Download - Get a handle on students grip of Government
Social Studies
Get a handle on student’s grip of
Government.
This session can bring the structure and principles of government
into focus. Learn new methods to address basic understanding
and recognition of the processes and workings of the structure of
both the Texas and United States Government.
Session Presented by:
Margaret Charnetski-Seadrift School
I. Introduction
A. Rules for Social Studies
B. Scoring
II. Materials
A. Pencils
III. Structure of Government
A. JEL
B. What are the parts?
IV. Principles of Government
A. 7 Principles
B. Preamble
V. Closure
A. Tips from the audience
B. Q & A time
Preamble of the Constitution
We the people of the United states, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general
Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of America
Major Principles of the Constitution
Popular Sovereignty-People are the source of the government’s power.
Republicanism-People elect their political representatives.
Limited Government-The Constitution limits/restricts the actions of government by specifically
listing powers it does and does not have.
Federalism-In this government system, power is divided between national and state
governments.
Separation of Powers-Each of the three branches of government has its own responsibilities.
Checks and Balances-Each branch of government holds some control over the other two
branches.
Individual Rights-Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
Characters:
Ethel
Herman
Town Crier 1
Town Crier 2
Samuel Adams
Member of Sons of Liberty
Delegate to 1st Cont. Congress 1
Delegate to 1st Cont. Congress 2
Capt. John Parker
Minuteman at Lexington
Ethan Allen
British officer at Ft. Ticonderoga
George Washington
John Hancock
Colonel William Prescott
General Thomas Gage
Thomas Paine
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
John Jay
1
Ethel and Herman are sitting around on Saturday Evening talking about the events that have taken place
so far
Herman: I tell you Ethel, I don’t know what these colonies are coming to. Too many radicals are running
around talking about protesting against the King.
Ethel: I know, it’s like that Patrick Henry fellow who stood up at the Virginia House of Burgesses
claiming “Give me Liberty, or give me death!”
Town Crier 1: Here ye, Here ye, just in from Boston. On March 5, 1770, what started out as a simple
snowball fight turns into tragedy. 5 Boston citizens including Citizen Crispus Attucks, an African
dockworker, killed in a massacre by British soldiers in the street. See full picture on silver platter by
Silversmith Paul Revere, it tells the full story.
Ethel: Oh My
Herman: See what I told you
Samuel Adams is preparing his Sons of Liberty organization for their protest against the Tea Act
Samuel Adams: Okay men; remember to stay low and quiet. Everyone knows what to do?
Member of the Sons of Liberty: Excuse me sir, but, why do we have to dress up like ole injuns?
Samuel Adams: I told you, this way the British officials here in Boston will think that the Mohawk
Indians that dumps the tea off the ships and not suspect us.
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Member of the Sons of Liberty: Sure thing sir, but I don’t think the British officials are going to be happy
about this, we don’t look very convincing.
Town Crier 2: Hear ye, Hear ye: Last night, December 16, 1775 a group of citizens believed to be
members of the Sons of Liberty organization were seen dumping chest of tea off three ships belonging
to the East India Company. British official have issued, in response, a new list of acts that can only be
described as Intolerable.
Delegates gather at the 1st Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, September 1774
Delegate 1: Okay, except for Georgia, we are all represented here at the 1st Continental Congress
meeting. So we have agreed to the following; first, we must urge all colonies to ready their militias from
more brutal massacres like the one in Boston
Delegate 2: Second, We have completed an appeal letter to King George asking him to reconsider these
harsh actions against Boston, not all citizens agree with the tactics of this so-called Sons of Liberty group
Delegate 1: But, third, we must not buy British goods until these Intolerable Acts are repealed like the
Stamp Act was. We must ban together and be strong to get fair treatment. All agreed.
Everyone says yes
Delegate 2: I think we should all meet again to review how these policies are working in let us say May
of 1776. This gives us time to allow the King and Parliament to meet and consider our formal appeal.
Delegate 1: Meeting adjourned
3
Lexington Militia leader Capt. John Parker with 70 of his men on Lexington greens
Capt. John Parker: Men, we seem to be outnumbered by the British forces, I say we retreat. Now quiet
men, slowly move back and …
A shot rings out
Minuteman: Oops, sorry sir, I accidentally tripped over my musket.
Capt. John Parker: We’re in for it now boys, RETREAT!!!!!
Town Crier 1: Hear ye, Hear ye. The Shot heard ‘round the world was fired this morning April 19, 1775
at Lexington on the green between the British forces looking for traitors to the crown and on a quest to
seize the ammo supposedly stored at Concord. They were successful against the militia of Lexington;
however upon advancing on to Concord they were met with resistance and the British forces retreated.
It is reported that upon arriving back in Boston, the reds listed 174 wounded and 73 casualties from
guerilla-like attacks from bushes and trees along their route by the Americans.
Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys sneak into Fort Ticonderoga in the middle of the night
British officer: What! Oh my, what is this, who are you?
