Unit 1 U.S. Government: The Preamble

​Unit 1 U.S. Government: The Preamble

8th Grade Social Studies

Open Ended

Do Now:

What are 3-5 roles that a government should be responsible for in your opinion?

​Today's Learning Target

I Can...

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Identify the role of the U.S. government as defined in the Preamble of the Constitution

Subject | Subject

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Locke, Hobbes, and Machiavelli all had ideas on the role of government.

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The framers (the leaders who wrote the Constitution) considered all of these ideas.

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In the ​introduction (or preamble) of the Constitution they defined those roles.

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​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

The Role of Government

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Multiple Choice

When creating the Constitution, the framers relied on the ideas of enlightenment thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

"The Framers" of the Constitution refers to...

• The carpenters and architects who constructed our government buildings

• The people who are governed

• The leaders who wrote the Constitution

• The monarchs

Multiple Choice

The "Preamble" is the ____ of any formal document

• introduction

• body

• conclusion

• any part

The preamble to the U.S. Constitution, written in 1787, begins with the words “We the people..." and goes on to

​define the six roles of the U.S. Government

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

The Guarantees of the Preamble​

Multiple Choice

In what year was the U.S. Constitution written?

• 1776

• 1781

• 1787

• 1800

Open Ended

How many roles of government are defined in the "Preamble" of the U.S. Constitution?

Similar to other governments the Constitution guaranteed that the government would "establish justice" which includes making laws.

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This means creating a legal system that is fair​

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Role #1:

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Multiple Choice

Making laws and a fair legal system is to "establish ____"

• hierarchy

• justice

• domestic tranquility

• a more perfect union

The Preamble also guarantees citizens that government will "insure domestic tranquility" which simply means ​keeping peace within the country

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Role #2:

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Multiple Choice

Which role defined in the Preamble of the Constitution means to keep peace within the country?

• "establish justice"

• "insure domestic tranquility"

• "to provide for the common defense"

• "to promote the general welfare"

The Preamble also guarantees citizens that government will "provide for the common defense" which means to protect its people from external threats.

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Role #3:

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of The United States "providing for the common defense.."?

• Creating a fair court system

• Creating checks and balances in the government

• Building a strong military

• Holding local elections

"to form a more perfect union" is another role of government defined the preamble​.

That means for states and people to work together; states are not completely separate from the union​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Role #4:

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Multiple Choice

"to form a more perfect union" means for states and people to work in isolation (completely separate) from one another.

• True

• False

The new government would also look to take care of the well-being of its people or...

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"promote the general welfare​..."

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Role #5:

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of how The United States "promotes the general welfare..." of its people

• Creating a strong military

• Creating laws

• Creating a strong federal government

• Instituting minimum wage laws

Finally, the Preamble of the Constitution looked to...

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"to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity​"

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Which means to keep America free now and forever​

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Role #6:

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of how The United States works "to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity"...

• The right to vote

• A strong military

• Food stamps

• Medicare

Multiple Choice

Which of The following is NOT a role defined in the Preamble of the Constitution?

• "to form a more perfect union"

• "to establish justice"

• "to ensure domestic tranquility"

• "To tax the rich and tax harder the poor"

Multiple Choice

Which of The following is NOT a role defined in the Preamble of the Constitution?

• "to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity"

• "To honor the King, your God, and your fellow man"

• "to provide for the common defense"

• "to form a more perfect union."

Open Ended

Which of the six roles of Government outlined in the Preamble of the Constitution do you value most? Explain

Poll

How well do you feel you understand the roles of government as defined in the Preamble of the Constitution?

• 1 = Not at all

• 2 = Pretty well

• 3 = Very well

• 4 = Extremely well