Social Studies

Get a handle on student’s grip of

Government.

This session can bring the structure and principles of government

into focus. Learn new methods to address basic understanding

and recognition of the processes and workings of the structure of

both the Texas and United States Government.

Session Presented by:

Margaret Charnetski-Seadrift School

I. Introduction

A. Rules for Social Studies

B. Scoring

II. Materials

A. Pencils

III. Structure of Government

A. JEL

B. What are the parts?

IV. Principles of Government

A. 7 Principles

B. Preamble

V. Closure

A. Tips from the audience

B. Q & A time

Preamble of the Constitution

We the people of the United states, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish

Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general

Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and

establish this Constitution for the United States of America

Major Principles of the Constitution

Popular Sovereignty-People are the source of the government’s power.

Republicanism-People elect their political representatives.

Limited Government-The Constitution limits/restricts the actions of government by specifically

listing powers it does and does not have.

Federalism-In this government system, power is divided between national and state

governments.

Separation of Powers-Each of the three branches of government has its own responsibilities.

Checks and Balances-Each branch of government holds some control over the other two

branches.

Individual Rights-Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

Characters:

Ethel

Herman

Town Crier 1

Town Crier 2

Samuel Adams

Member of Sons of Liberty

Delegate to 1st Cont. Congress 1

Delegate to 1st Cont. Congress 2

Capt. John Parker

Minuteman at Lexington

Ethan Allen

British officer at Ft. Ticonderoga

George Washington

John Hancock

Colonel William Prescott

General Thomas Gage

Thomas Paine

Thomas Jefferson

John Adams

John Jay

1

Ethel and Herman are sitting around on Saturday Evening talking about the events that have taken place

so far

Herman: I tell you Ethel, I don’t know what these colonies are coming to. Too many radicals are running

around talking about protesting against the King.

Ethel: I know, it’s like that Patrick Henry fellow who stood up at the Virginia House of Burgesses

claiming “Give me Liberty, or give me death!”

Town Crier 1: Here ye, Here ye, just in from Boston. On March 5, 1770, what started out as a simple

snowball fight turns into tragedy. 5 Boston citizens including Citizen Crispus Attucks, an African

dockworker, killed in a massacre by British soldiers in the street. See full picture on silver platter by

Silversmith Paul Revere, it tells the full story.

Ethel: Oh My

Herman: See what I told you

Samuel Adams is preparing his Sons of Liberty organization for their protest against the Tea Act

Samuel Adams: Okay men; remember to stay low and quiet. Everyone knows what to do?

Member of the Sons of Liberty: Excuse me sir, but, why do we have to dress up like ole injuns?

Samuel Adams: I told you, this way the British officials here in Boston will think that the Mohawk

Indians that dumps the tea off the ships and not suspect us.

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Member of the Sons of Liberty: Sure thing sir, but I don’t think the British officials are going to be happy

about this, we don’t look very convincing.

Town Crier 2: Hear ye, Hear ye: Last night, December 16, 1775 a group of citizens believed to be

members of the Sons of Liberty organization were seen dumping chest of tea off three ships belonging

to the East India Company. British official have issued, in response, a new list of acts that can only be

described as Intolerable.

Delegates gather at the 1st Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, September 1774

Delegate 1: Okay, except for Georgia, we are all represented here at the 1st Continental Congress

meeting. So we have agreed to the following; first, we must urge all colonies to ready their militias from

more brutal massacres like the one in Boston

Delegate 2: Second, We have completed an appeal letter to King George asking him to reconsider these

harsh actions against Boston, not all citizens agree with the tactics of this so-called Sons of Liberty group

Delegate 1: But, third, we must not buy British goods until these Intolerable Acts are repealed like the

Stamp Act was. We must ban together and be strong to get fair treatment. All agreed.

Everyone says yes

Delegate 2: I think we should all meet again to review how these policies are working in let us say May

of 1776. This gives us time to allow the King and Parliament to meet and consider our formal appeal.

Delegate 1: Meeting adjourned

3

Lexington Militia leader Capt. John Parker with 70 of his men on Lexington greens

Capt. John Parker: Men, we seem to be outnumbered by the British forces, I say we retreat. Now quiet

men, slowly move back and …

A shot rings out

Minuteman: Oops, sorry sir, I accidentally tripped over my musket.

Capt. John Parker: We’re in for it now boys, RETREAT!!!!!

Town Crier 1: Hear ye, Hear ye. The Shot heard ‘round the world was fired this morning April 19, 1775

at Lexington on the green between the British forces looking for traitors to the crown and on a quest to

seize the ammo supposedly stored at Concord. They were successful against the militia of Lexington;

however upon advancing on to Concord they were met with resistance and the British forces retreated.

It is reported that upon arriving back in Boston, the reds listed 174 wounded and 73 casualties from

guerilla-like attacks from bushes and trees along their route by the Americans.

Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys sneak into Fort Ticonderoga in the middle of the night

British officer: What! Oh my, what is this, who are you?

