Struggle with separation of powers
Michael Quinones, NBCT
www.socialstudiesguy.com
APK: Activation of Prior Knowledge
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Write at least 2-3 sentences describing a time when…
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you
were very paranoid or saw someone who very paranoid making some
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very irrational or inappropriate actions
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Question of the Day
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How did the Watergate scandal
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demonstrate the effectiveness of
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checks and balances?
Assignment

Directions: Answer the following questions
based on what you learn from today’s lesson

How did his presidency end (was it forced or
voluntary)?

What was the Watergate scandal?

How was there a conflict between the three
branches of government (example of separation
of powers)?
Separation of Powers

What does this mean?

Each branch of the U.S.
government has a separate
job.

Congress, the President and
the Supreme Court
An example of a power struggle

President Richard Nixon
was elected in 1968.

His job was president.

Branch of government?

Executive
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal

Was a member of the
Republican political party.

He ran for re-election in 1972
against the Democratic party his
opponent.

He allegedly sent men to break
into a hotel in Washington, D.C.
where the Democratic Party was
headquartered.

Why did he do this you ask?
Nixon and the Watergate Scandal

President Richard was by many
accounts a was a paranoid person.
Why else?
 To gain info on his opponents.


The men placed listening devices
(bugs) at offices of his opponents at
the Watergate hotel.
Watergate

Five (5) men were caught
breaking into the Democratic
headquarters and arrested.

So?

The investigation led all the
way back to the president.

Nixon denied all involvement
at first.
Other branches of government
enter…

The House of
Representatives
launched an
investigation.

They uncovered a “cover
up” by the president.

Evidence of “high crimes
and misdemeanors”
Impeachment

The House of Representatives
decided to impeach the president.

Then what?

They needed evidence (proof).

They remembered that everything in
the White House was audio
recorded.
Enter the Courts

The infamous “smoking
gun” tapes were
subpoenaed (called for).

What was Nixon’s
response?

He refused citing
executive privilege.
The final branch

Nixon eventually gave up
highly edited versions of the
tapes.

The Supreme Court ordered
that Nixon hand over the tapes
without delay.

Evidence from the unedited
versions proved his
involvement.
Final result?

Dick Nixon became the first
president ever to resign.

Why?

He did not want to be removed.

What was the whole point?

This cased proved that no one is
above the law which .
Photo Credits

http://www.medaloffreedom.com/Richard
MNixon.gif&imgrefurl
Helpful Sites
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate

http://watergate.info/

http://history1900s.about.com/od/watergatesca
ndal/

http://www.answers.com/topic/watergatescandal

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1791.html

http://www.surfnetkids.com/watergate.htm