LADOE High School Civics | Unit 1 Foundations of the United States Government
32 items
The Purpose of Government
Essay - 2030 Words
Essay
2030 Words
The structural or institutional features of the American constitutional order only make sense in the context of what the Founders hoped to achieve --securing the right of the American people to live decent, worthwhile lives according to their own goals and faculties. The thoughtful preservation of those institutions, occasionally through necessary corrective measures, depends on a proper understanding of what it is that they are designed to promote as well as an appreciation of how to manage those institutions to serve the best interests of the American people. All of this requires a citizenry with the skills and dispositions necessary for republican self-government, that is, a citizen body whose members understand and act to promote justice.
Essay: Rule of Law
Essay - 838 Words
Essay
838 Words
The benefits of freedom are safest when officials cannot make arbitrary and unpredictable laws. The rule of law means that laws are stable, limited in scope, and applied to every citizen, including those who make them. Laws must be created in the open, according to clear rules, and must reflect the consent of the governed. Ultimately, the rule of law depends on people with the courage, self-reliance, and wisdom to make prudent decisions, and who have enough tolerance for others to let them live as they see fit.
Ancient Republics and European Charters
Lesson - 3 Activities
Lesson
3 Activities
70 Min
What influence did Plato have on James Madison and the writers of the Constitution? Compare and contrast excerpts from The Republic of Plato and selected Federalist Papers by James Madison to determine in what ways Madison agreed and disagreed with Plato, regarding human nature the proper role of government in a society. In what ways did they agree? In what ways did they disagree?
70 Min
Comparing Different Structures of Government
Lesson
Lesson
90 Min
How do different systems and structures of government impact the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens?
The Structure of the National Government
Lesson - 5 Activities
Lesson
5 Activities
305 Min
The Framers thought the best way to protect the rights of citizens would be through a government powerful enough to fulfill its constitutional obligations yet limited enough to prevent it from encroaching on the rights of individuals. A large national republic that divided power horizontally (within governments) and vertically (among different levels of government—local, state, and national) seemed the best way to achieve their goals.
305 Min
Constitutional Principles: Representative Government
Video
Video
5 Min
Do you understand the key differences between a Republic and a Democracy? The Bill of Rights Institute has created a short, engaging video for Constitution Day on the constitutional principle of representative government. Exciting visuals from current events, an engaging historical narrative, brief scholar interviews, familiar music, and memorable quotes will make this 5-minute video perfect for use on Constitution Day, and every day!
5 Min
Separation of Powers with Checks and Balances
Lesson - 5 Activities
Lesson
5 Activities
85 Min
The Founders understood the principle expressed by the British historian, Lord Acton, “All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Through the complex system of checks and balances developed in the U.S. Constitution, they sought to assure that no person or branch of government could exercise unrestrained power. As James Madison advocated in Federalist No. 51, ambition should counteract ambition in a fashion that advances the public good.
85 Min
Popular Sovereignty and the Consent of the Governed
Lesson - 3 Activities
Lesson
3 Activities
The Founders believed that the government’s authority needed to come from the people. Under the reign of King George III, the colonists believed that they were deprived of their opportunity to consent to be governed by Parliament through representatives, and, therefore, the British could not force their laws upon the colonies. The Founders made sure to uphold this right in the American Constitution. The people, through their representatives at state ratification conventions, had to ratify the document in order for it to become law.
Rule of Law
Lesson - 7 Activities
Lesson
7 Activities
95 Min
The benefits of freedom are safest when officials cannot make arbitrary and unpredictable laws. The rule of law means that laws are stable, limited in scope, and applied to every citizen, including those who make them. Laws must be created in the open, according to clear rules, and must reflect the consent of the governed. Ultimately, the rule of law depends on people with the courage, self-reliance, and wisdom to make prudent decisions, and who have enough tolerance for others to let them live as they see fit.
95 Min
Federalism
Lesson - 9 Activities
Lesson
9 Activities
110 Min
This lesson includes a variety of activities and primary source excerpts, providing students with a comprehensive study of federalism. Through the Constitution’s system of federalism, power is divided between national and subnational governments. Federalism allows citizens to make policy decisions at state and local levels. Decentralization draws individuals out of private life and compels civic engagement.
110 Min
The Enlightenment and Social Contract Theory
Lesson - 4 Activities
Lesson
4 Activities
What were the major ideas of the Enlightenment? How did the Enlightenment influence the United States’ Founding?
Equal and Inalienable Rights
Lesson - 3 Activities
Lesson
3 Activities
All humans are born with equal inherent rights, but many governments do not protect people's freedom to exercise those rights. The way to secure inalienable rights, the Founders believed, was to consent to giving up a small amount of our freedom so that government has the authority to protect our rights. Freedom depends on citizens having the wisdom, courage, and sense of justice necessary to take action in choosing virtuous leaders, and in holding those leaders to their commitments.
The Great Awakening
Essay - 2596 Words
Essay
2596 Words
What were the impacts of the Great Awakening on the colonies?