Ethan Allen: I am Ethan Allen and these men are the Green Mountain Boys, we are here to seize control

of all your stored up artillery. Now just be a good little commander and no one will get hurt.

Turning to his men

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Ethan Allen: Okay boys, load it up and let us be off. Tomorrow it’s Crown Point. These cannons will

come in handy for the patriot cause.

Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the 2nd Continental Congress is just starting their meeting

John Hancock: Let this meeting come to order. The first order of business appears to be the creation of

a continental army to help all colonies. Those who volunteer agree to serve for the cause for a period of

one year. And I highly recommend General George Washington be declared the Commander in charge

due to his record of service during the French and Indian War.

George Washington: (struts in) Who me? Why I am so honored, I gladly and humbly accept this position

of an organized group under my command.

John Hancock: Thank you General, we look forward to a quick and victorious future against the British

forces.

Delegate 1: I believe that we shouldn’t be too hasty to try the patience of the King. A formal petition

should be sent to the King, sort of an Olive Branch Petition. This way we can let him know that we will

remain loyal to his service, but we have some grievances to address. We must maintain our colonial

rights.

John Hancock: Meeting adjourned for now.

The top of Breed’s Hill with Colonel William Prescott and his men

Col. Prescott: Now here this men. The British are realigning again for the third attack and we are

running low of ammo. Don’t waste it, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”

Town Crier 2: Hear ye, Hear ye: The American troops lost ground today in the battle of Bunker Hill

5

Off to the side (say what, what do you mean it was Breed’s Hill, well it is too late, Bunker Hill, Breed’s

Hill, it’s all the same)

Anyway folks, as I was saying, British general Thomas Gage and his forces took the Hill whichever one it

is today June 16, 1776. This is a terrible blow to the American patriot movement. Second thoughts have

been recorded by many who want to remain neutral in this battle of rights.

Thomas Paine sitting at his desk writing

Thomas Paine (to himself): I can’t believe these colonists who can’t see the common sense in this fight

against the injustice and tyranny that the King and Parliament is bestowing on the Americans. I must

make them see the sense of it all. I know, I will write a pamphlet and tell all. But it must be in common

sense for all to understand. That’s it. I will call it “Common Sense”

Thousands gather on street corners to here the latest best seller Common Sense

Citizens: I can see his point, we must now claim our Independence from England that tyrannical King

George III

2nd Continental Congress meeting:

Thomas Jefferson: Here it is fellow patriots. Our very own Declaration of Independence is written. All

who agree to sign will be from this point declared traitors to the British crown. Who will sign first?

John Hancock: I will, after all I am the president of this congress. Here let me make sure ole King

Georgie can read this without his spectacles.

6

Thomas Jefferson: Gosh John, save room for the rest of us.

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay sitting around and talking about the war

Benjamin Franklin: Well the war took longer than we thought and I was really concerned that we

wouldn’t be successful there for a while, but the United States of America is official.

John Adams: That Christmas night in 1776 when George Washington and his troops crossed the

Delaware River and surprised those drunken and passed out Hessian soldiers at Trenton, New Jersey

with great success, I really thought it was over.

John Jay: True, but the next year was really rough, the continental army was ready to disband. The year

was up for most volunteers and with the winter and all, most of the men were ready to go home and

give up.

Benjamin Franklin: Thank goodness for that Thomas Paine and his writing of the American Crisis that

Washington read to his troops for inspiration to continue. I can still remember that one part: These are

the times that try men’s souls. Now THAT really gets to you.

John Adams: Listening to Thaddeus Kosciusko and his selection for a battle site at Saratoga really was

the turning point for the war.

Benjamin Franklin: That is right. I was able to go to France and convince them to recognize our

independence and make a deal for them to become out allies against the British. They even went so far

as to declare war on Britain right after that. I think they would find any reason to fight the British.

John Jay: All I know is, with more help in supplies and men, our cause might never have become a

reality. Surrounding the British at Yorktown for a couple of months in 1781 and cutting off British supply

and communication lines was a true blessing. General Washington I believe smiled that day when

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British Commander General Cornwallis surrendered to him ending once and for all this fight for

Independence.

John Adams: Well, that brings us to the task at hand. Let us sign this Treaty of Paris and officially put all

this Revolution behind us. Have you checked all the provisions carefully Ben.

Benjamin Franklin: Yes, just as we agreed. One, the United States will be recognized throughout the

world as and independent nation. Second, United States still has the right to fish off the Canadian

coastline. Third, we agree to pay off the debts owed to those British merchants that were unpaid during

the war. (I don’t think we will do that one). And finally, all that property that was seized from those

loyalists is to be returned or paid for. Just to be fair. We see on that one too.

John Jay: Well, I am starving. All this running a nation really makes me hungry. Let’s go eat. I’ll treat.

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams: Great! Let us be off.

