Formation of Government Throughout History
Course
Political Science I
Unit II
Political Ideology
Essential
Question
How has
government
changed
throughout
history?
TEKS
§130.183(c)
(2)(A–E)
Prior Student
Learning
None
Estimated Time
5 to 7 hours
Rationale
This lesson introduces students to how governments have been created and
changed throughout history and to career opportunities in different governments
within the US.
Objectives
The students will be able to:
1. Identify the major types of governmental systems around the world.
2. Locate countries around the world with these types of governmental
systems.
3. Analyze the major historical events that led to the creation of certain
governmental systems.
4. Explain why certain governmental systems are now obsolete.
5. Identify career opportunities available within certain governmental
systems.
Engage
Discuss the students’ prior knowledge of the attacks on the US embassy in
Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012. After discussing the events that took
place at the embassy and the state of the Libyan government during that time,
show a video of a news conference from President Barack Obama (to find a
video, search the Internet for the following key words: NY times President
Obama Benghazi attack). After watching the video, continue the discussion
about the attacks. Have the students create and share their opinions about this
historical event. Use the Discussion Rubric for assessment.
Key Points
I. What are the major types of governmental systems around the world?
A. Types of international government systems include
1. Democracy
a) A political system in which all citizens determine public policy
and have equal rights to express their opinions
(1) A government in which the supreme power is vested with
the people
b) Modern Democracy dates back to the late 18th century
(1) However, the concept of democracy dates all the way
back to the ancient Greek city-states
c) The evolution to Modern Democracy began with the rise of
individualism, capitalism, Protestantism, the scientific
revolution, and the exploration of the New World
d) The political theorists of this time believed that if people were
freed of feudalism and a social hierarchy, they would be more
creative and productive in society
(1) The most famous political theorists on this concept are
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Thomas Hobbes and John Locke
e) When the Industrial Revolution occurred in the US, like in
many other developed countries, it ushered in a new
relationship between government and economy, which is still
relevant today
f) Laissez-Faire Theory in democracy means that the
government will stay out of all economic life
g) In a democracy, there is a capitalist type of economy, which
means that all means of production are privately owned and
prices, wages, and profits are determined by private industry
2. Theocracy
a) A political system in which the officials are considered to be
divinely guided, or directed by God
b) Government officials are also considered members of the
clergy
c) Most governments throughout history have had characteristics
of theocracy
(1) When King Henry VIII separated from the Roman
Catholic Church in the 1500s, he create the Church of
England in which he was considered the “Supreme Head
of the Church of England”
d) The only three theocratic forms of governments in the world
are Iran, Saudi Arabia, and The Vatican
(1) In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini emerged as a leader in Iran
for two main reasons
(a) He developed the notion that senior clerics had the
obligation and right to rule and maintain the Islamic
nature of Iran
(b) He became one of the leaders of the opposition to
the secular regime of the Shah, the title for the head
of government in Iran prior to 1979
e) No separation between church and state
3. Republic
a) A political system in which the supreme power is vested with
the people, but their vote rests with the representatives who
are directly or indirectly elected
b) Leaders are elected based on standards set forth by a
constitution
(1) There are no positions that are hereditary
c) Also known as Representative Democracy
d) This form of government made the Founding Fathers more
comfortable when they were writing the Declaration of
Independence and the US Constitution
(1) They believed that allowing everyone to participate in
government, would create a sort of mob rule and the
uneducated would destroy the newly created US
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government
(2) By using the term “republic,” they felt that people were
going to be represented by the wealthy and more
educated and they would be more responsible when it
came to making decisions for the country
e) For example, in the US, we vote for people to represent us on
the federal level
f) These representatives are also responsible for electing the
president and vice president of the US; the representatives
create what is called the electoral college
4. Monarchy
a) A political system in which all of the nation’s power is held by
one person
(1) Historically most monarchies are based on a family’s
lineage
b) A monarchy form of government can be organized in several
different ways
(1) Absolute Monarchy – the monarch is the ultimate
governing body of the state, and his or her powers are
not limited by the Constitution or laws
(2) Constitutional Monarchy
(a) Recognizes the monarch as the head of state, and
as the head of state the monarch is expected to
govern within the laws of the country’s Constitution
(b) The most common form of monarchy in the world
(c) One of the most notable monarchies in the world is
the constitutional monarchy of Great Britain
(i) The current Queen of England is Queen
Elizabeth II, who acts as the figurehead for the
British government
5. Dictatorship
a) A political system in which one person or a small group has
absolute power without constitutional limitations
b) The government typically has complete control over mass
communications and the social and economic organizations
c) Typically the dictator also believes in a certain ideology and
how society should be organized
d) There have been several dictators throughout history
(1) Adolf Hitler
(a) The dictator of Nazi Germany from 1934–1945
(b) The leader of the Third Reich, which believed in the
concept of an “Aryan race” and the extermination of
the Jewish population
(2) Mao Zedong
(a) The Chairman of the Communist Party of China from
1949–1976
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(b) Believed in China’s becoming a major world power
and that it should be done through forced labor
(c) Responsible for millions of deaths in China during
his rule
6. Communism
a) A political system in which the government controls all means
of production
b) Began as a social movement which was created to make
society a classless, stateless, and moneyless state
(1) Communists believe that by creating a classless state,
there is no competition between the classes, and people
can live in a full state of freedom
(2) Although Communists believe in the concept of a
“classless state,” government still controls all aspects of
the economic and social organizations
c) The most notable founder of the Communist form of
government is Karl Marx
d) The Soviet Union was considered to be a Communist state
until it was eventually dissolved in 1991
7. Socialism
a) A political system that believes the means of production and
distribution lie with the community as a whole
b) Similar to Communism in the sense that social problems occur
when citizens are allowed private ownership of land and
business within the economy
c) Mainly refers to the organization of a country’s economy
d) Unequal social status fails to give everyone an equal
opportunity to maximize his or her potential
e) For example, in the US, the Affordable Care Act, which is often
referred to as “Obamacare” is considered by some to be a
socialist form of healthcare
II. What countries around the world have these different types of governmental
systems?
A. Asia
1. North Korea (The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
a) A dictatorship form of government
b) The dictator Kim-Jong-Un
(1) The son of former dictator Kim-Jong-Il
c) Shares a border with the countries of China and Russia
d) Shares the territory known as the Korean Peninsula with the
country of South Korea
(1) South Korea is a democratic country, which causes
conflict between the countries of North and South Korea
e) One of the most restricted economies in the world which is
controlled entirely by the central government
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2. China (The People’s Republic of China)
a) A communist form of government
(1) However, China has been transitioning from a restricted
and centrally planned economy to more of a market
economy since 1979
b) One of the largest countries in Asia (landwise); also has the
largest population in the world
c) Shares a border with two other Communist/Dictatorial
countries: North Korea and Vietnam
(1) China also shares a border with two other major world
countries: India and Russia
3. India
a) A federal republic form of government, like the US
(1) Government is based on a constitution
(2) Considered to be the world’s largest democracy
b) The second largest population in the world
c) Shares a border with the Muslim country of Pakistan
(1) Since India is a predominately Hindu country, the shared
border with Pakistan often causes conflict between the
two countries
d) Surrounded on two sides by the Indian Ocean
B. Europe
1. United Kingdom
a) Consists of several different countries which include Great
