Social Studies Unit One Lesson 4 The Preamble to the Constitution
Civics Standards Covered in This Lesson Students will examine the structure and purposes of governments with specific emphasis on constitutional democracy.
What you will learn from this lesson. Why the constitution was written.
Vocabulary As we go over the following vocabulary use the Vocabulary Worksheet to match the vocabulary word to its correct meaning.
Vocabulary Preamble – an introduction, the beginning of a document that explains why the document has been written Domestic – having to do with your country and/or your home Tranquility – peacefulness
Vocabulary Welfare – state of doing well, being happy, having enough money for your needs Posterity – your descendents, the future generations
Preamble to the Constitution Discovery United Streaming Video Complete the Preamble to the Constitution worksheet as you watch the video.
Preamble to the Constitution We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.
Why the Constitution Was Written “in order to form a more perfect union” The states were coming together as a union, or they were being united. The framers of the constitution wanted this union of states to be “more perfect.” They wanted it to work for all the people.
Why the Constitution Was Written “establish justice” The framers did not feel that they had had justice under the ruling of England. They wanted to make sure that there was justice for all the people in the country, not just those who had money.
Why the Constitution Was Written “insure domestic tranquility” The framers wanted to make sure that we had peace in our country and homes. They didn’t want us to be afraid of those in authority.
Why the Constitution Was Written “provide for the common defence” They wanted to make sure that there was a way that all people could defend their rights, not just the rich. “Defence, was written in the preamble with a “c”, not an “s” like we do today.
Why the Constitution Was Written “promote the general welfare” The framers of the constitution were concerned about the welfare of all, not just the richest people in the country.
Why the Constitution Was Written “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity” The framers of the constitution wanted to be sure that we would live in a country where we would have freedom and that the freedoms we enjoyed would continue for our posterity, future generations.
Vocabulary Review Preamble – an introduction, the beginning of a document that explains why the document has been written Domestic – having to do with your country and/or your home Tranquility – peacefulness
Vocabulary Review Welfare – state of doing well, being happy, having enough money for your needs Posterity – your descendents, the future generations
What We Have Learned We have learned why the constitution was written by looking at the Preamble to the Constitution.
What We Have Learned We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.