Foundational Documents

GREAT class today!  

Next week I will give you your own copy of The Constitution of the USA!  

Please use this blog to help you prepare for our classes over the next few weeks.  Today's handouts are for your own benefit.  We may discuss some philosophical thought that influenced the establishment of our government next week.

This blog only offers some ideas and links (there is a great big wide web out there!) and I've tried to represent different thought.  Please be wise!  One goal of this class is for you (with your parents' help and guidance) can develop your own political thought.  

Don't forget to bring in or text me something (news event, current event) related to US Government that we can pray about.  

I'm looking forward to a learning semester!

Here is the video I promised: 

 

Don't forget the homework!

Answer these questions: What form of government is American Government?  We covered these options in class: 

• Republic (Pledge of Allegiance; Legal Definition)
• Democratic Republic (The Democratic Republic of Congo; East Germany; Congress for Kids)
• Representative Democracy (The Dirksen Center; Glencoe -- Constitution Handbook)
• Democracy (Concepts and Fundamental Principles; Law and Democracy.org)

What do you believe to be the form of Government of the USA?  

What was the government designed to be?  

Where is it headed?  

*List your thoughts and make sure you have three items (primary/secondary documents; quotes; quality sources) to support your thoughts.  

We will be closely examining four foundational documents of the United States of America:

• Declaration of Independence; Chronology of Events
• The Articles of Confederation; Milestones related to the Articles
• The Treaty of Paris 1783; Accomplishments
• The Constitution; The Constitution with Explanation 

The University of Oklahoma College of Law offers a great Chronology of US Historical Documents with links.

Students are encouraged to explore the four documents we will be discussing in class.  Students should be working towards comprehension of these documents.  The Constitution will be our outline for examining how the US Government works.

These videos will come in handy:

Principles of the Constitution is a series of videos on YouTube.  We will be using this series as we examine the sections of the Constitution.  Please watch this one on the Preamble and work on memorizing the Preamble.

Please work on memorizing the preamble: 

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

This is gonna be a great semester!  Thanks for your investment and hard work!