Britain, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales
b) A constitutional monarchy form of government
(1) The Chief of State = Queen Elizabeth II (figurehead)
(2) The Head of Government = David Cameron (Prime
Minister)
(3) The Cabinet = Parliament (House of Commons and the
House of Lords)
c) An island located in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, just
Northwest of France
d) Controls several territories around the world, most of which are
located in the Caribbean
(1) This cluster of island countries is known as the British
Virgin Islands
2. Most countries on the European continent are republics or
democracies; however, some countries have a monarchy type of
structure, including Sweden, Spain, and Norway
C. North America
1. The US
a) A Republic form of government, like its southern neighbor
Mexico
(1) The President of the US is Barack Obama and the
President of Mexico is Enrique Pena (2012)
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(2) The terms “republic” and “democracy” are used
interchangeably when identifying the form of government
in the US
b) More specifically, a representative democracy
(1) The US Constitution states that citizens elect
representatives to represent them on the federal level
(2) The House of Representatives and the Senate create the
Electoral College
(3) According to the US Constitution, the Electoral College is
responsible for electing the President and Vice President
c) Has a neighbor to the north, Canada
(1) A Constitutional Monarchy
(2) Considered an ally to the US
d) Considered one of the world’s “super-powers” and continues
to advocate against the concepts of dictatorships and
communism
D. Latin America
1. Countries in the region of the Americas where Spanish or
Portuguese is primarily spoken
a) Latin America ranges from Mexico and the Caribbean all the
way south through the entire continent of South America
b) Latin America is home to some of the world’s most well-known
Communist countries
2. Cuba
a) An island country located in the Caribbean that is only about
100 miles south from the southernmost tip of the US: Key
West, Florida
b) Became a Communist state in the 1950s after the Cuban
Revolution that was led by Fidel Castro
(1) Castro remained the Communist leader of Cuba until his
resignation in 2008
(2) Raul Castro, the brother of Fidel Castro, assumed the
role as leader of Cuba in February 2008
c) Although it is an isolated island country, it has foreign
relationships with other Communist countries all over the world
(1) These countries include Russia, China, and Venezuela
3. Venezuela
a) Considered to have a Republican form of government, but has
many of the tendencies of a Communist state
b) One of the northernmost countries in South America bordering
the Caribbean Sea
c) Hugo Chavez was president and leader of the United Socialist
Party starting in 1999
(1) Hugo Chavez was responsible for weakening the
Democratic institution in Venzuela and advocating for
“21st century Socialism”
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(2) After Chavez’s death in 2013, Raul Maduro became the
President of Venezuela and also the new leader of the
United Socialist Party
d) Has become increasingly Communist because of the
government’s control over the economy, more specifically the
country’s oil production
(1) Venezuela would be an ideal country for exporting oil
because of its location, but the United Socialist Party
believes in keeping the country’s resources for the use of
Venezuelan citizens
III. What major historical events had an effect on these different types of
governmental systems?
A. The Cold War
1. Began shortly after the end of World War II and lasted from 1947–
1991
2. A war between the world’s two superpowers of that time period,
which were divided by major political and economic differences
a) The US
(1) Was aligned with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) and Western European countries
(2) Believed with its allies
(a) In a capitalist form of economy
(b) That Communism should be contained from
spreading throughout the world
b) The USSR
(1) Believed in a communist form of government
(2) Consisted of modern day Russia and Eastern Europe
3. The Korean War
a) Because of Korea’s proximity to the USSR, communist ideals
spread to the Korean peninsula
b) In 1950 the conflict began between the occupying forces on
the Korean peninsula
(1) The US forces occupied the southern part of the Korean
peninsula, while the Soviet forces occupied the northern
part
c) After three years of fighting between the Soviet and US forces,
they agreed that the 38th parallel would be the distinguishing
line between the newly created countries of North and South
Korea
d) South Korea adopted a democratic form of government and a
capitalist economy which was a result of the US/NATO
assistance in the southern part of Korea during the Korean