Ethan Allen: I am Ethan Allen and these men are the Green Mountain Boys, we are here to seize control
of all your stored up artillery. Now just be a good little commander and no one will get hurt.
Turning to his men
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Ethan Allen: Okay boys, load it up and let us be off. Tomorrow it’s Crown Point. These cannons will
come in handy for the patriot cause.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the 2nd Continental Congress is just starting their meeting
John Hancock: Let this meeting come to order. The first order of business appears to be the creation of
a continental army to help all colonies. Those who volunteer agree to serve for the cause for a period of
one year. And I highly recommend General George Washington be declared the Commander in charge
due to his record of service during the French and Indian War.
George Washington: (struts in) Who me? Why I am so honored, I gladly and humbly accept this position
of an organized group under my command.
John Hancock: Thank you General, we look forward to a quick and victorious future against the British
forces.
Delegate 1: I believe that we shouldn’t be too hasty to try the patience of the King. A formal petition
should be sent to the King, sort of an Olive Branch Petition. This way we can let him know that we will
remain loyal to his service, but we have some grievances to address. We must maintain our colonial
rights.
John Hancock: Meeting adjourned for now.
The top of Breed’s Hill with Colonel William Prescott and his men
Col. Prescott: Now here this men. The British are realigning again for the third attack and we are
running low of ammo. Don’t waste it, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”
Town Crier 2: Hear ye, Hear ye: The American troops lost ground today in the battle of Bunker Hill
5
Off to the side (say what, what do you mean it was Breed’s Hill, well it is too late, Bunker Hill, Breed’s
Hill, it’s all the same)
Anyway folks, as I was saying, British general Thomas Gage and his forces took the Hill whichever one it
is today June 16, 1776. This is a terrible blow to the American patriot movement. Second thoughts have
been recorded by many who want to remain neutral in this battle of rights.
Thomas Paine sitting at his desk writing
Thomas Paine (to himself): I can’t believe these colonists who can’t see the common sense in this fight
against the injustice and tyranny that the King and Parliament is bestowing on the Americans. I must
make them see the sense of it all. I know, I will write a pamphlet and tell all. But it must be in common
sense for all to understand. That’s it. I will call it “Common Sense”
Thousands gather on street corners to here the latest best seller Common Sense
Citizens: I can see his point, we must now claim our Independence from England that tyrannical King
George III
2nd Continental Congress meeting:
Thomas Jefferson: Here it is fellow patriots. Our very own Declaration of Independence is written. All
who agree to sign will be from this point declared traitors to the British crown. Who will sign first?
John Hancock: I will, after all I am the president of this congress. Here let me make sure ole King
Georgie can read this without his spectacles.
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Thomas Jefferson: Gosh John, save room for the rest of us.
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay sitting around and talking about the war
Benjamin Franklin: Well the war took longer than we thought and I was really concerned that we
wouldn’t be successful there for a while, but the United States of America is official.
John Adams: That Christmas night in 1776 when George Washington and his troops crossed the
Delaware River and surprised those drunken and passed out Hessian soldiers at Trenton, New Jersey
with great success, I really thought it was over.
John Jay: True, but the next year was really rough, the continental army was ready to disband. The year
was up for most volunteers and with the winter and all, most of the men were ready to go home and
give up.
Benjamin Franklin: Thank goodness for that Thomas Paine and his writing of the American Crisis that
Washington read to his troops for inspiration to continue. I can still remember that one part: These are
the times that try men’s souls. Now THAT really gets to you.
John Adams: Listening to Thaddeus Kosciusko and his selection for a battle site at Saratoga really was
the turning point for the war.
Benjamin Franklin: That is right. I was able to go to France and convince them to recognize our
independence and make a deal for them to become out allies against the British. They even went so far
as to declare war on Britain right after that. I think they would find any reason to fight the British.
John Jay: All I know is, with more help in supplies and men, our cause might never have become a
reality. Surrounding the British at Yorktown for a couple of months in 1781 and cutting off British supply
and communication lines was a true blessing. General Washington I believe smiled that day when
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British Commander General Cornwallis surrendered to him ending once and for all this fight for
Independence.
John Adams: Well, that brings us to the task at hand. Let us sign this Treaty of Paris and officially put all
this Revolution behind us. Have you checked all the provisions carefully Ben.
Benjamin Franklin: Yes, just as we agreed. One, the United States will be recognized throughout the
world as and independent nation. Second, United States still has the right to fish off the Canadian
coastline. Third, we agree to pay off the debts owed to those British merchants that were unpaid during
the war. (I don’t think we will do that one). And finally, all that property that was seized from those
loyalists is to be returned or paid for. Just to be fair. We see on that one too.
John Jay: Well, I am starving. All this running a nation really makes me hungry. Let’s go eat. I’ll treat.
Benjamin Franklin and John Adams: Great! Let us be off.