Essay: Rights and the Declaration of Independence
Essay - 1356 Words
Essay
1356 Words
The Declaration of Independence, based in part on the philosophy of John Locke, was an "expression of the American mind". Going back to Magna Carta, British nobles had petitioned the monarch demanding limits to his power. But Locke argues and the Declaration of Independence asserts that legitimate government is based on the consent of the governed. Locke's ideas were too democratic, too revolutionary for his time in England, but a century later they had a firm hold in the American colonies, and in 1776 they were the basis of the original and most fundamental American statement of rights, the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence
Lesson - 4 Activities
Lesson
4 Activities
What were the philosophical bases and practical purposes of the Declaration of Independence?
U.S. Constitution | Primary Source Essentials
Video
Video
2 Min
What does the Constitution do? What are the principles of self-government in the Constitution? In this rapid-fire episode of BRI’s Primary Source Essentials and United States Constitution summary, learn how the US Constitution was framed as a stronger, yet limited, government built upon certain principles.
The US Constitution Explained | A Primary Source Close Read w/ BRI: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/videos/the-constitution-explained-a-primary-source-close-read-w-bri
2 Min
Colonial Comparison: The Rights of Englishmen
Lesson
Lesson
90 Min
This Lesson will provide additional context for the Colonial Identity: English or American? Point-Counterpoint.
Colonial Experience with Government and Economics
Lesson - 3 Activities
Lesson
3 Activities
75 Min
When European colonists came to North America, they faced the challenge of establishing societies that reflected their identity and mission for God. Experiments with economic and civil liberty followed in the name of the common good. Colonists and, later, the Founding generation became convinced that legally requiring individuals to commit their labor or their money towards a communal farm or church, with no regard for individual contribution or conscience, violated principles of justice. The link between economic liberty and the liberty of conscience became clear to many, and is responsible for liberating “a field without an horizon ... to the exploring and ardent curiosity of man.”
75 Min
The Articles of Confederation, 1781
Activity
Activity
40 Min
Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
The Constitution
Lesson - 5 Activities
Lesson
5 Activities
145 Min
In 1787, many Americans were concerned that the Articles of Confederation did not grant enough power to the central government to protect the rights of the people. Under the Articles, the national government was unable to regulate commerce, taxation, currency, treaties, and protect the rights of individuals and states. The states called a delegation to meet in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 and from that convention the new Constitution was born.
145 Min
The Articles of Confederation
Lesson - 12 Activities
Lesson
12 Activities
145 Min
In 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first government of the independent United States. The Articles created a “confederacy,” an association of sovereign states. Every state was its own country, except with respect to those powers expressly delegated to the U.S. Congress, and it agreed to do certain things for and with the other states in the confederacy. But by the mid-1780s, more and more people were becoming concerned about problems with the Articles.
145 Min
Articles of Confederation | Primary Source Essentials
Video
Video
2 Min
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? In this rapid-fire episode of BRI’s Primary Source Essentials and Article of Confederation summary, learn why the first U.S. national government plan contain critical flaws that prevent its success and how they were addressed when drafting the Constitution.
2 Min
The Articles of Confederation Explained | How Did the Articles Differ From the Constitution?
Video
Video
18 Min
Articles of Confederation vs. Constitution. How did the Articles of Confederation differ from the Constitution? In this week’s Close Read, Kirk explores the first governing document of the United States and how it compares to the U.S. Constitution. Were there problems with the Articles of Confederation? Why did this document frustrate many Founders? What important elements does it lack? Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
18 Min
Argumentation: The Process of Compromise
Lesson
Lesson
90 Min
Use this lesson after reading The Constitutional Convention Narrative and/or the Constitutional Convention Lesson.
The Constitutional Convention
Lesson - 12 Activities
Lesson
12 Activities
320 Min
During the “critical period” after the American Revolution, many were concerned that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate for the states to grow commercially and economically. The Confederation Congress announced a meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation, but not everyone was convinced that the Articles needed revision—or even that the goals of the Convention were admirable. Divisions emerged among the delegates regarding centralized power, executive power, representation, and slavery.
This lesson plan includes six activities. The activities may be taught in sequence as a comprehensive overview of the Constitutional Convention or individual activities may be taught as stand-alone lessons.
320 Min
Federalist/Anti-Federalist Debate on Congress’s Powers of Taxation DBQ
Lesson
Lesson
65 Min
Use this lesson with The Ratification Debate on the Constitution Narrative and the Were the Anti-Federalists Unduly Suspicious or Insightful Political Thinkers? Point-Counterpoint to have students analyze the debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Legacy of Republicanism
Lesson - 5 Activities
Lesson
5 Activities
60 Min
What major debates regarding representation occurred at the Constitutional Convention and during the ratification process? What constitutional principles animated the deliberations? These debates included whether the legislature would be unicameral or bicameral, the method of electing representatives, whether states would be represented equally or proportionally by population in the legislature, and whether enslaved individuals would be included in the population count. After completion of the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, the debates continued as Anti-Federalists argued that the form of government created by the Constitution was insufficiently representative, and the liberties of the people would be in danger. Federalists defended the Constitution’s structure and insisted that the people would hold their elected representatives to high standards. Students participate in role play activities based on primary sources including James Madison’s The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, and the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers.
60 Min