Section Title: SS.7.C.1.9 - Rule of Law Objective: Define the rule of law and recognize its influence on the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems. Essential Question(s): How does the rule of law protect individual rights and preserve the common good? What are some characteristics that a society has when they operate under the rule of law? How does rule of law protect citizens from arbitrary and abusive uses of government power? Textbook Chapters: N/A Section Title: SS.7.C.2.1 - U.S. Citizenship Objective: Define the term "Citizen" and identify legal means of becoming a U.S. Citizen. Essential Question(s): What are the legal means of becoming a U.S. citizen? What is the citizenship process in the U.S.? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 3, Lessons 1, 2, 3 Section Title: SS.7.C.2.2 - Citizen Obligations Objective: Evaluate the obligations citizens have to obey laws, pay taxes, defend the nation, and serve on juries. Essential Question(s): Why do citizens have to obey laws, pay taxes, defend the nation, and serve on juries? What is the importance and significance of citizen obligations to society, government, country? What is the difference between rights, obligations and responsibilities? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 3, Lesson 3 Section Title: SS.7.C.1.1 Enlightenment Ideas Objective: Recognize how Enlightenment ideas, including Montesquieu s view of separation of power and John Locke s theories related to natural law and how Locke s social contract influenced the Founding Fathers.
Essential Question(s): What were the philosophies of Enlightenment philosophers such as Montesquieu, John Locke and others? What influence did the Enlightenment philosophers have on the government created by the Founding Fathers? What are natural rights? How are John Locke s political theories, social contract and natural law, interconnected? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 4, Lesson 1 Section Title: SS.7.C.1.2 Key Documents Objective: Trace the impact that the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Thomas Paine s Common Sense had on colonists views of government. Essential Question(s): How did the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Thomas Paine s Common Sense influence the colonists views of government? Why did the American colonists have the rights of Englishmen? What was the feudal system? How did the feudal system impact the documents that influenced the early colonists? What were some important rights of Englishmen? What were the important ideas from the Magna Carta that influenced the Founders? What was the English Bill of Rights? What was the purpose of the following documents: Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, Common Sense? Why did American colonists have the rights of Englishmen? How and why were the colonists influenced by the idea limited government? Describe feudalism and some of the positives and negatives of the system. What is the rule of law and how does is apply to the Magna Carta? What was the purpose in creating Parliament? How would the English Bill of Rights affect and influence the early American colonists? What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact? What were the goals of Thomas Paine s Common Sense? Textbook Chapters: Chapter, Lesson
Section Title: SS.7.C.1.3 Leading to the Declaration Objective: Describe how English Policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Essential Question(s): How did British policies such as the Stamp Act, Declaratory Act and the Townshend Acts affect Colonists way of life? What were the purposes of the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 4, Lesson 3 Section Title: SS.7.C.1.4 Declaration of Independence Objective: Analyze the ideas (natural rights, role of the government) Essential Question(s): What were the grievances stated in the Declaration of Independence? Textbook Chapters: The Declaration of Independence, Textbook pages 109-112 Section Title: SS.7.C.1.5 Articles of Confederation Objective: Identify how the Articles of Confederation led to the writing of the Constitution. Essential Question(s): Why were the Articles of Confederation weak? How did the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation lead to the writing of the Constitution? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 5, Lesson 1 Section Title: SS.7.C.1.8 Federalists and Anti-Federalists Objective: Explain the viewpoints of the Federalist and the Anti-Federalists regarding the ratification of the Constitution and inclusion of a bill of rights.
Essential Question(s): What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation that created the need for a new constitution? How do the Federalists and Anti-Federalists compare and contrast to one another? How did the debates between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists shape the United States Constitution and inclusion of a bill of rights? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 5, Lesson 2 Section Title: SS.7.C.2.8 Political Parties Objective: Identify America s current political parties, and illustrate their ideas about government. Essential Question(s): How do political parties affect society today? Why is it necessary to have different political ideologies? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 10, Lesson 1 Section Title: SS.7.C.2.9 Political Participation Objective: Evaluate candidates for political parties, and illustrate their ideas about government. Essential Question(s): What are the constitutional requirements to run for federal office? What are the requirements to run for state and local political offices? How do experience, platforms, debates, and political advertisements affect the way we evaluate the qualifications of candidates for public office? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 10, Lesson 1 Section Title: SS.7.C.2.10 Influencing Government Objective: Examine the impact of media, individuals, and interest groups on monitoring and influencing government.
Essential Question(s): What are the methods used by interest groups to monitor and/or influence the government? What are the methods used by the media to monitor and/or influence the government? How do media, individuals, and interest groups impact the media? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 10, Lesson 2 Section Title: SS.7.C.2.11 Political Communication Objective: Analyze media and political communications (bias, symbolism, propaganda). Essential Question(s): What are the different methods of influencing and/or monitoring government and how are they used? What are bias, symbolism, and propaganda? How do bias, symbolism, and propaganda impact public opinion? Textbook Chapters: Chapter 10, Lesson 2