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1-March 5, 1770, Boston Massacre
A mob of men and boys threw snowballs and
pieces of ice at a small patrol of British soldiers
outside the offices of the hated customs
officials, the soldiers panicked, they fired. 3
colonists died immediately, Crispus Attucks,
former slave and 2 other colonists died later.
2-Dec. 16, 1773, Boston Tea Party
50 members of the Sons of Liberty, dressed up
like Mohawk Indians, boarded 3 ships, dumped
the East India Company’s tea overboard in
Boston Harbor.
3-Sept. 5, 1774, 1st Continental Congress
56 delegates from 12 colonies-no Georgia met
in Philadelphia
1-urged ready colonial militia=2-wrote letter to George III to repeal acts=3-agreed to not buy British goods until intolerable acts repealed=
4-agreed to meet again on May 10, 1775
4- April 19, 1775, Lexington and Concord
1st shot of the Amer. Rev. In Lexington, 70
minutemen faced the red coats. Capt John
Parker ordered a retreat. A shot rang out
accidentally; British fired back killing 8
Americans. “Shot heard around the World.”
5-May 10, 1775, Ticonderoga and Crown Point.
Ethan Allen and the “Green Mountain Boys”
attacked Ticonderoga at night and seized the
artillery later to be used in Boston. Crown Point
was surprised the next night.
6-May 10, 1775, 2nd Continental Congress
meets in Philadelphia.
1-issued call for continental army=2-appointed George Washington commander in chief of army=3-asked colonial governments to write constitutions in case they win=4- They wrote and sent the olive branch petition
7-June 16, 1776, Battle of Breed’s Hill
By moving at night, Americans maneuvered
quietly onto Breed’s Hill outside Boston. On the
third charge, led by Thomas Gage, British troops
overtook the colonists. This battle was
mistakenly called the Battle of Bunker Hill.
8-January 1776. “Common Sense”
Thomas Paine published one of the most
important pamphlets in American history. The
essay made “sense” to common people. It
persuaded thousands of colonists to give up
loyalty to the king in favor of American
Independence.
9-July 4, 1776-The Signing of the Declaration
of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration. John
Hancock was 1st to sign. This severed the ties of
the American colonies with Great Britain. In
British eyes the colonists were traitors.
10- Dec. 25, 1776, Washington crosses the
Delaware River
During the night, Washington and his troops
crossed the Delaware River and surprise the
Hessians at Trenton for a quick victory for the
Americans.
9
11-Oct. 17, 1777, Battle of Saratoga
Thaddeus Kosciusko chose the battle site and
under the command Horatio Gates, won
surrender from Burgoyne and his British troops.
This victory was the turning point of the
Revolution. France openly supported their
cause.
12-June 1778, France declared war against
Britain.
Now the British had to fight both North
American and Europe. France supported the
American cause against the British. Other
countries joined the support.
13- June 1778, French recognizes American
Independence.
Benjamin Franklin went to France and
persuaded France to sign treaty, which will
allow other countries to fully support the
American Revolution.
14- Sept/Oct 1781, Surrender at Yorktown.
French and American troops surrounded
Yorktown. General Cornwallis surrendered to
George Washington ending the fighting of the
American Revolution. The Americans had won.
15-Sept. 3, 1783, Treaty of Paris signed ending
the American Revolution.
1- USA now recognized as independent
nation=2-US gained right to fish off the coast of
Canada=3-Americans agreed to pay debts owed
to British merchants before the war and
property seized from Loyalists be paid or
returned to them.
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Resources http://www.uil.utexas.edu
www.brainpop.com
www.texaslre.org
www.schoolhistory.co.uk/games/
www.glencoe.com
http://www.quia.com/web
http://www.besthistorysites.net/index.shtml
Textbooks
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Branch that makes
the laws of the state
Branch that interprets
the laws of the state
Powers granted
exclusively to the
state
Texas Youth
Commission
Branch that see that
the laws are carried
out
Sharing of power
between the national
and state governments
Amendments
The state’s juvenile
corrections agency
Executive
Set of laws that
describe what people
can and cannot do
Civil law Listing of specific
individual freedoms
Changes to the
constitution
Legislative
Judicial
Reserved powers
Federalism
Disputes between
private citizens,
businesses, and
governments
Bill of Rights
Criminal law
12
PROCLAMATION OF 1763
1763
STAMP ACT
November 1, 1765
DECLARATORY ACT
March 1766
BOSTON MASSACRE
March 5, 1770
BOSTON TEA PARTY
December 16, 1773
1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
September 1774
13
2ND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
May 10, 1775
SUGAR ACT
1764
REPEAL STAMP ACT
March 1766
TOWNSEND ACTS
1767
TEA ACT
November 1773
COERSIVE ACTS /INTOLERABLE
ACTS
Spring 1774
14
BATTLE OF LEXINGTON AND
CONCORD
April 19, 1775
DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE
July 4, 1776
Notes: