1. SO… WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? WHAT LED TO A REVOLUTION?

2. THE AMERICAN POLITICAL TRADITION Read the article and answer the corresponding questions.

3. SO…WHY DID WE HAVE A PROBLEM? a)England was all about making money and they best way to make money was off the backs of the colonists. b)They would take our resources, tax us heavily, and then not take our feelings into account when passing laws concerning the colonies c)Stamp Act-  Boston Tea Party  Brits send troops  Paul Revere  Shots heard around the world

4. DIVIDE YOUR PAPER INTO TWO COLUMNS a)On one side, make a list of the grievances or problems the colonists had with the King and England b)In the second column, indicate what was placed in the Constitution that addressed those problems.

5. NOW WHAT? a)So, war begins… our ragtag group of soldiers versus the most elite fighting force on the planet b)July 4, 1776 we officially declare our independence with the Declaration of Independence c)Articles of Confederation was written to serve as our first government…you’ll hear more about these later…

6. WE DECIDED ON A DEMOCRACY a)The idea of “rule of the people” had been around for many many many many years b)Aristotle wrote about “rule of the many” c) Two types of democracy: 1) direct- rule by the people themselves 2) indirect (republic)- rule by elected representatives

7. FEDERALIST 10 Read Federalist 10 and answer the accompanying questions. Think about…is Democracy ever a bad thing?

8. MANY FOUNDERS DISTRUSTED DIRECT DEMOCRACY a)Impractical b)Fleeting passions of the people  concerned that they would be swayed by demagogues c)Federalist 10- Madison’s opinion of the dangers of democracy

9. SO….THEY DECIDED ON A REPUBLIC “Secures the advantages of direct democracy while curing its weaknesses” How?!?!?!

10. DEMOCRATIC THEORY a)Politics by the Elite. Minorities dominate policy making? WHO IS A MINORITY??? b) Pluralist view: political resources are scattered so that no one group has a monopoly on them c) Hyperpluralism: too many groups that government becomes gridlocked

11. FUNDAMENTAL DEMOCRATIC VALUES a)Popular Sovereignty b)Respect for the individual…the state serves the individual not visa-versa c)Liberty d)Equality…keep in mind this is equality of opportunity, not a Marxist view of equality

12. FUNDAMENTAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES a)Free and fair elections with competing political parties b)Majority rules with minority rights; fear of “tyranny of the majority” protected property rights c)Freedom of expression d)Right to assemble and protest

13. FUNDAMENTAL DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURES a)Federalism b)Separation of Powers c)Checks and Balances d)Constitutionalism Politics is not just “who gets what” but how people, especially the elites speaking for the people, define public policy