WGU C963 Section 1 Note Taking Guide: The development of
Constitutional Democracy | Actual verified Study complete
Solutions | 2026 Updates | Guaranteed Pass
What is this Section about? Section 1 tells the basic story of the US Constitution,
how it was written and adopted, and what key ideas and core principles inspired
its authors.
What do I need to know by the end of Section 1?
• How did the Enlightenment-period thinkers influence America’s leaders
during the founding period and the founding documents they wrote?
• What were the Articles of Confederation, and why did it fail?
• What major compromises took place at the Constitutional Convention?
• What were the viewpoints of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists? How
does our federal system of government work?
Note: Pay close attention to the Learning Objectives. The questions on the
objective assessment are designed and chosen to align with the learning
objectives of this course.
Topic: The Influence of the Enlightenment
Learning Objectives:
• Describe the influence of Enlightenment ideas on the founding documents.
o Key Terms : natural rights, state of nature, due process, and chamber,
Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, sovereignty, bicameral
legislature, legislature, habeas corpus, enumerated rights, ratification
• Describe the development and influence of social contract theory.
, o Key Terms : social contract, social contract theory, direct democracy,
Enlightenment, state of nature, political spectrum
Questions about the Influence of the Enlightenment
1. How does ‘social contract theory’ explain the foundations or origins of
government?
2. How did the ideas of John Locke influence the Declaration of
Independence?
3. How do we see the influences of Montesquieu on the Constitution and
of both Locke and Montesquieu on the Bill of Rights?
Topic : The Articles of Confederation
Learning Objectives:
• Describe the structure and powers of the national government under the
Articles of Confederation. o Key Terms : political ideologies, Articles of
Confederation, delegates, bicameral legislature
• Describe the problems associated with the Articles of Confederation.
Questions about the Articles of Confederation
1. What kind of national government was established by the Articles of
Confederation?
2. What was the balance of power between the national level of
government and the states?
Constitutional Democracy | Actual verified Study complete
Solutions | 2026 Updates | Guaranteed Pass
What is this Section about? Section 1 tells the basic story of the US Constitution,
how it was written and adopted, and what key ideas and core principles inspired
its authors.
What do I need to know by the end of Section 1?
• How did the Enlightenment-period thinkers influence America’s leaders
during the founding period and the founding documents they wrote?
• What were the Articles of Confederation, and why did it fail?
• What major compromises took place at the Constitutional Convention?
• What were the viewpoints of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists? How
does our federal system of government work?
Note: Pay close attention to the Learning Objectives. The questions on the
objective assessment are designed and chosen to align with the learning
objectives of this course.
Topic: The Influence of the Enlightenment
Learning Objectives:
• Describe the influence of Enlightenment ideas on the founding documents.
o Key Terms : natural rights, state of nature, due process, and chamber,
Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, sovereignty, bicameral
legislature, legislature, habeas corpus, enumerated rights, ratification
• Describe the development and influence of social contract theory.
, o Key Terms : social contract, social contract theory, direct democracy,
Enlightenment, state of nature, political spectrum
Questions about the Influence of the Enlightenment
1. How does ‘social contract theory’ explain the foundations or origins of
government?
2. How did the ideas of John Locke influence the Declaration of
Independence?
3. How do we see the influences of Montesquieu on the Constitution and
of both Locke and Montesquieu on the Bill of Rights?
Topic : The Articles of Confederation
Learning Objectives:
• Describe the structure and powers of the national government under the
Articles of Confederation. o Key Terms : political ideologies, Articles of
Confederation, delegates, bicameral legislature
• Describe the problems associated with the Articles of Confederation.
Questions about the Articles of Confederation
1. What kind of national government was established by the Articles of
Confederation?
2. What was the balance of power between the national level of
government and the states?
