The+Road+to+Our+Constitution

===Once the Continental Congress declared the independence of the colonies from Great Britain on July 4, 1776 with the Declaration of Independence, they needed to set up a central government for the new United States. The first governing Document of the United States was called the Articles of Confederation and was based on the ideals that we were fighting for in the Revolution. This worked for a few years but there were some major problems with the Articles and they were replaced with the Constitution we have today. For the next few days, we will look at the road we as Americans traveled to get to the government we have today.=== Anneberg Classroom

=**The Articles of Confederation**=
 * In 1775, Benjamin Franklin brought the "The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union" to the Second Continental Congress and offered them as a plan for the government of the United States. Below you will find several readings and questions to answer that will help you better understand our government. Please copy and paste the questions and vocabulary in the appropriate section you Social Studies OneNote.**

//**Essential Question: Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?**//


=**The Constitutional Convention**= media type="youtube" key="S-bmAqhMrX4" width="420" height="315"

Introducing a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention
In this activity you are going to research one of the members of the Constitutional Convention and introduce that person to your class.

=Unit Standards=

**B. Civics and Government** **Students draw on concepts from civics and government to understand political systems, power, authority, governance, civic ideals and practices, and the role of citizens in the community, Maine, the United States, and world.** **1. Knowledge, Concepts, Themes, and Patterns of Civics/Government** //Students understand the basic ideals, purposes, principles, structures, and processes of constitutional government in Maine and the United States as well as examples of other forms of government in the world.// a. Explain that the study of government includes the structures and functions of government and the political and civic activity of citizens. b. Analyze examples of democratic ideals and constitutional principles that include the rule of law, legitimate power, and common good. c. Describe the structures and processes of United States government and government of the State of Maine and how these are framed by the United States Constitution, the Maine Constitution, and other primary sources. d. Explain the concepts of federalism and checks and balances and the role these concepts play in the governments of the United States and Maine as framed by the United States Constitution, the Maine Constitution and other primary sources. e. Compare how laws are made in Maine and at the federal level in the United States.

**2. Rights, Duties, Responsibilities, and Citizen Participation in Government** //Students understand constitutional and legal// //rights,// //civic// //duties and responsibilities// //, and roles of citizens in a constitutional democracy.// b. Describe how the powers of government are limited to protect individual rights and minority rights as described in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  relations privileges immunities extradition republic amendment propose ratify supreme