UNIT 2 SPECIFICITIES
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How do political systems impact other societies?
How has the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution impacted other societies?
Why do political systems based on the consent of the people impact other societies?
What are the characteristics of a democracy, a republic and a totalitarian political system?
Focus Vocabulary
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Democracy – government by the people
Republic – a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is
exercised by elected officials and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law
Totalitarianism – centralized control by an autocratic authority
Autocracy- a government in which the ruler has unlimited power and uses it in an arbitrary way.
(arbitrary here would mean not restrained by others or law)
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U.S Constitution http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html
Historical Document Analysis form from the National Archives (1 per student):
www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/written_document_analysis_worksheet.pdf
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Article on the Arab Spring: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2088044,00.html
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--That to secure these
Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.
Identify -- POLITICAL SYSTEMS
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Democracy – government controlled by its citizens, either directly or indirectly (Ancient Athens)
Republic – power is in the hands of representatives and leaders are elected by the people (Roman
Republic, United States)
Totalitarianism – government control over every aspect of public and private life (Stalin in the U.S.S.R.
Identify -- IMPACT OF POLITICAL AND LEGAL IDEAS FROM HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
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Declaration of Independence
o Unalienable rights – life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness
o Governments established to protect these rights
o People have the right to change or abolish a government that does not protect their rights
U.S. Constitution
o Powers divided among three branches of government
o Checks and balances between the three branches of government
o Federal system of government where power is divided between the state and national
governments
o Bill of Rights that protects personal freedoms, including those of speech, religion, the press, and
of petition
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
What was the purpose for this document?
Who was it written for?
What developed as a result of this Document?