Unit 2 - American Beginnings
Okay, so the Americans won the Revolutionary War, but now what? The 8th graders will study how the American people formed their government, wrote their constitution, and grew in the face of difficulty and challenges. The country's founders were complicated, sometimes prickly, people who couldn't always agree, and we will study how their early failures, successes, agreements, and disagreements led to a series of compromises that now make up the U.S. Constitution. Of course, 8th graders will be getting to know this important document, as well as their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
Essential Questions
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How did the Americans win the Revolutionary War?
What major events, people, and ideas helped form the U.S. Constitution?
How does the U.S. government work?
What are our basic rights and responsibilities as citizens of the U.S.?
What major events, people, and ideas helped form the U.S. Constitution?
How does the U.S. government work?
What are our basic rights and responsibilities as citizens of the U.S.?
Links and Videos
Video Games: icivics.com - Games designed to teach local and national government, funded by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Video: Story of US Documentary: Episode 2 - Revolution
Video: Three Branches of Government by TED Ed. (4 minutes)
Video: How the Legislative Branch Works (House and Senate) by History Channel (2 minutes)
Video: The Limits of Free Speech (Short 1-minute cartoon)
Video: Searches and Seizures Crash Course (4th Amendment Limits) - Click this link, Keira! :)
2016 Electoral College Map - This link will also allow you to click on each state, to let you see which candidate won each county and by what margin and percentage.
Biggest Supreme Court Decisions of 2018 - This amazing article shows you how each of the nine Supreme Court justices voted on MAJOR legal issues that affect Americans.
We the People - Whitehouse.gov - This is a government website that allows citizens to create and sign petitions that the executive branch has to respond to if a petition reaches 100,000 signatures.
Senator Jon Tester's website
Senator Steve Daines's website
Video: Story of US Documentary: Episode 2 - Revolution
Video: Three Branches of Government by TED Ed. (4 minutes)
Video: How the Legislative Branch Works (House and Senate) by History Channel (2 minutes)
Video: The Limits of Free Speech (Short 1-minute cartoon)
Video: Searches and Seizures Crash Course (4th Amendment Limits) - Click this link, Keira! :)
2016 Electoral College Map - This link will also allow you to click on each state, to let you see which candidate won each county and by what margin and percentage.
Biggest Supreme Court Decisions of 2018 - This amazing article shows you how each of the nine Supreme Court justices voted on MAJOR legal issues that affect Americans.
We the People - Whitehouse.gov - This is a government website that allows citizens to create and sign petitions that the executive branch has to respond to if a petition reaches 100,000 signatures.
Senator Jon Tester's website
Senator Steve Daines's website
Practice Citizenship Test
Another Practice Citizenship Test (Highschoolers in Arizona and Utah have to pass it in order to graduate!)
Article: 5th Amendment Debate - You have the right to remain silent... or do you?
Article: 8th Amendment Debate - Can the U.S. use torture? One Supreme Court Justice thinks it may be possible.
Article and Chart: Gerrymandering Explained
Link: Percentage of House Representatives that Went to Private or Public College... or No College at All
Link: The Religious Affiliations of All U.S. Presidents
Link: How Rich Was Each U.S. President?
Article and Charts: Where do our taxes come from? Where do they go?
Article and Chart: How many people are elected in government
Another Practice Citizenship Test (Highschoolers in Arizona and Utah have to pass it in order to graduate!)
Article: 5th Amendment Debate - You have the right to remain silent... or do you?
Article: 8th Amendment Debate - Can the U.S. use torture? One Supreme Court Justice thinks it may be possible.
Article and Chart: Gerrymandering Explained
Link: Percentage of House Representatives that Went to Private or Public College... or No College at All
Link: The Religious Affiliations of All U.S. Presidents
Link: How Rich Was Each U.S. President?
Article and Charts: Where do our taxes come from? Where do they go?
Article and Chart: How many people are elected in government