Historical Documents and
how they relate to you
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Explain how the Declaration of Independence reflects an application of Enlightenment ideas to
the grievances of British subjects in the American colonies.
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Describe how the Northwest Ordinance addressed a need for government in the Northwest
Territory and established precedents for the future governing of the United States.
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Identify problems facing the national government under the Articles of Confederation led to the
drafting of the Constitution of the United States. The framers of the Constitution applied ideas
of Enlightenment in conceiving the new government.
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Explain how the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers structured the national
debate over the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
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Identify how the Bill of Rights is derived from English law, ideas of the Enlightenment, the
experiences of the American colonists, early experiences of self-government and the national
debate over the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
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Describe the role of the Ohio Constitution in relation to local legislation and regulation of state
government.
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BIG IDEA:
Written as a complaint to
George III
Outlined signers view of
relationship between
Govt and citizens.
Placed power with
citizens- allowing them to
rebel if govt wasn’t
protecting their rights.
(Hobbes/Locke)
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit
of Happiness (Locke)
July 4, 1776- Birth of USA
This declaration
created the USA!
 Declared our
independence from
Great Britain
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“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
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What does Life,
Liberty, and the
Pursuit of
Happiness mean
to you as a
teenager?
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BIG IDEA:
Created Northwest
Territory (1789)
Expanded US
landholding westward
(manifest destiny)
Ohio River was the
“slave boundary” – Civil
War
Also allowed religious
freedoms
Ohio became the first
state created from this
ordinance (1803)
It established Ohio! –
where you live!!
 It also showed that
America was sovereign
(in charge) of their new
land
 Slavery was also NOT
allowed in this territory
which set up the issues
in the Civil War
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Ohio has a rich
history of fighting
against slavery.
How does it make
you feel to know
that the place you
now live was
against the acts of
slavery?
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BIG Idea:
1st government of USA
Purposefully weak- placed
most power with states
Framers were afraid a
government that was too
powerful would abuse
power like George III.
Government could not coin
money, raise taxes, or give
the president law
enforcement power.
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It really set the stage for
something better – the
US Constitution (which
rules all US citizens)
The weak areas of the
Articles of the
Confederation were
addressed in the drafting
of the US Constitution
It was like a US
Constitution “rough
draft” that had some
problems that needed
fixing.
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Do you believe
that the
government
should have large
or small role in
leading the
United States
and it’s people?
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BIG Idea:
Is the supreme law of
the USA
Highlights separation
of powers (judicial,
legislative, executive)
Role of states and
federal govt.
Has been amended 27
times
Bill of Rights would
later be added to the
Constitution
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This is the document
that ensures your rights
as an American citizen
(free speech, right to
bear arms, etc.)
It ensures to limit the
power of government
and maintain the power
of the people
Without it, your rights
could very well be
trampled on.
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Recently, a news story
broke out about the
National Security
Agency secretly
searching phone
records, emails, and
text messages of
Verizon, AT&T and
Sprint phone users for
the purpose of “national
security” – how do you
feel about this from a
privacy perspective?
BIG Idea:
written by those in support
of the U.S. Constitution
 Short Essays attempting to
persuade states to ratify
the Constitution
 Anti-Federalists wrote as
well.
 They demanded citizens
rights (Bill of Rights) be
listed against government
power before ratification in
states
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These documents
argued FOR the US
Constitution
The papers also were
against the Bill of Rights
because they believed
that the states should
protect the rights of the
people, not the govt.
Anti-federalist papers
wanted to include
something like the Bill of
Rights in the US
Constitution
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Would you
rather have
your state make
the laws that
you have to
follow or the
federal
government?
Why?
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BIG Idea:
1st ten amendments to
Constitution
Demanded by Antifederalists
Civil Liberties defined
for citizens that cannot
be taken away
Protects citizens from
the government
17 amendments added
later.
These GUARANTEE
personal freedoms
are protected.
 Also limits
government powers
and gives states
rights
 Without the Bill of
Rights, your personal
freedoms would be
limited.
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Read the First
Amendment 
 What does this
amendment mean
to you individually?
Discuss a
circumstance (s)
when free speech
should be restricted.
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First Amendment:
 Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the government for a redress of
grievances.
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The 4th Amendment
Prohibits unreasonable
searches and seizures.
(Meaning government
can’t break into your
house, seize your car,
etc. without a warrant)
1. Read together: “Can
Your Phone Testify
Against You?”
 2.HW: Choose one of
the topics listed in
“Digital Docket” to
write a letter to editor
explaining your
position. Use the
template provided
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BIG Idea:
Very similar to US
Constitution
 Includes amendments
on education, rights
for victims of crime,
taxes, and elections.
 Example: 2006
Smoking Ban – Ohio
Supreme Court
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We follow the US
Constitution but each
state has some different
rights (smoking ban)
IN 1851 the Ohio
Constitution prohibited
slavery making it a free
state (should be proud of
this)
Minimum wage
requirements are also in
the Constitution
If you could amend
the Ohio
Constitution, what
would you change?
 Think about:
 Personal freedoms,
environmental
issues, health issues,
etc.
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