A Republic
Class Length: 1 Class Meeting
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1. Recognize the nature of a republican government and how it applies to the
motives of the Founding Fathers of our country.
2. Define civic virtue and the common welfare.
Materials:
- Government textbooks
Procedures:
Using the class government textbook as a guide, the teacher will introduce pertinent
knowledge and key terms:
Terms:
o Representatives: people given power to promote the goals of all citizens
o Fairness: They believed that laws made by the representatives they elected
would be fair. If their representatives did not make fair laws, they could elect
others who would.
o Common Welfare: The laws would help everyone instead of one person or a
few favored people.
o Republican Government: the power of government is held by the people
o Civic Virtue: Working to help others and promote the common welfare
Student will write a one-page response to journal prompt:
o When should you sacrifice your own needs for the good of others?
Students will be broken up into groups and discuss the following questions:
o In what sorts of circumstances do you think should think of yourself before
thinking of others?
o Certain situations make it difficult to discern who is more deserving of a
particular service, product, or assistance. Describe a situation where this might
happen and such complications can be resolved?
o What does your government do to help people? How are some people “left
out” in government decisions? How would you do things differently/better
than your government to ensure everybody gets what they need/want/deserve?
Students will use their government textbooks throughout the lesson to supplement
students’ understanding of the terms introduced. In review of the information shared
students will wrote short responses for the following questions
o Define a republican government?
o Is there such a thing as “common welfare?"
o Define "civic virtue." Give examples of the civic virtue you see in your
community, in your school?
o Describe a situation in which your interests might conflict with the common
welfare.
o Briefly explain these terms: republican government, representative, interests,
common welfare, civic virtue.