War
e) North Korea adopted a communist form of government and
economy
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(1) Today, North Korea is considered a dictatorship (see
above), and Korean citizens do not have permission to
travel between North and South Korea
4. The Vietnam War
a) Lasted from 1955–1975
b) Was fought between the communist forces of North Vietnam
and anti-communist forces in South Vietnam
(1) North Vietnam was supported mainly by the communist
state of China and other communist allies, while South
Vietnam was supported by the US and other anticommunist forces
c) After thousands of US deaths, under the order of President
Richard Nixon, the US withdrew its troops from Vietnam
d) In 1975, the communist forces of North Vietnam finally seized
control of the city of Saigon, which ended the Vietnam War
e) North Vietnam forced the unification of South Vietnam which
created the country now known as Vietnam
(1) Vietnam’s official title is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
(2) Today, Vietnam is a communist country
5. The Cuban Missile Crisis
a) The closest the two superpowers came to having a nuclear
conflict during the Cold War
b) A 13-day conflict between the communist countries of Cuba
and the Soviet Union and the US
(1) Occurred in October, 1962
c) Began when Cuban officials caught the US spying on the
Cuban military
(1) The US was going to use this information to attempt to
overthrow the Cuban government and its leader Fidel
Castro
(2) The intelligence operation was known as the Bay of Pigs
(3) The failed operation served as a major embarrassment
for the US government
d) Continued after the US was exposed for the failed Bay of Pigs
operation and the Soviet Union shipped nuclear missile
towards Cuba
e) Ended when the the US, instead of declaring war, successfully
formed a blockade in the Atlantic Ocean so that Soviet nuclear
weapons could not reach Cuba
f) Cuba and the Soviet Union remained communist nations,
while the US continued their efforts to contain Communism
around the world
B. The Iraq War
1. The US invaded Iraq in March, 2003, shortly after the terrorist
attacks on 9/11
a) The US and Great Britain believed that Iraq possessed
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weapons of mass destruction (WMD’s)
2. The leader of Iraq was the dictator Saddam Hussein
a) Saddam Hussein was the leading member of the Arab
Socialist Ba’ath Party
b) In 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by US forces and was
returned to Iraqi officials in 2004
c) In 2005, Iraq ratified a constitution and transitioned from a
dictatorship to a democracy
d) In 2006, Saddam Hussein was found guilty of crimes against
humanity and was sentenced to death in Iraq
IV. Why are certain governmental systems obsolete today?
A. Governments in which there is total control by one individual have
typically been the result of a coup or a swift overthrow of the country’s
government
1. Democracies and republics allow for their citizens to have personal,
economic, and political freedoms
2. Factors like 24-hour news cycles and social media are becoming
global trends that are forming new ideologies around the world
a) This is currently an issue for countries experiencing conflict
(1) Syria
(a) If the Syrian rebels are able to overthrow President
Bashar Al-Assad, his government will become
obsolete
(b) Like Saddam Hussein, Bashar Al-Assad is a leading
member of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party
B. International conflict often arises over the conflicting ideologies of these
government systems. Certain examples might include
1. Hitler’s control over Nazi Germany
a) Nazi Germany was considered a fascist form of government
(1) This form of government is much like a dictatorship: a
country is organized around a charismatic political figure,
but it also has a mixed economy
(2) A mixed economy has public and private sectors of
business
b) The form of government in Nazi Germany became obsolete
because, after German destruction in World War II, Germany
had no governmental structure and no economic system
c) Germany was divided into two separate countries: West
Germany, which was a democracy, and East Germany, which
became a part of the Soviet Union
2. The collapse of the Soviet Union following the Cold War
a) Over time the communist government of the Soviet Union
began to cause a strain on the Soviet peoples
b) The Soviet Union experienced a collapse in their economic,
social, and political structures
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c) Too many political coalitions began to fight for power within the
government, and the people began to demand social reform
C. Other reasons for internal conflict can include human rights violations,
ethnic cleansing, religious freedoms and the rights of women (feminism)
