The new United States needed a set of rules. A group of leading thinkers of the Revolutionary era met to create a document to lay out the form of the new government. Drawing upon ideas both old and new, and finding ways to compromise to meet the needs and demands of multiple interests, they created this new government charter called the Constitution. The Constitution created a strong national government with separate branches within the government to insure there were checks on power and balances of responsibilities. The Constitution has been changed, or amended, numerous times since then, first with the addition of the Bill of Rights.
Standard III: Students will understand the rights and responsibilities guaranteed in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Objective 1: Assess the underlying principles of the US Constitution as the framework for the United States’ form of government, a compound constitutional republic.
a. Recognize ideas from documents used to develop the Constitution (e.g. Magna Carta, Iroquois Confederacy, Articles of Confederation, and Virginia Plan).b. Analyze goals outlined in the Preamble.
c. Distinguish between the role of the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of the government.
d. Explain the process of passing a law.
e. Describe the concept of checks and balances. f. Discover the basis for the patriotic and citizenship traditions we have today (i.e. Pledge of Allegiance, flag etiquette, voting).
Objective 2: Assess how the US Constitution has been amended and interpreted over time, and the impact these amendments have had on the rights and responsibilities of citizens of the United States.
a. Explain the significance of the Bill of Rights.
b. Identify how the rights of selected groups have changed and how the Constitution reflects those changes (e.g. women, enslaved people).
c. Analyze the impact of the Constitution on their lives today (e.g. freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition).
Standard III: Students will understand the rights and responsibilities guaranteed in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Objective 1: Assess the underlying principles of the US Constitution as the framework for the United States’ form of government, a compound constitutional republic.
a. Recognize ideas from documents used to develop the Constitution (e.g. Magna Carta, Iroquois Confederacy, Articles of Confederation, and Virginia Plan).b. Analyze goals outlined in the Preamble.
c. Distinguish between the role of the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of the government.
d. Explain the process of passing a law.
e. Describe the concept of checks and balances. f. Discover the basis for the patriotic and citizenship traditions we have today (i.e. Pledge of Allegiance, flag etiquette, voting).
Objective 2: Assess how the US Constitution has been amended and interpreted over time, and the impact these amendments have had on the rights and responsibilities of citizens of the United States.
a. Explain the significance of the Bill of Rights.
b. Identify how the rights of selected groups have changed and how the Constitution reflects those changes (e.g. women, enslaved people).
c. Analyze the impact of the Constitution on their lives today (e.g. freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition).