Ancient Influences
These three ancient cultures all influenced the constitutional republic of the United States.
What are Greece, Rome, and Judeo-Christian tradition?
The two Enlightenment thinkers whose work has influenced the Constitution and republic of the United States.
Who are John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu?
Name at least two of the founding principles of the United States of America.
What are due process of law, equality of mankind, rule of law, religious liberty, limited government, and/or natural rights?
These three historical documents all influenced the United States constitutional republic.
What are the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and the Mayflower Compact?
Explain the Magna Carta on your whiteboard. What is it?
Document which limited the powers of the English king- King John. First document in world history which limited a king's powers.
This influence on the American government came from both Greece and Rome.
(HINT: it means participating in one's government and community, it also has the name of this class in it).
What is civic participation?
This term refers to the idea from John LOCKE that the people have an AGREEMENT with the government that the government must respect the people if the people are to respect the government.
What is social contract?
"No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive a person of the right to life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
Explain on your whiteboard in your own words how due process of law is protecting citizens' natural rights here.
The government has to follow fair legal procedures for everyone. The procedures must be fair and equally applied to all.
This is how the Magna Carta influenced the American political system.
(HINT: it means that there should be a fair process whenever someone's rights are taken away).
What is due process of law?
Explain the English Bill of Rights on your whiteboard. What is it?
Document which promised individual rights to all English people of the time. Influenced our own Bill of Rights in America.
Both Ancient Rome and the United States of America have a legislative, executive, and judicial branch. This influence refers to having different branches of government with different powers.
What are separation of powers?
Read the following. Which of the following would Montesquieu support?
- A ruler with unlimited power
- A few rulers that unequally divide power
- Multiple branches of gov with unlimited power
- Multiple branches of government with limited, clearly defined powers
- Multiple branches of government with limited, clearly defined powers
What characteristic of the US government means that no one branch of government should have all the power?
What is separation of powers?
- Rule of law
- Self-government
- Right to a fair jury trial
- Consent of the governed
Explain the Mayflower Compact to me. What is it?
Document where the Pilgrims agreed to self-government to survive in the forests of America long before the United States was formed.
This ethical idea from the Judeo-Christian tradition means that those who do good should receive good in return and those who do bad should get bad in return.
What is justice?
What idea of John Locke's is being represented by the headline below?
NEW SURVEY SHOWS 75 PERCENT OF PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT
What is social contract?
Which principle states that all human beings are the same and that all should be treated equally?
What is equality of mankind?
Look at the diagram below. What would complete the diagram?
MAGNA CARTA --->>>> LIMITED GOVERNMENT
ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS ----->>>> _____________
What is individual rights?
Which level of government most reflects the influence of the polis on America? EXPLAIN WHY FOR BONUS POINTS.
- US Supreme Court
- State Supreme Courts
- State legislatures
- US House of Representatives
State legislatures. These are groups of community lawmakers who come together to make laws for the LOCAL community.
This influence from Ancient Rome refers to different branches of government having the power to check the others to make sure they aren't getting too much power.
What are checks and balances?
If the government is respecting your right to life, liberty, and your possessions, what idea of John Locke's is being represented?
What are natural rights?
Which founding principle states that all human beings have a right to freely worship or not worship in whatever way they choose?
What is religious liberty?
To survive in a completely foreign environment, we must all follow the rules, work together, and have a method for finding shelter/food.
Which principle and which historical document is reflected in this statement above?
What is the Mayflower Compact, self-government?
Explain what natural rights and social contract are on your whiteboards.
- Natural Rights: rights people have by nature, because they are human (life, liberty, property)
- Social contract: agreement between gov and the people about how one should treat the other. Power comes from the people!