1. Internal conflict is often the reason for governments and entire
countries to become obsolete
V. What type of careers are available in these different types of governments?
A. International Organizations
1. The United Nations
a) Offers many different positions which all require a college
degree
(1) Some of the most popular positions at the UN are
(a) Translators – work closely with UN officials from
foreign countries and are responsible for translating
meetings and written documentation
(b) Human Resources Officer – requires a lot of travel to
foreign countries to assess the resources available
to a country’s population
B. Multinational Corporations
1. Corporations have operations all over the world and often need
employees for sales and marketing purposes
a) However, most professional positions are available in
countries with a market-based economy
C. Nongovernmental Organizations
1. The Peace Corps
a) Began in the US in the 1960s
b) Their mission is to help underdeveloped countries fight issues
like AIDS, environmental pollution, and human rights violations
c) Often based on volunteer service and is available for service in
139 countries around the world
2. Green Peace
a) Focuses mainly on environmental issues around the world
b) Monitors issues like oil exportation and also deforestation in
areas like the Amazon Rain Forest
D. Diplomats
1. Ambassador
a) The highest ranking diplomats sent to other nations to
represent their own nations’ governments
b) In charge of carrying out several tasks
(1) Collecting and analyzing information
(2) Negotiating
(3) Facilitating cultural ties
(4) Assessing the political climate in their countries of origin
(5) Personal intervention with authorities when necessary
c) Often highly educated and have a background in
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foreign/diplomatic relations
d) US ambassadors are selected by the president
Activities
1. Government Propaganda. Select one propaganda poster from each of the
following countries: the United States, Great Britain, and Russia. Have the
students evaluate each of the selected images, compare and contrast the
posters, and identify which form of government is depicted in each poster.
The posters can be from different periods in history, such as World War II,
The Cold War, or the Iraq War. After the students identify each of the forms
of government, have them imagine that they are volunteers for the United
Nations and create their own propaganda poster. Use the Individual Work
Rubric for assessment.
2. Newspaper, Circa 1962. Have students write a newspaper article for each
day of the 13-day conflict known as the Cuban Missle Crisis. The articles
should capture the events that took place on that particular day and the
response of the US and the Soviet Union/Cuba. After the students complete
a newspaper entry for each day of the conflict, have the students write an
“op-ed” (opinion) article in which they speculate what world events could
have taken place if the Soviet Union or Cuba had launched missiles against
the US during the Cuban Missle Crisis. Use the Individual Work Rubric or the
Research Rubric for assessment.
3. Response to President Kennedy. Have the students read the letter which
was written by President John F. Kennedy to Nikita Khrushchev (Chairman of
Coucil of Ministers in the Soviet Union) on October 22, 1962, about the
Soviet Union’s involvement with Cuba. A copy of the letter may be found at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/jfknegotiate/. Then have the students respond to the letter as if they were Nikita
Khrushchev writting on behalf of the Soviet Union in 1962. Use the Individual
Work Rubric for assessment.
Assessments
Formation of Government Throughout History Quiz and Key
Discussion Rubric
Individual Work Rubric
Research Rubric
Materials
Formation of Government Throughout History computer-based presentation
Formation of Government Throughout History Key Terms
Resources
Bertram, Christopher, "Jean Jacques Rousseau", The Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy (Winter 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
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http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2012/entries/rousseau/
Bose, Meena, John Dilulio, and James Wilson. American Government:
Institutions and Policies. 13th. Boston: Wadsworth Cenage Learning, 2013.
Ch. 4. Print
Edwards, George, Robert Lineberry, and Martin Wattenberg. Government in
American: People, Politics and Policy. 15th. New York City: Pearson
Education, 2011. Ch. 1, Ch. 11. Print
Harrison, Brigid, and Jean Harris. American Democracy Now. 2nd. New York
City: McGraw Hill, 2011. Ch. 1, Ch. 9. Print
Hauss, Charles, and Melissa Haussman. Comparative Politics: Domestic
Responses to Global Challenges. 8th. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cenage
Learning, Ch 4. Print
O'Conner, Karen, Larry Sabato, and Alixandra Yanus. American Government:
Roots and Reform. 11th. New York City: Pearson Education, 2011. Ch. 1.
Print
Patterson, Thomas. The American Democracy. 9th. New York City: McGraw Hill
, 2009. Ch 1. Print
Soucy, R. (2013). Fascism. In Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia
Britannica.
Wolff, Jonathan, "Karl Marx", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer
2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2011/entries/marx/
Do an Internet search for the following:
 NY Times President Obama Benghazi attack
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, students will create flashcards to help distinguish the
characteristics of the different governmental systems. On the front of the
flashcard, the students will identify the type of government and on the back they
will identify three characterisitics of that particular governmental system. Use the
Individual Work Rubric for assessment.
