Unit 2- Founding Documents
Compelling Question:
How do the founding documents impact your life?
SS.5.2. Use supporting questions to help answer the compelling question in an inquiry.
SS.5.4. Identify evidence that draws information from multiple perspectives and sources in response to a compelling question.
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence:
On July 4th, 1776, the Thirteen Colonies declared themselves free of English rule in order to form the United States of America. In this document, they stated:
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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 Happiness."
-Preamble to the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is stored at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
Key Vocabulary:
Self-Evident- something that doesn't need to be explained
Endowed- to be given something
Unalienable- something that can't be given or taken away
Rights- privileges that are given to somebody
Liberty- the state of being free, the ability to act freely
Pursuit- to meaningfully go after something
Abolish- to end something, to stop a practice
Institute- to start something new, to organize
Usurpations- a wrongful or illegal act
Key Vocabulary:
Preamble – The introduction to the Constitution that explains why it was written.
Constitutional Convention– A meeting of state leaders to create document that would outline how the government should be organized.
Congress – The part of the government that makes laws (made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives).
President – The leader of the United States who carries out the laws.
Supreme Court – The highest court in the country that decides if laws follow the Constitution.
Rights – Freedoms or powers that belong to people (like freedom of speech).
Law – A rule made by the government that people must follow.
Democracy – A type of government where the people have the power to choose their leaders.
Checks and Balances – A system that makes sure no one branch of government gets too much power.
Liberty – The freedom to make your own choices and live your life as you wish, within the law.
U.S. Constitution
In 1787, leaders from twelve of the thirteen states met in Philadelphia for a very important meeting called the Constitutional Convention. The United States was still a new country, and the first plan for government, called the Articles of Confederation, was not working well. The national government was too weak—it couldn’t collect taxes or make strong decisions for the whole country. The delegates met to fix these problems and create a better plan for how the United States would be governed.
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“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.”
— George Washington
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The U.S. Constitution is stored at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights:
After the US Constitution was signed, it was important to the founding fathers that individual rights be spelled out to ensure that people were protected from the government. This was especially important as the US had just fought for its freedom from English rule, where the King had abused his power against the people:
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"Let me add that a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, & what no just government should refuse or rest on inference. . . ."
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-Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 20, 1787
The Bill of Rights was proposed in 1789 and ratified (accepted) in 1791 with 10 Amendments to the original Constitution. Since then, several other amendments have been added that outline individual rights of all US citizens.
Key Vocabulary:
Amendment – A change or addition to the Constitution.
Freedom of Speech – The right to say what you believe without being punished.
Freedom of Religion – The right to believe in and practice any faith, or none at all.
Freedom of the Press – The right for newspapers, TV, and others to share information and opinions freely.
Freedom of Assembly – The right for people to gather together peacefully.
Freedom to Petition – The right to ask the government to fix a problem or make a change.
Rights – Freedoms that belong to every person and are protected by law.
Trial – A legal process in court to decide if someone broke the law.
Jury – A group of citizens who decide if someone is guilty or not guilty in a trial.
Protection – The idea that the government must keep people safe from unfair treatment or abuse.