American Government

Description: This course will offer students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of how the United States government operates. Students will be examining the decisions the “Founding Fathers” made to create the frameworks for the United States government and compare their ideas to current day operations both domestic and foreign.

Course Objective: Students will exhibit an understanding of opportunities for civic engagement and participation in the local, state, and federal government while demonstrating responsibility.

Class Requirements: Students are expected to be active participants in this course. Examples of required work are: Discussions, projects, reading, writing, quizzes and tests. A notebook will be a strong tool for keeping organized and will be assessed throughout the semester.

The Brentwood School Rules will be strictly enforced. Students must demonstrate respect for themselves, others, and all property. Students must take ownership of their learning and demonstrate investment in creating a classroom community that promotes safe learning.

Make Up Work: It is your responsibility to ask for make-up work. Work missed due to an excused absence can be completed for full credit within two days. Failure to do so will result in an earned grade of zero. When a student receives an ISA, class work will be completed for up to 80% credit. If a student receives an OSS, class work must be made up within two days of the suspension for 80% credit.

Grading: There are three methods for earning credit in the American Government course: Class Participation, Daily Assignments and Major Assignments. The weight for each type of credit is as follows:

20% Class Participation (marked daily)
40% Daily Assignments (in class assignments, discussions, quizzes)
40% Major Assignments (tests, projects, harkness discussions)

Student’s Learning:

Week 1 (2 days)
Course Overview/Expectations
What is the role of the Government?
What is the role of the citizen?

Week 2 (4 days)
John Locke and the Enlightenment
Excerpts from “Second Treatises of Government”
Understanding the Social Compact
Debate on the Cyber Security Act of 2009
When are rights infringed upon?

Week 3 (4 days)
Types of Government (ie. Democracy, Autocracy, Oligarchy)
Economic Systems (ie. Capitalism, Communism)
Analyzing the Mayflower Compact
Creating a Brentwood School Compact
Declaration of Independence Vocabulary
Read the Declaration of Independence

Week 4 (5 days)
Create a song about human rights/freedoms
Constitution Day

Lyrics coming soon!


Week 5 (5 days)
The American Revolution
American Revolution vocabulary
Declaration of Independence Activity
Articles of Confederation Introduction
Purposes of Government

Week 6 (5 days)
Boston Massacre (Early Propaganda)
How the Articles of Confederation failed (Nationalism vs. Federalism)
The Road to the Constitution
Understanding the Premise and Foundation for the Constitution

Week 7 (4 days)
Basic Constitution Crossword Puzzle #1
Basic Constitution Crossword Puzzle #2
Our Founding Fathers: Real or Fake??
What is a Constitution? Why do we have rules?