Post on 28-Dec-2015
transcript
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
AND THE CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION DAY IS SEPTEMBER 17
Celebrate Freedom: Our Democratic Ideals
“In God We Trust”
Taken from fourth verse of “The Star- Spangled Banner”
On coins since 1864
Became official motto in 1956
On paper currency since 1957
Unit 1
What is democracy?
What is “majority rule”?
What is a right?
Note: Democratic societies must balance the rights and responsibilities of individuals with the common good.
We gain insight into the sacrifices made for freedom and the values of a country by studying the founding documents of its government.
Name three important documents in American history, produced by our “founders”.
How do these documents define what it means to be an American?
The Preamble to The Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Read aloud our philosophy of government
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
The Declaration of Independence
The U.S. Constitution
1776, Philadelphia
Author--Jefferson
“our birth certificate”
Refers to the tyrant, King George III
“unalienable rights”
1787, Philadelphia
Author—Madison
Our plan of government
Refers to rights that had been violated by the British
Bill of Rights
Two Documents
The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution
We became a new country called The United States of America
We created a Democratic Republic under The Articles of Confederation
We no longer lived under the weak Articles of Confederation
We had a strong federal government with three branches: legislative, executive and judicial
How were things different after these documents?
Declaration of Independence
Who wrote it?When? Where? Why?Who does it call a tyrant?What are unalienable rights?Name the unalienable rights.“We hold these truths to be self-evident that
all men are _______ _________ and that they are endowed by their ______with certain unalienable rights; that among these are ____, ______, and the _______ of ________.”
The Constitution
Who wrote it?When? Where? Why?What document did it replace?How many articles are in The Constitution?What is an amendment?What are the first ten amendments called?Name the three branches and what they do.Recognize the ideas of The Bill of Rights.How many amendments do we have today?What 5 freedoms are listed in the first
amendment?
Declaration of Independence see p. 50
Constitution see p. 81
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Find the similarities (compare)
Alexis de Tocqueville
He was a French historian who visited the U.S. in the 19th century and observed that the U.S. needed five values to be successful as a constitutional republic:
1. Liberty2. Egalitarianism3. Individualism4. Populism 5. Laissez-faire
Terms
1. Democracy2. Republicanism3. Impeach4. Treason5. Popular sovereignty6. First amendment7. Bill of Rights8. Articles of Confederation9. Unalienable rights10. Judicial review11. Separation of powers12. Checks and balances
Three Branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Congress—two houses—makes laws—CapitolSenate is upper house, Congress and states
can pass amendmentsPresidency—enforces laws—White HouseElectoral CollegeCourts—interpret laws—Supreme Court w/9
justicesNeo-Classical architecture in Washington,
D.C.
Test Review
Two major documents—purpose, author, signers, organization, place
Constitutional ideas: federalismSeparation of powers, checks and balancesStrict constructionist (letter of the law)Federalist Papers and ratificationLitigation (lawsuit)De Tocqueville’s 5 valuesThe Political Spectrum—moderate, liberal,
conservative, reactionary, radicalAmerican Revolution ideas—boycott used
against high taxes