Which documents, written by Jefferson and Madison, argued that states could nullify federal laws?

Study for the OAE Integrated Social Studies (025) Exam. Prepare with practice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your knowledge and boost your confidence!

The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions are the correct choice because they were specifically authored by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to argue that states have the authority to nullify federal laws that they believe overstep constitutional boundaries. These resolutions emerged as a direct response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, and they articulated the principle of states' rights in opposition to federal power.

Jefferson's resolution from Virginia and Madison's from Kentucky proposed that individual states could declare federal laws unconstitutional and refuse to enforce them, laying the groundwork for discussions about state sovereignty and the limits of federal authority. This perspective became a foundational aspect of later debates around federalism in the United States.

Other documents listed, such as the Federalist Papers, were focused on promoting the ratification of the Constitution and did not advocate for state nullification. The Articles of Confederation were the original governing document of the United States and did not support the notion of nullification. The Constitution itself established the framework for federal authority rather than allowing for nullification by the states.

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