8

1-March 5, 1770, Boston Massacre

A mob of men and boys threw snowballs and

pieces of ice at a small patrol of British soldiers

outside the offices of the hated customs

officials, the soldiers panicked, they fired. 3

colonists died immediately, Crispus Attucks,

former slave and 2 other colonists died later.

2-Dec. 16, 1773, Boston Tea Party

50 members of the Sons of Liberty, dressed up

like Mohawk Indians, boarded 3 ships, dumped

the East India Company’s tea overboard in

Boston Harbor.

3-Sept. 5, 1774, 1st Continental Congress

56 delegates from 12 colonies-no Georgia met

in Philadelphia

1-urged ready colonial militia=2-wrote letter to George III to repeal acts=3-agreed to not buy British goods until intolerable acts repealed=

4-agreed to meet again on May 10, 1775

4- April 19, 1775, Lexington and Concord

1st shot of the Amer. Rev. In Lexington, 70

minutemen faced the red coats. Capt John

Parker ordered a retreat. A shot rang out

accidentally; British fired back killing 8

Americans. “Shot heard around the World.”

5-May 10, 1775, Ticonderoga and Crown Point.

Ethan Allen and the “Green Mountain Boys”

attacked Ticonderoga at night and seized the

artillery later to be used in Boston. Crown Point

was surprised the next night.

6-May 10, 1775, 2nd Continental Congress

meets in Philadelphia.

1-issued call for continental army=2-appointed George Washington commander in chief of army=3-asked colonial governments to write constitutions in case they win=4- They wrote and sent the olive branch petition

7-June 16, 1776, Battle of Breed’s Hill

By moving at night, Americans maneuvered

quietly onto Breed’s Hill outside Boston. On the

third charge, led by Thomas Gage, British troops

overtook the colonists. This battle was

mistakenly called the Battle of Bunker Hill.

8-January 1776. “Common Sense”

Thomas Paine published one of the most

important pamphlets in American history. The

essay made “sense” to common people. It

persuaded thousands of colonists to give up

loyalty to the king in favor of American

Independence.

9-July 4, 1776-The Signing of the Declaration

of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration. John

Hancock was 1st to sign. This severed the ties of

the American colonies with Great Britain. In

British eyes the colonists were traitors.

10- Dec. 25, 1776, Washington crosses the

Delaware River

During the night, Washington and his troops

crossed the Delaware River and surprise the

Hessians at Trenton for a quick victory for the

Americans.

9

11-Oct. 17, 1777, Battle of Saratoga

Thaddeus Kosciusko chose the battle site and

under the command Horatio Gates, won

surrender from Burgoyne and his British troops.

This victory was the turning point of the

Revolution. France openly supported their

cause.

12-June 1778, France declared war against

Britain.

Now the British had to fight both North

American and Europe. France supported the

American cause against the British. Other

countries joined the support.

13- June 1778, French recognizes American

Independence.

Benjamin Franklin went to France and

persuaded France to sign treaty, which will

allow other countries to fully support the

American Revolution.

14- Sept/Oct 1781, Surrender at Yorktown.

French and American troops surrounded

Yorktown. General Cornwallis surrendered to

George Washington ending the fighting of the

American Revolution. The Americans had won.

15-Sept. 3, 1783, Treaty of Paris signed ending

the American Revolution.

1- USA now recognized as independent

nation=2-US gained right to fish off the coast of

Canada=3-Americans agreed to pay debts owed

to British merchants before the war and

property seized from Loyalists be paid or

returned to them.

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Resources http://www.uil.utexas.edu

www.brainpop.com

www.texaslre.org

www.schoolhistory.co.uk/games/

www.glencoe.com

http://www.quia.com/web

http://www.besthistorysites.net/index.shtml

Textbooks

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Branch that makes

the laws of the state

Branch that interprets

the laws of the state

Powers granted

exclusively to the

state

Texas Youth

Commission

Branch that see that

the laws are carried

out

Sharing of power

between the national

and state governments

Amendments

The state’s juvenile

corrections agency

Executive

Set of laws that

describe what people

can and cannot do

Civil law Listing of specific

individual freedoms

Changes to the

constitution

Legislative

Judicial

Reserved powers

Federalism

Disputes between

private citizens,

businesses, and

governments

Bill of Rights

Criminal law

12

PROCLAMATION OF 1763

1763

STAMP ACT

November 1, 1765

DECLARATORY ACT

March 1766

BOSTON MASSACRE

March 5, 1770

BOSTON TEA PARTY

December 16, 1773

1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

September 1774

13

2ND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

May 10, 1775

SUGAR ACT

1764

REPEAL STAMP ACT

March 1766

TOWNSEND ACTS

1767

TEA ACT

November 1773

COERSIVE ACTS /INTOLERABLE

ACTS

Spring 1774

14

BATTLE OF LEXINGTON AND

CONCORD

April 19, 1775

DECLARATION OF

INDEPENDENCE

July 4, 1776

Notes: