Introduction to Civics and Economics
Explain the syllabus.
1. What is my homework policy?
2. What are the class guidelines?
3. What is the makeup work
policy?
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1st Activity, Sheet of paper
1. On the paper, write your name.
Write the name you want me to call you and then write your
last name. Top Right.
2. On your paper, follow the directions:
Write a definition of what you think power is, draw a picture
of power.
2nd Activity, the essential question
On the same paper, …
4. Write the date, top right.
5. On the left hand side of the paper.
Answer the essential question, “Who is in charge of the US
government?” “Who has the power?”
3rd activity – Mars colonization
This class has been selected to colonize Mars.
The US government has declared a policy of
“salutary neglect” for the new colony,
meaning that the US government will not
support or get involved in the new colony.
In small groups of 4, create and write a list
of 5 specific laws that you think will be
essential for the colony to survive.
3rd activity – Mars colonization
We will now create a class set of 5
rules for the colony. Written on the
Board.
3rd activity – Mars colonization
▪How will these rules be enforced?
▪What has the class created?
▪How will this affect you, personally? Will
your lose anything?
Categories for types of government
There are 4 major categories for major types of government.
1. “autocracy” means control by one
person. One person is in charge.
2. “oligarchy” means control by a group,
just a few persons. Several are in charge.
3. “democracy” means control by
many persons. Many are in charge.
4. “anarchy” means there is an
Absence of government.
Autocracy
1. One person has the power
rule by one. (a king/queen, a dictator)
2. The ruler determines how much power the citizens have
examples:
monarchy (inherited)
dictatorship (rule by force)
totalitarianism - Ruler has
control of the military and uses it to enforce their
rules and keep order.
Oligarchy
1. Several persons have the power
2. Rule by a group of persons or political party
3. The rulers determine how much power the citizens have
examples: Military junta (rule by the
military)
A. Aristocracy (rule by the social elite)
B. Theocracy (rule by the religious elite)
Democracy
1. Citizens have the power.
2. Rule by the citizens.
3. The citizens determine how much power the government
has.
Examples: A. representative democracy or republic
(rule by freely nominated
and elected representatives)
B. Pure democracy
(rule by all citizens)
Anarchy
1. Absence of government
2. Often results in violence and chaos
3. Citizens are not safe
4. Often last a short period of time
Example #1
*Legislative branch – elected in popular elections for a 4
year term
*Executive branch – elected in popular elections for a 6 year
term
*Judicial branch – judges are appointed by the Executive
and approved by the Legislative branch, habeas corpus and
freedom of speech
Type of government—Democracy
Example #2
*Legislative branch - ½ are appointed by the leader and the
other ½ are chosen by electors chosen by the leader
*Executive branch – a “President” is chosen by the few leaders
who are in the highest social class
*Judicial branch – appointed by the President with approval
from the few leaders
Type of government—Oligarchy United Arab Emirates
Example #3
*Legislative branch - elected in popular elections, the leader
(executive) can dissolve them at any time
*Executive branch – the leader inherits the power
*Judicial branch – the leader appoints the judges and can
override their decisions
Type of government— Autocracy Jordan
Example #4
*President is elected with 90% voter participation, but has no
power.
*Legislative branch – the party controls who runs for the
legislature
*Executive branch – the Premier has the power and is chosen
through the party
*Judicial branch – the judges are appointed from party lists,
no habeas corpus
Type of government – Cuba Oligarchy
Example #5
*Legislative branch – a bicameral Parliament that is elected
by popular vote for a 3 year term
*Executive branch – a Prime Minister who is the leader of the
majority party elected to the Parliament
*Judicial branch – a High Court appointed by the Executive,
habeas corpus and freedom of speech
Type of government – Canada Democracy
Example #6
*Legislative branch – elections were held, but those elected
are in exile
*Executive branch – the President is a Lt. General
*Judicial branch – courts and judges exist, but there is no
guarantee of habeas corpus or a fair trial, no freedom of
speech
Type of government — Myanmar Autocracy
Example #7
*Legislative branch – there is an elected legislature, voters
must be church members in good standing
*Executive branch – the leaders must be church members
and are elected
*Judicial branch – the judges must be church members, they
are appointed. There is habeas corpus and some freedom of
speech.
Type of government – Massachusetts Bay Colony
Theocracy/Oligarchy

Rank in order:
which would make you the most angry? (#1)
least angry? (#5)
1. Your property can be searched at any time.
2. You are required to house soldiers
in your home.
3. You are required to pay new taxes.
4. You are required to trade in a way.
that keeps you in debt. (credit card)
5. You want to move to own new land, but you
are prohibited.
American Revolution
Causes of the American Revolution

I. Great Britain = monarchy (King George III, reigned
1760-1820) + Parliament + Prime Minister
*From 1607 until 1763, the British
government ignored the colonists.
*The British government practiced
salutary neglect.
Salutary Neglect – England's policy of
not interfering with its American
colonies. (Remember Mars Colony)
What type of government is this? Autocracy
Causes of the American Revolution
II. Colonies = Each colony had their own limited,
self-government.
*Governor + Council (usually
appointed)
*Colonial Assemblies (usually
elected by landowning, white
men of property)
In the New England area,
each village had its own
democratic town meeting.
Causes of the American Revolution
III. British problems!
A. Huge war debt (from the French and
Indian War 1754-1763)
B. What to do with the new
territories won in the
French and Indian War?
Causes of the American Revolution
IV. British policies to solve problems/get money!!!,
A. enforced mercantilism:
Taking raw materials from
the colonies and selling
finished products to the
colonies. (Meant the colonies
were always in debt to
Britain)
B. the British enforced
collection of the taxes – Sugar
Tax, Stamp Tax, Tea Tax
Causes of the American Revolution
IV. British policies to solve problems/get money!!!
C. The Quartering Act allowed British
soldiers to live in colonists’ homes.
D. The writs of assistance allowed the
British to search colonists’ homes.
Causes of the American Revolution
V. Why were the colonists mad?
A. The colonists had no
representation in Parliament.
They felt they had taxation
B. The British ignored
without representation.
Locke’s Enlightenment
theories of Natural Rights
(life, liberty, property) and a
government that must
preserve these Rights or lose
consent of the governed and
risk a revolt of the people.
C. The British ignored the idea of a social contract An agreement among people in a society with a government.
Give up freedoms but gain protection.
Causes of the American Revolution
VI. Colonists’ Response
A. boycott- to refuse to buy.
example: tea and stamps
B. Public protests.
C. Propaganda - “Give me
liberty or give me death”
Theories
that contribute to:
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The Declaration of Independence
The US Constitution
The Bill of Rights
Theories:

