STANDARD GOVT.2
The student will apply social science skills to understand the political philosophies that shaped the development of Virginia and United States constitutional government by
a) describing the development of Athenian democracy & the Roman republic to differentiate between a democracy and a republic;
The US constitutional system incorporates democratic elements that were developed in Athens & Rome.
Democratic elements of the United States constitutional system borrowed from Athens and Rome
• Athens: Direct democracy
• Rome: Indirect (representative) democracy, republic
The student will apply social science skills to understand the political philosophies that shaped the development of Virginia and United States constitutional government by
a) describing the development of Athenian democracy & the Roman republic to differentiate between a democracy and a republic;
The US constitutional system incorporates democratic elements that were developed in Athens & Rome.
Democratic elements of the United States constitutional system borrowed from Athens and Rome
• Athens: Direct democracy
• Rome: Indirect (representative) democracy, republic
c) evaluating the writings of Hobbes, Locke, and Montesquieu;
Principles of government and law developed by leading European political thinkers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Montesquieu may be found in the Constitution of Virginia, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States.
Fundamental political principles
• Limited government: John Locke (Constitution of Virginia, US Constitution, Declaration of Independence)
• Government’s authority coming only from the consent of the governed: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke (Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States)
• Separation of powers: Montesquieu (Constitution of the United States, Constitution of Virginia)
Principles of government and law developed by leading European political thinkers Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Montesquieu may be found in the Constitution of Virginia, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States.
Fundamental political principles
• Limited government: John Locke (Constitution of Virginia, US Constitution, Declaration of Independence)
• Government’s authority coming only from the consent of the governed: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke (Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States)
• Separation of powers: Montesquieu (Constitution of the United States, Constitution of Virginia)
d) explaining the guarantee of the “rights of Englishmen” set forth in the charters of the Virginia Company of London;
The charters of the Virginia Company of London extended the rights of Englishmen to the colonists. The basic rights of Englishmen were guaranteed to the colonists by the charters of the Virginia Company of London. Examples of basic rights included • land ownership • representation • the right to create a council to make their own laws. |
e) analyzing the natural rights philosophies expressed in the Declaration of Independence;
The Declaration of Independence is an expression of natural rights philosophies.
Natural rights philosophies of John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau expressed in the Declaration of Independence
• Rousseau believed that all men are equal.
• Locke believed that government is based on an agreement between people and their rulers (social contract).
He felt that people have the right to life, liberty, and property.
The Declaration of Independence is an expression of natural rights philosophies.
Natural rights philosophies of John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau expressed in the Declaration of Independence
• Rousseau believed that all men are equal.
• Locke believed that government is based on an agreement between people and their rulers (social contract).
He felt that people have the right to life, liberty, and property.
f) evaluating and explaining George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights, Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and James Madison’s leadership role in securing adoption of the Bill of Rights by the First Congress.
Virginians played key roles in securing individual liberties.
Virginia Declaration of Rights, by George Mason
• States that all Virginians should have certain rights, including freedom of religion and the press
• Basis for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, by Thomas Jefferson
• States that all people should be free to worship as they please
• First time religious freedom was protected by law
• Basis for the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which guarantees religious freedom
James Madison, “Father of the Constitution”
• Kept detailed notes during the Constitutional Convention
• Engineered compromises on the most difficult issues facing the delegates
• Authored the Virginia Plan, which proposed a federal government of three separate branches (legislative,
executive, and judicial) and became the foundation for the structure of the new government
• Authored much of the Bill of Rights
Virginians played key roles in securing individual liberties.
Virginia Declaration of Rights, by George Mason
• States that all Virginians should have certain rights, including freedom of religion and the press
• Basis for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, by Thomas Jefferson
• States that all people should be free to worship as they please
• First time religious freedom was protected by law
• Basis for the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which guarantees religious freedom
James Madison, “Father of the Constitution”
• Kept detailed notes during the Constitutional Convention
• Engineered compromises on the most difficult issues facing the delegates
• Authored the Virginia Plan, which proposed a federal government of three separate branches (legislative,
executive, and judicial) and became the foundation for the structure of the new government
• Authored much of the Bill of Rights