THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

AND THE CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTION DAY IS SEPTEMBER 17

Celebrate Freedom: Our Democratic Ideals

“E Pluribus Unum”

Out of many, we are one

Found on our currency

Found on the Great Seal since 1782

“In God We Trust”

Taken from fourth verse of “The Star- Spangled Banner”

On coins since 1864

Became official motto in 1956

On paper currency since 1957

Unit 1

What is democracy?

What is “majority rule”?

What is a right?

Note: Democratic societies must balance the rights and responsibilities of individuals with the common good.

We gain insight into the sacrifices made for freedom and the values of a country by studying the founding documents of its government.

Name three important documents in American history, produced by our “founders”.

How do these documents define what it means to be an American?

Name this document! Where is the original?

The Preamble to The Declaration of Independence

“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.”

Read aloud our philosophy of government

“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.”

The Declaration of Independence

The U.S. Constitution

1776, Philadelphia

Author--Jefferson

“our birth certificate”

Refers to the tyrant, King George III

“unalienable rights”

1787, Philadelphia

Author—Madison

Our plan of government

Refers to rights that had been violated by the British

Bill of Rights

Two Documents

The Declaration of Independence

The Constitution

We became a new country called The United States of America

We created a Democratic Republic under The Articles of Confederation

We no longer lived under the weak Articles of Confederation

We had a strong federal government with three branches: legislative, executive and judicial

How were things different after these documents?

Declaration of Independence

Who wrote it?When? Where? Why?Who does it call a tyrant?What are unalienable rights?Name the unalienable rights.“We hold these truths to be self-evident that

all men are _______ _________ and that they are endowed by their ______with certain unalienable rights; that among these are ____, ______, and the _______ of ________.”

The Constitution

Who wrote it?When? Where? Why?What document did it replace?How many articles are in The Constitution?What is an amendment?What are the first ten amendments called?Name the three branches and what they do.Recognize the ideas of The Bill of Rights.How many amendments do we have today?What 5 freedoms are listed in the first

amendment?

Declaration of Independence see p. 50

Constitution see p. 81

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Find the similarities (compare)

What do the similarities tell us about the U.S. and our

philosophy of government?

Two Founding Documents

Alexis de Tocqueville

He was a French historian who visited the U.S. in the 19th century and observed that the U.S. needed five values to be successful as a constitutional republic:

1. Liberty2. Egalitarianism3. Individualism4. Populism 5. Laissez-faire

Terms

1. Democracy2. Republicanism3. Impeach4. Treason5. Popular sovereignty6. First amendment7. Bill of Rights8. Articles of Confederation9. Unalienable rights10. Judicial review11. Separation of powers12. Checks and balances

Three Branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Congress—two houses—makes laws—CapitolSenate is upper house, Congress and states

can pass amendmentsPresidency—enforces laws—White HouseElectoral CollegeCourts—interpret laws—Supreme Court w/9

justicesNeo-Classical architecture in Washington,

D.C.

Test Review

Two major documents—purpose, author, signers, organization, place

Constitutional ideas: federalismSeparation of powers, checks and balancesStrict constructionist (letter of the law)Federalist Papers and ratificationLitigation (lawsuit)De Tocqueville’s 5 valuesThe Political Spectrum—moderate, liberal,

conservative, reactionary, radicalAmerican Revolution ideas—boycott used

against high taxes

Our Rights Our Responsibilities

What are our rights and responsibilities as citizens or residents of The United States?