1. The American Journey to Freedom
We will identify the influence of ideas from historic documents on the American system of government using a visual metaphor.

2. but where did we get them?
Preview
“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
powerful
words
but where did we get them?

3. Read the placard and quotes from the document at your station.
Procedure
Objective
Read the placard and quotes from the document at your station.
Discuss meaning with group members.
Write a summary of the excerpt.
Identify the main impact of the document. Be specific.
We will identify the influence of ideas from historic documents on the American system of government using a visual metaphor.

4. Freedom in America is like the growth of a tree…
IMPACT
FOUNDATIONS
Seeds?
Roots?
Trunk?
Branches?
Leaves?
Limited Gov’t?
Popular Sovereignty?
Separation of Powers?
Freedom of Religion?
Freedom of Press?
Other?
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Magna Carta

5. Remember the Declaration is the root…
Unalienable rights
Governments exist to protect the rights of people
Governments only exist as long as the people “consent” to being governed…
So how does this translate to the actual Constitution?

6. The Constitution
Preamble: Introduction – the purpose of our government
7 Articles: sets up how government will function (3 branches, states, etc.), how to change things, and how to get Constitution approved.
27 Amendments (1st 10 are Bill of Rights)

7. The Preamble We the people In order to form a more perfect union
Establish justice
Ensure domestic tranquility
Provide for the common defense
Promote general welfare
Secure the blessings of liberty
To ourselves and our posterity
Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

8. What are the blessings of liberty?
ACTIVITY:
If the leaves of a tree represent what grows from it, – what are the things that grow from our republic…what are the benefits we enjoy as a result of our Constitution?
Write down a “fruit” of the Constitution on a leaf.
YOU SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 5 (FIVE) “LEAVES”
I can go to church wherever I want.
I can make my own decisions.
Examples:
The people are the final authority; no one person is in charge.
Popular Sovereignty (trunk)
Freedom of religion (branch)
Pursuit of happiness (root)

9. YOUR TASK…
We will analyze how the US Constitution reflects popular sovereignty, limited government, republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, checks & balances, and individual rights using the visual metaphor of a tree and an “I am” poem.
Create an “I Am” poem that demonstrates what you’ve learned about the benefits of being an American using language from the documents we’ve identified and the principles we’ve analyzed.
I am an American
I wonder if our representatives are truly worthy of our consent
I hear different opinions being expressed openly.
I see soldiers putting their lives on the line for our way of living.
I want my vote to make a difference.
I think we’re too worried these days about safety and not enough about our personal freedoms
I know there’s great responsibility with self government.
I pretend I’m Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration
I feel
I worry about those without individual rights
I cry when I think of our struggle for freedom