Foundations of Government and the Founding Era

What this unit covers

This unit sits in the Democracy and Government strand of Ethics, citizenship and civics. The listed resources follow the story of how ideas about government shaped the founding of the United States. Most are flashcard decks and mind maps made by GoConqr users, with a few quizzes, notes and a flowchart.

Where to start

Begin with the vocabulary. The deck QUIZ CH 1 covers terms such as constitution, sovereignty, democracy, republic and socialism. Next, open Chapter 2 roots of democracy, which lists the Enlightenment, natural rights, the social contract, bicameral legislatures and early colonial bodies. Chapter 2 Vocabulary: Civics adds terms like parliament, precedent, common law, mercantilism and boycott.

Using the mind maps

Many maps share one theme: influences on self-government and limited government. Several users have mapped it in their own way, so you can compare them. They link the Renaissance, Parliament and the Enlightenment to thinkers such as Hobbes, Locke and Montesquieu. Principles of American Democracy widens the view to other thinkers and the Declaration of Independence.

A second group of maps compares the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Sentiments. Read one, then see how another user organised the same links.

Checking what you know

Use the quizzes after the maps. Try Government EOC Practice Test and Social Studies WTP Unit 2 to see which terms you can recall without help. Then go back to the decks for anything you missed. Teachers may find the notes, such as The Purposes and Origins of Government, Part 2, handy for a lesson starter.

Make it your own

Choose one map, read it through, then build your own version from memory and compare. A map or deck of your own is a good way to see what has stuck.