Foundations of American Democracy through Primary Sources US to 1900 Module 5.

Foundations of American Democracy through Primary Sources

US to 1900 Module 5

Table of Contents

04/10/23Mark Swiger 2011

IntroductionAcademic Vocabulary AssignmentLinks to the Enlightenment onlineLinks to John Locke’s Two Treatises on

Government and Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence

Comparing Locke and RousseauEnlightened Foundations Essay ProjectRevolutionary Period Events Scavenger Hunt Constructing a Timeline of Movements,

Writings, and Events

Introduction


The United States did not invent the concepts around limited government and democracy. A topic that teachers may want to explore is how the United States is a product of the Renaissance: Washington, D.C., a constructed city whose architecture

is symbolically related to the Renaissance, with many of them modeled after Greek and Roman architectural concepts. An recommended activity is to have students zoom into Washington, D.C. using Google Earth. Make sure the “3D Buildings” box is checked on the layer label on the left hand pane.

Reformation: The very belief that religion is personal and that those challenging church doctrine be free to find their faith in their own way is not only engrained in the fabric of American society, teachers can use primary sources such as the Toleration Act of Maryland (1649) as well as other less noted documents to show the tradition of religious freedom to students.

Enlightenment: The subject of this module, blended both of the above elements into an intellectual and political philosophy of “Natural Rights”, a philosophy clearly mirrored in the Declaration of Independence and other operational documents like the U.S. Constitution.

Vocabulary Activity


Using the Frayer Model vocabulary activity, build retention of both project vocabulary and CSO aligned vocabulary through pairing and sharing group vocabulary development or individually constructed work.

Use student self assessment tool on the Frayer handout in order to check for understanding of vocabulary before starting online investigations, writings, and project work.

Vocabulary Lists


Academic Vocabulary for ModuleRenaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, Natural

Rights Philosophy, Declaration of Independence, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Proclamation of 1763, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Olive Branch Petition

Content Standards and Objectives /Westest II TermsConstitutional democracy, individual rights, liberty,

democratic principles, primary sources, Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, political leadership, Bill of Rights, framers, sovereignty

Definition from dictionary (suggested site: www.dictionary.com):

Definition in your own words:

Examples/Facts/Characteristics

What does it look like in art, Graphics or maps:

Non Examples/Opposite

Vocabulary TermDemocracy


Definition from dictionary (suggested site: www.dictionary.com): government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

Definition in your own words: a type of government where the people vote for their representatives and have the ultimately say in what happens.

Examples/Facts/Characteristics-people establish government

-majority rules-written laws and constitution

-elections-United States

-Ancient Greece-Ancient Rome

-Great Britain

What does it look like in art, graphics, maps:

Non Examples/Opposite-Cuba

-North Korea-China

-Saudi Arabia-Iran

Vocabulary Term

DEMOCRACY

Democracy


The Enlightenment


The Enlightenment thinkers that tried to frame a new political mindset included John Locke, author of Two Treatises on Government and Jean Jacques Rousseau, author of The Social Contract.

Although The Social Contract does outline the role of government as protector and was used somewhat more by the French in their Revolution around the time of the American Revolution, Locke’s Two Treatises on Government was more significant in the development of the American model of government and the philosophy of the founders as outlined by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence.

Scientific and religious foundations of the Enlightenment topic at http://www.hippocampus.org. Copy and paste the following link to your browser. Use presentation, text, and documents from the website to reinforce the role of John Locke in the Enlightenment well before the American Revolution.http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/US History I/course files/multimedia/lesson08/lessonp.html?showTopic=1

The Great Declaration topic at http://www.hippocampus.org gives a strong overview of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Copy and past the following link to your browser. There is a presentation, text, and documents that outlines the writing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/US History I/course files/multimedia/lesson12/lessonp.html?showTopic=1

Go to the next slide to find dowloadable documents of Locke’s Two Treatises on Government and Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence.

Links to Primary Sources


The following documents can be downloaded and printed for students to add to project folders. Saving documents to digital folders and reading on computers if available can make much of the project paperless if desired.

Teachers should point their web browsers to:Locke’s Two Treatises on Government

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?subcategory=141

Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1


Similarities

Defines role of government

Defines role of citizens

Both as a bas is for democracy

Both define a "contract between the government

and the people

Both developed during the Enlightenment (Age of

Reason)

Differences (Left)-->Washington

John Locke(Natural Rights

Philosophy)

Governed through "the consent of the governed"

Rights are inherent (obtained at birth)

Foundation of British sys tem of Common Law

Differences (Right)-->Napoleon

Jacques Rousseau

(Social Contract)

Governments rule over people through

"Contract"

Rights are limited so that government may protect

citizens

Foundation of French Civil Law

Leaders are the "Deciders"

Constituents are the

"Deciders"

Comparing Enlightened Thinkers

Enlightened Thinkers Essay


After having read excerpts (or whole) primary documents and having gone through the assigned topics on Hippocampus, complete the following essay:

Give evidence that Thomas Jefferson borrowed concepts established by writers of the Enlightenment nearly 100 years before the writing of his Declaration of Independence. Explain how documents like Two Treastise’s on Government, The Social Contract, and the Declaration of Independence have been models for modern democracy movements in Europe, Japan, and most recently, the revolutions in the Arab World.

Enlightened Thinkers Writing Rubric


Download the rubric that accompanies this module for the essay.

Writing is based on Distinguished, Above Mastery, Mastery, and Partial Mastery

Categories that should be measured are:ContentDepth of UnderstandingClarity

Revolution Period Scavenger Hunt & Timeline Project


Find the following terms online and the date for which they are significant. Students should construct a timeline by researching dates, documents, and other items that can be placed on a poster for a class exhibit showcasing their timelines. Making a digital timeline with presentation software is acceptable as well.

• Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, Declaration of Independence, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Proclamation of 1763, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Olive Branch Petition

Gallery Walk and Presentations


Students can hang posters, tri-folds, and other presentations on the walls and tables throughout the room.

Some students may opt to build a video timeline, PowerPoint timeline, a website, or something digitally creative as their media choice of presenting.

Student Self Assessment


Hand out student self-assessment tool as an evaluation tool for the project.

Foundations of American Democracy through Primary Sources US to 1900 Module 5.

Documents

mark swiger

project vocabulary

vocabulary lists

role of government

american model of government

form of government

type of government

limited government