1. Magna Carta, 1215


Jury by trial by peers, no taxation w/o representation,
due process
2. classical theories, the Enlightenment, 1680-1700s

Locke (1632 – 1704)




Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)


Natural Rights - life, liberty, property
Social contract – people give up freedom for
security/protection
consent of the governed – the people give permission to the
government
3 branches with checks and balances
English Bill of Rights (1689)

Similar to the US Bill of Rights (jury trial, due process, no
cruel punishment, right to petition and to bear arms, no
taxation w/o representation)
Explain how each contributed …
To the (match the document to the theory…)
 1. Declaration of Independence c, d, f
a, d, e, g
 2. US Constitution
 3. US Bill of Rights a, b
 Theories, theorists, documents:
 a. Magna Carta
 b. English Bill of Rights
 c. Natural Rights
 d. consent of the governed
 e. social contract
 f. Locke
 g. Montesquieu

Declaration of
Independence
July 4, 1776
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration argued that the
British government did not look
after the interests of the colonist.
Purpose of government is to
protect the rights of the
people.
Government is based on
consent , or agreement, of
the people.
The people are entitled to change a
government if it disregards their rights or
Written by:
their combined wishes
Thomas Jefferson
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of
Confederation was the first
constitution of the United
States.
 Proposed by the Second
Continental Congress in
1777, went into effect in
1781 after all 13 states had
ratified, or approved it.

Articles of Confederation
Characteristics of the Articles
*A weak central government
* 9 of 13 votes needed to pass a law
* No military
* No power to enforce laws
* No power to tax
* 13 of 13 to amend
* Unicameral, one branch, weak, central government
* States had the power
* Could not regulate trade
The Road to the Constitution of 1787, the
Constitutional Convention
Shays’ Rebellion
* A Massachusetts farmer, Daniel Shays, led farmers who
were unable to pay their mortgages on a march to an arsenal
to get weapons to prevent courts from holding session and
taking their farms away.
* The Massachusetts militia
was eventually able to put
down the rebellion.
The Road to the Constitution of 1787, the
Constitutional Convention
* The central government under the Articles
of Confederation, was powerless
* Many leaders decided to call a convention
to rewrite the Articles of Confederation to
give the central government power.
Creating a Constitution
Constitutional Convention (1787)
Congressional leaders issued
a call for a Constitutional
Convention to strengthen
the government.
The Convention met in the
Pennsylvania State House-now
Independence Hall.
 Delegates agreed to keep the
proceedings secret. They
believed that it would be easier
to debate and resolve their
differences behind closed doors.
Despite the sweltering heat,
even the windows were kept
tightly closed.

Crash Course Compromise
Compromises at the Convention
Great Compromise
 Three-Fifths Compromise
 Compromise over Commerce.

Compromises at the Convention
The Great Compromise
At the convention, competing plans were suggested and a
compromise was needed.
The Virginia Plan, the “big states”
● A bicameral legislature, based on
population.
The New Jersey Plan, the “small states”
● A unicameral legislature, based on
equality.
The Great Compromise / Connecticut Plan
● A bicameral legislature, the upper house
based on equality and the lower house based on
population
Compromises at the Convention
Three-Fifths Compromise
● A slave counts as 3/5s a person for tax
and for representation purposes. (For
the House of Representatives)
The Commerce and Slave
Trade Compromise
● The slave trade will continue until 1808
● Congress can regulate interstate and
foreign trade.
Electoral College
● President elected indirectly
by electors from each state.
Political Viewpoints
Federalists
One group, who called
themselves Federalists,
favored ratification of the
Constitution.
 Federalists were typically
wealthy merchants,
planters, and lawyers.
 They supported a strong
central government that
would be able to ensure a
strong currency and
protect property rights.

Political Viewpoints
Antifederalists
This group opposed the ratification of the
Constitution and feared a strong central
government.
 Had 3 objections to the Constitution:
 Constitutional Convention had been
conspired under a “veil of mystery”
and delegate had gone way beyond
creating a new form of government.
 Believed that a strong central
government would destroy states’
rights. Wanted states to have the
power.
 Believed that the new system of
government resembled a monarchy
because of the concentration of power.

Crash Course Constitution
The Constitution
The main purpose of the
Constitution is to provide a
framework for our
government.
It is the highest authority in
the nation.
Is it a symbol of our nation.
It represents our system of
government and our basic
ideals, such as liberty and
freedom.
Sections of the Constitution
Preamble
The introductions that states
the goals and purposes of the
government.
7 Articles
1-3 describe the
powers and
responsibilities of
each branch of
government.
27 Amendments
Any change in the constitution.
4-7 explains the
relationship between
the states and the
national government.