Public Schools of Robeson County
American History: The Founding Principals, Civics, and Economics
Unit 2: Foundations of America
SOCIAL STUDIES
INSTRUCTIONAL ALIGNMENT
Essential Standard:
CE.C&G.1 Analyze the foundations and development of American government in terms of principles and values.
Concept(s): Power, Authority, Democracy
Clarifying Objective(s):
1.1 Explain how the tensions over power and authority led
America’s founding fathers to develop a constitutional
democracy.
1.2 Explain how the Enlightenment and other contributing
theories impacted the writing of the Declaration of
Independence, the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights to help
promote liberty, justice and equality.
1.3 Evaluate how debates on power and authority between
Federalists and Anti-Federalists have helped shape government
in the United States over time.
1.4 Analyze the principles and ideals underlying American
democracy in terms of how they promote freedom.
1.5 Evaluate the fundamental principles of American politics in
terms of the extent to which they have been used effectively to
maintain constitutional democracy in the United States.
2.3 Evaluate the U.S. Constitution as a “living Constitution” in
terms of how the words in the Constitution and Bill of Rights
have been interpreted and applied throughout their existence.
4.2 Explain how the development of America’s national identity
derived from principles in the Declaration of Independence, US
Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Essential Question(s):
1.1 Why do people rebel?
1.1 What values did the American colonies share?
1.1 Why did geography force the American colonies to establish a better economic
system?
1.1 Why did the American colonies set up a government similar to British
government?
1.2/4.2 Why did the colonists write the Declaration of Independence, the US
Constitution, and the Bill of Rights?
1.2/4.2 Why did the Enlightenment period have such an impact on the American
Colonial leaders?
1.2/2.3 Why are certain foundational principles found in our Constitution?
1.3 Why did the Federalist and Anti Federalist factions exist?
1.4/1.5/4.2 How do the American principles behind the constitution promote
freedom?
Public Schools of Robeson County
American History: The Founding Principals, Civics, and Economics
Pacing Guide:
Unit of
Study
Developing
of an
American
Identity and
Belief
System
Major Concepts
Barter/Trade
Climate
Location Natural
Resources
Roles of Men and
Women
Self Government
Religion
Education
Instructional Task
1.1/4.1/4.2
1. Define Government
(Principles of Government)
2. Define & Critique Types
of government
3. Compare & contrast
citizenship in different
types of government
4. Explain Trade
5. Identify examples of
Protests/rebellions
6. Identify Founding
Fathers
Essential
Vocabulary
Pre:
Government,
natural resources,
climate, location,
religion, education
Current:
Mercantilism
Stamp Act
No Representation
Coercive Acts
Salutary Neglect
1.2
Parliament
1. Define Independence,
American
John Locke, Montesquieu
Revolution
Enlightenment
Declaration of
2. Give examples of natural
Independence
Instructional Resources
Text Resources:
Lord of the Flies
1776 by: David McCullough
Articles of the Confederation
Declaration of Independence
Magna Carta
Bill of Rights
US Constitution
Olive Branch Petition
Common Sense
Second Treatise of Government
Sample Assessment Prompts
1. Articles of Confederation
(Article V, Section II)
The US Constitution (Article I,
Sections II, III)
Using the above documents,
write an essay outlining the
conflicts and political issues
surrounding a national
legislature in the Continental
Congress and the
Constitutional Convention.
Analyze how the legislative
structure changed between the
Articles of Confederation and
the US Constitution
Digital Resources:
www.discoveryeduaction.com
2. Create a Venn Diagram
comparing the Articles of
Public Schools of Robeson County
American History: The Founding Principals, Civics, and Economics
rights and social contracts
Glorious
Revolution
1.3
Salem Witch Trials
1. Define Federalists &
Barter/Trade
Anti-Federalists
Shipbuilding
2. Critique The Federalists
Plantation System
& Anti-Federalists Papers
Slave Trade
Mercantilism
1.4
Fur trade/fishing
1. Analyze the principles of
Farming
government
Human Capital
Climate
Location
Atlantic Ocean
New England,
1.5
Middle, Southern
1. Evaluate the
Natural Resources
effectiveness of the
Magna Carta
principles of government
Mayflower
Compact
English Bill of
Rights
Common Law
Fundamental
Orders of
Connecticut
Articles of
Confederation
Law based on
precedent
First and Second
Continental
Congress
American History: Road to
Revolution
Common Sense by Thomas
Paine
Letters from George
Washington to John Banister
John Adams Autobiography
www.historyisfun.org
www.ushistory.org/declaration/
Literary Connections:
Federalist Papers
Anti-Federalist Papers
Declaration of Independence
Magna Carta
Bill of Rights
US Constitution
Olive Branch Petition
Common Sense
Second Treatise of Government
Confederation and the US
Constitution
3. Create a play based on the
Boston Tea Party. Students
must demonstrate the events
leading up to the Tea Party and
the aftermath.
4. Create an illustrated timeline
beginning with Jamestown up
to American Independence.
Students must have dates,
pictures/illustrations, and
statements explaining each
date. Timelines must be
written in complete sentences
and students must have a
minimum of 25 facts in his/her
timeline.
Public Schools of Robeson County
American History: The Founding Principals, Civics, and Economics
Introductory:
Declaration of
Independence,
triangular trade,
American
Revolution