U.S. GOVERNMENT Our History

STANDARDS  SS2H1 The student will read about and describe the lives of historical figures in Georgia history.  SS2G1 The student will define the concept of government and the need for rules and laws. 

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS  What was the Declaration of Independence?  Why did the colonies not want a king?  How did they run their government without a king?  What is the difference between fact and opinion?

WHO?  One Big Bad King vs. the 13 Original Colonies The colonists had come to America to find freedom from English rule. They did not want to elect a king in America! The king of England wanted the colonists to listen to him, even if they were on the other side of the ocean!

WHAT?  American Revolution George Washington lead an army against the king’s soldiers. Samuel Adams made speeches to get people to fight for independence. Benjamin Franklin encouraged people to think about why they wanted freedoms. Abigail Adams wrote what she saw and thought about the fight for independence.  Declaration (making a statement) of Independence  Government

WHEN?  The war ended in  How would you find out how many years ago the Revolutionary War ended? 1791: Still not there… 1811: Slaves Revolting 1831: 55 th birthday of Declaration of Independence 1851: Sewing Machine Invented 1871: 1 st Major League Baseball 1931: Grandparents’ Grandparents 1911: Titanic was built 1891: Basketball Invented 1991: 2 nd Grade Parents… 1971: Cell Invented… Grandparents 1951: Parents’ Grandparents 2011:2 nd Graders… 1985: CDs invented… 2 years later Ms. Wain was born!

WHERE?

HOW?  The colonies got what they wanted because they were no longer controlled by the king of England.  The colonies got what they needed because they created a government to keep them safe, at peace, and working together. The created a government that was fair and just, and that they could all trust.  Fact or Opinion?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS  What was the Declaration of Independence?  Why did the colonies not want a king?  How did they run their government without a king?  What is the difference between fact and opinion?

VOCABULARY  Independence  Declaration  Government  Fact  Opinion

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  What would things be like today if there were no government?  Or if we were still ruled by England?