development has evolved to address the founders’ goals