For enrichment, students will write a 3–5 page research paper about the
overthrow of the Shah of Iran. The paper should also include the effects of the
overthrow and how it affected the US. Use the Research Rubric for assessment.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.183. Political Science I (One to Two Credits).
(2)
The student explores historical origins of government. The student
is expected to:
(A)
describe the features of different types of government such
as democracy, theocracy, republic, monarchy, dictatorship,
communism, and socialism;
(B)
use a map to label where each form of government is
currently practiced or has been practiced in the past;
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(C)
(D)
(E)
explain how each form of government arose throughout
history;
develop a logical argument as to the origination of different
types of government; and
hypothesize why some forms of government became
obsolete.
College and Career Readiness Standards
Social Studies Standards
I. Interrelated Disciplines and Skills
E. Change and continuity of social groups, civic organizations, institutions,
and their interaction
4. Identify and evaluate the sources and consequences of social
conflict.
IV. Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Information
A. Critical examination of texts, images, and other sources of information
1. Identify and analyze the main idea(s) and point(s)-of-view in
sources.
2. Situate an informational source in its appropriate contexts
(contemporary, historical, cultural).
3. Evaluate sources from multiple perspectives.
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Formation of Government Throughout History Key Terms
Capitalism – An economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and
prices, wages, and profits are determined by private industry. (Hauss, Haussman. 2013)
Communism – a political system in which the government controls all means of production
Democracy – a political system in which all citizens determine public policy and have equal
rights to express their opinions
Dictatorship – a political system in which one person or a small group has absolute power
without constitutional limitations
Fascism – A political movement which differs significantly from other political movements.
Characteristics include extreme militaritistic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy,
and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in a natural social hierarchy and the rule of
elites (Soucy. 2013).
Monarchy – a political system in which all of the nation’s power is held by one person
Republic – a political system in which the supreme power is vested with the people but their
votes rest with the representatives who are directly or indirectly elected
Socialism – a political system in which government believes that the means of production and
distribution lie with the community as a whole
The Cold War – a state of political and military conflict between the United States and the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics during the second half of the 20th century
Theocracy – a political system in which the officials are considered to be divinely guided, or
directed by God
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Name________________________________ Date__________________________
Formation of Government Throughout History Quiz
1. _____ Modern Democracy began with the rise of all of the following concepts except which
of the following?
A. Individualism
B. Communism
C. Capitalism
D. Protestantism
2. _____ The United Kingdom is considered to be which type of monarchy?
A. Absolute
B. Hereditary
C. Consitutional
D. Elective
3. _____ Who was the Dictator of North Korea until his death in December 2011?
A. Kim-Jong Un
B. Mao Zedong
C. Kim-Jong Il
D. Kim-Il Sung
4. _____ Which of the following countries is considered to be a theocracy?
A. Iran
B. Russia
C. South Korea
D. Venezuela
5. _____ Which of the following statements best describes a Republican form of government?
A. A political system in which all citizens determine public policy and have equal
rights to express their opinions
B. A political system in which all power is held by one person
C. A political system in which the officials are considered to be divinely guided or
directed by God
D. A political system in which the supreme power is vested with the people but their
votes rest with representatives who are directly or indirectly elected
6. _____ What historical event led to the transition of government in China in 1949?
A. At the end of the Chinese Civil War, the Communist Party of China assumed
control of China
B. The death of Mao Zedong
C. China was suffering from a major economic depression
D. China joined the Soviet Union
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7. _____ Communism is a social movement that attempts to make society which of the
following?
A. Stateless
B. Moneyless
C. Classless
D. All of the above
8. _____ The countires of North and South Korea were separated by Soviet and US forces at
which parallel?
A. 38th Parallel
B. 45th Parallel
C. 53rd Parallel
D. 72nd Parallel
9. _____ Which of the following statements best describes the economic term “laissez-faire”?
