Unit Introduction:

The Development of American Constitutional Democracy

Unit Highlights

In this unit, students will analyze primary and secondary sources to explain the major events preceding the founding of the nation and relate their significance to the development of American constitutional democracy. Students will be able to:

  • Explain the ideas of the Great Awakening and its impact on the American Revolution.

  • Evaluate the type of government outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

  • Explain the effects the American Revolution had on other nations

  • Classify the nation’s blend of civic republicanism, classical liberal principles, and English parliamentary traditions.

Unit Vocabulary

  • The American Revolution

  • Baptists

  • Civic Republicanism

  • Classical Liberalism

  • The Declaration of Independence

  • English Parliamentary Tradition

  • The French Revolution

  • The Great Awakening

  • Haitian Revolution

  • The Latin American Wars of Independence

  • Methodist

  • Thomas Jefferson

Activity 1: The Development of American Constitutional Democracy Pre-Test

Using your prior knowledge, brainstorm, list, and/or draw what you know about the development of American constitutional democracy in a thinking map. Complete this assignment on the Thinking Maps Learning Community or on paper. You may include:

  • Information you know or kind of know about the development of American constitutional democracy.

  • Guesses about the development of American constitutional democracy.

  • Questions you have about the development of American constitutional democracy.

  • Information you would like to know about the development of American constitutional democracy.

  • What comes to mind when you think of the development of American constitutional democracy.