Connecticut Technical High School System
CIVICS/AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 11/2/2010
Unit 2: The Roots of our Federal Government
Goal: Students will examine the historical, cultural, geographic and philosophical foundations of
the U.S. government system.
Big Idea (s):
Many ideas and philosophies helped create the foundation for the U.S. system of government.
Our political heritage was strongly influenced by English constitutional history and political
developments.
Our democratic government was formed as a result of American beliefs, culture and needs.
People form governments to provide a structure for making and enforcing decisions that
affect the common good. (Government is a human invention created for the purpose of
regulating our own behavior and that of our neighbors.)
There is no one perfect form of government.
The U.S. form of government was formed as a result of many compromises and competing
interests.
Equality is a fundamental belief that has changed throughout U.S. History.
No person is above the law.
Essential Question (s):
What ideas laid the groundwork for our form of government? What is the rule of law?
What do we mean by “All men are created equal”? How has the meaning of this idea evolved
to the present?
How does government reflect the beliefs, culture and needs of its citizens?
Why have government? What purpose should government serve? What would life be like
without government?
How should political and economic power be distributed in a society?
What role did compromise play in the creation of our Constitution?
What is the American idea of constitutional government?
What is the common good?
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
As evidenced by written, oral or visual:
Literacy 1. Define and apply key
vocabulary/concepts including government,
monarchy, dictatorship, democracy, social
contract, natural rights, rule of law, separation
of powers and checks and balances :
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Paraphrase/summarize
Compare/contrast
Classify
Categorize
Discuss/explain
Illustrate
Demonstrate
Reflect/relate
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Vocabulary journals
Narrative descriptions
2-3 Column Notes (i.e.
term/definition/illustrate/paraphrase/relat
e)
Lincs/Frayer
Visual representation (i.e concept
diagram/map, graph, chart, drawing,
poster, comic strip, cartoon)
Discussion
Oral presentation
Short answer
Essay
(H) Honors. Honors students will complete a cross cycle/over the trade assignment.
Connecticut Technical High School System
CIVICS/AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 11/2/2010

Infer
10.6 Explain the purpose of government
and provide reasons why government is
necessary:
 Maintain social order
 Provide public services
 Provide for national security and
defense
 Provide for and control economic
system
10.7 Analyze the types of government
societies have developed:
 Monarchy
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Description of the purpose of Government and
why it is necessary.
(H) – Write a paper on the purpose of
Government & why it is necessary.
Analysis of various types of government.
Dictatorship
o Autocracy
o Oligarchy
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Democracy
o Presidential government
o Parliamentary government
10.8 Describe the historical and
philosophical roots for American
government including social contract,
natural rights, rule of law, separation of
powers and checks and balances:
 Aristotle
 Locke
 Montesquieu
 Rousseau
 Paine
 Jefferson
8.2 Use and synthesize primary documents:
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(H)- group activity
Create a oral, mixed media presentation
with a visual component on the
definition/importance of each of the
primary documents (the Magna Carta,
English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact,
& Declaration of Independence).
Magna Carta
English Bill of Rights
Mayflower Compact
Declaration of Independence
10.9 Describe the historical background of the
U.S. Constitution:
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Summary of historical roots of the
Constitution.
Conflict
o Art. of Confederation
Description of the historical roots of the
Constitution:
(H) – Choose 1 conflict or compromise that
you feel is most important in the
(H) Honors. Honors students will complete a cross cycle/over the trade assignment.
Connecticut Technical High School System
CIVICS/AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 11/2/2010

o Shays Rebellion
o Convention
Compromise
o The Virginia Plan
o New Jersey Plan
o The CT Compromise
o 3/5th compromise
o Federalist Papers
development of the U.S. Constitution and
defend your position.
Resources:
Extension Activity:
Written or Oral Presentation on a present day compromise in state, local or national government and
compare to a historical constitutional compromise.
Select a country and research the historical background of the government and compare to the U.S.
Conduct a government simulation. Group students as an advisory committee to a newly created nation
i.e. Iraq. Examine a variety of government structures world wide and made a recommendation for basic
structure of new government. Use evidence to support position.
Create a constitution for a new nation i.e. Iraq.
Have students read Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm or 1984. Analyze how societies without government
function and meet the needs of the people/
Teacher(s) Designed Formative Assessments
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TBD
District-wide Trimester Assessment(s)
http://sde-cthsi/DWTA/academic.html
Concepts
Skills
Students need to know about:
Students need to be able to do:
10.6 The purpose of government and reasons why Explain (the purpose of government and
government is necessary.
provide reasons why government is
necessary).
10.7 The types of government societies have
10.7 Analyze( the types of government
developed.
societies have developed):
 Monarchy

Dictatorship
o Autocracy
o oligarchy

Democracy
o Presidential government
o Parliamentary government
(H) Honors. Honors students will complete a cross cycle/over the trade assignment.
Connecticut Technical High School System
CIVICS/AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 11/2/2010
10.8 The historical and philosophical roots of
the American government: social contract,
natural rights, rule of law, separation of
powers and checks and balances:
 Aristotle
 Locke
 Montesquieu
 Rousseau
 Paine
 Jefferson
8.2 Primary documents:
 Magna Carta
 English Bill of Rights
 Mayflower Compact
 Declaration of Independence
10.9 The historical background of the U.S.
Constitution.
10.8 Describe (the historical and
philosophical roots of the American
government: social contract, natural
rights, rule of law, separation of powers
and checks and balances )
Use and synthesize (primary documentsMagna Carta, English Bill of Rights,
Mayflower Compact, Declaration of
Independence )
10.9 Describe (the historical background of
the U.S. Constitution):
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
Conflict
o Articles of Confederation
o Shays Rebellion
o Convention
Compromise
o The Virginia Plan
o New Jersey Plan
o The CT Compromise
o 3/5th compromise
(H) Honors. Honors students will complete a cross cycle/over the trade assignment.