A. Means of production are privately owned
B. Government will stay out of economic affairs
C. Government controls all means of production
D. Goods and services are exchanged by a system of bartering and trading
10. _____ Which of the following statements best describes the cause for the Iranian Revolution
in 1979, which caused a transition in government?
A. Shah Mohammed Reza died suddenly and his regime was overthrown by Iranian
rebels
B. The US invaded Iran and overthrew Shah Mohammed Reza’s regime
C. Ayatollah Khoemeini believed that it was his duty to restore Iran back to an
Islamic state and unravel the westernization ideology of Shah Mohammed Reza
D. An Iranian Civil War
11. _____ How are Socialism and Communism similar?
A. There are social problems when citizens are allowed to have private ownership
of land and businesses
B. Equal social status fails to give everyone an equal opportunity to maximize their
potential
C. Government officials are elected by popular vote of the citizens
D. There is no difference between Socialism and Communism
12. _____ Which of the following Western European countires is considered to be a monarchy?
A. Spain
B. Germany
C. France
D. Italy
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13. _____ The Cuban Missile Crisis was a conflict between the US and the communist countries
of the USSR and Cuba as a result of which historical event?
A. The US blockade of missiles from the Soviet Union to Cuba
B. The failed US operation at the Bay of Pigs
C. Fidel Castro’s rise to power in Cuba
D. The Cuban and Soviet Union’s failed intelligence operation of the US military
14. _____ During the Cold War, the US attempted to prevent what political ideology from
spreading around the world?
A. Socialism
B. Dictatorships
C. Feudalism
D. Communism
15. _____ Which of the following statements best describes what happened to the German
government after the fall of Hitler’s Nazi Germany?
A. Germany became a part of the Soviet Union
B. Germany again became a dictatorship under the leader Benito Mussolini
C. Germany immediately became a democracy with the assistance of the US
D. Germany was divided into two separate countries known as East Germany and
West Germany
16. _____ A coup can be best defined as which of the following?
A. A government controlled by one person
B. When all citizens help to define public policy
C. A swift overthrow of the government
D. A supreme power in government that is vested by the people
17. _____ Which of the following Latin American leaders was responsible for weakening the
democratic institution of government in Venzuela and ushering in “21st century
Socialism”?
A. Hugo Chavez
B. Raul Castro
C. Raul Maduro
D. Enrique Pena
18. _____ Which of the following countries is considered to be the world’s largest democracy?
A. United States
B. Germany
C. India
D. France
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19. _____ Which historical event caused the English monarch to separate from the Roman
Catholic Church?
A. The Crusades
B. The death of King Richard I
C. King Henry VIII’s divorce from Anne Boleyn
D. The fall of the Holy Roman Empire
20. _____ Who was the dictator of Iraq who was overthrown as a result of the US invasion of
2003?
A. Saddam Hussein
B. Ayatollah Khomeini
C. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
D. Hamid Karzai
18
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
Formation of Government Throughout History Quiz Key
1. B
2. C
3. C
4. A
5. D
6. A
7. D
8. A
9. B
10. C
11. A
12. A
13. B
14. D
15. D
16. C
17. A
18. C
19. C
20. A
19
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Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
20
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Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Individual Work Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Follows directions
Student completed the work as directed,
following the directions given, in order and to the
level of quality indicated
Time management
Student used time wisely and remained on task
100% of the time
Organization
Student kept notes and materials in a neat,
legible, and organized manner. Information was
readily retrieved
Evidence of learning
Student documented information in his or her
own words and can accurately answer questions
related to the information retrieved
*Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
21
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Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Research Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Question/goal
Student identified and communicated a question
or goal of the research
Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Conclusion/Summary
Student drew insightful conclusions and
observations from the information gathered.
Information is organized in a logical manner
Communication
Student communicated the information gathered
and summary or conclusions persuasively.
Student demonstrated skill in the use of media
used to communicate the results of research
Reflection
Student reflected on the importance of the
research and its potential application
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
22
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