It Makes Sense! Common, That Is!
How did Thomas Paine's Common Sense contribute to the colonists' belief that power comes from the people instead of a monarch?
Students will trace the establishment of Republicanism in history using the primary sources including the Mayflower Compact, Common Sense, Declaration Of Independence, Articles Of Confederation, Constitution.
Objectives:
Understand why “governments are instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed.”
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Power of One
This lesson explores ways in which people can engage in civic renewal beyond voting. Students will analyze a photo of a protest, and then read and analyze case studies about kids making a difference through non-voting civic renewal initiatives. As part of their case study analysis, students will learn and apply the definitions of “top down” and “bottom up” approaches to civic action. As tweens and young teens are legally unable to vote, the ultimate goal of this lesson is to showcase inspiring examples of civic renewal that did not involve the power of voting.
Washington’s Legacy
In this lesson students will examine the foreign policy advice of President George Washington and then evaluate the policies for four other US presidents to analyze if they followed his advice.
An Unfinished Promise
In this lesson, students will first explore three primary sources that help students think about what the founding generation thought about the idea and ideal of equality. Students engage in inquiry by using the text of the primary sources to generate an answer to the first compelling question. Students then use evidence and reasoning to support their claim. In the second part of the lesson, students investigate additional primary sources to see how the ideals of human equality in the Declaration of Independence have inspired change throughout American history.