Unit Introduction:

The U.S. Constitution

Unit Highlights

In this unit, students will analyze primary and secondary sources to the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and compare the enumerated and implied powers of the federal government. Students will be able to:

Classify the significance of the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, and the Mayflower Compact
Evaluate whether the Articles of Confederation implemented the ideas of the Declaration of Independence.
Evaluate whether the Constitution implemented the ideas of the Declaration of Independence.
Classify the major debates regarding the Constitution and their resolutions.
Classify the philosophies of the founding fathers in the Constitution
Classify the role of the Founding Fathers who ratified the Constitution
Explain the significance of Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom.
Classify the origin, purpose, and differing opinions of the founding fathers on the separation of church and state.
Classify the powers set forth in the Constitution
Classify the freedoms ensured by the Bill of Rights
Evaluate and classify how the American idea of constitutionalism preserves individual rights.

Flocabulary

Unit Vocabulary

3/5ths Compromise
Anti-Federalists
The Articles of Confederation
Bill of Rights
Checks and Balances
Constitutionalism
Dual sovereignty

Elastic Clause
Executive Branch
Federalism
Federalism
Federalists
Federalists Papers
Freedom of Religion

Great Compromise
Judicial Branch
Legislative Branch
Majority Rule
Separation of Powers
The U.S. Constitution

Activity 1: The U.S. Constitution Pre-Test

Using your prior knowledge, brainstorm, list, and/or draw what you know about the U.S. Constitution in a thinking map. Complete this assignment on the Thinking Maps Learning Community or on paper. You may include:

Information you know or kind of know about the U.S. Constitution.

Guesses about the U.S. Constitution.
Questions you have about the U.S. Constitution.
Information you would like to know about the U.S. Constitution.
What comes to mind when you think of the U.S. Constitution.

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