1. Bell Ringer
“Few of their children in the country learn English... The signs in our streets have inscriptions in both languages... Unless the stream of their importation could be turned they will soon so outnumber us that all the advantages we have will not be able to preserve our language, and even our government will become precarious.”
Who said this? About immigrants from what country?

2. What did the Founders Think About Constitutional Government?
Mr. Szymanski
NCUHS

3. Vocabulary Group 1 Constitution Constitutional government Democracy
Forms of government
Limited government
Parliament
Group 3
Republic
Unwritten Constitution
Written Constitution

4. FRAYER MODEL Definition (in own words) Draw a picture
                         
Examples (from life)        Non-examples (from life)

5. What were some characteristics of colonial America?
Physical distance (New York/Pennsylvania larger than England/Scotland)
Native people
Diverse backgrounds (Puritans/Quakers, French/Dutch/German/British)
Differences in agriculture (scale/leisure/slavery)
Self-reliance
Q: How would each of these shape opinions of government?

6. How did the Founders learn about Government?
Experience w/ self-government in the colonies
Greek/Roman literature
Enlightenment thinkers

7. What did the Founders learn about Government?
Classical Philosophy
Civic duty = highest good
Democracy class warfare people accept tyrants who offer security
Natural Rights
- People are born w/ right to “life, liberty, property” & form society/government to protect rights

8. What did the Founders learn about Government?
British History
Monarchy can become democracy if they respect rights of citizens
American Colonial History
Local self-government can co-exist with central authority

9. What did the Founders learn about Government?
*Government should be the servant, not the master, of the people
*A fundamental higher law, or constitution should limit government
Q: In a nation in which government is the servant of the people, what obligations, if any, do the people have to the government?

10. From What Forms of Government Could the Founders Choose?
Aristotle: Government performs 3 functions
Legislative=make laws
Judicial=judge those who break
Executive=carry out laws

11. From What Forms of Government Could the Founders Choose?
3 Forms of Govt-
# who rule
Right form- ruled by common good
Corrupt form- ruled by private interest
Rule
Right
Corrupt
One
Monarchy
Tyranny
Few
Aristocracy
Oligarchy
Many
Polity
Democracy

12. From What Forms of Government Could the Founders Choose?
Polybius/Cicero: promoted polity (mixed government)
Montesquieu:
-argues for a separation of power
-England as a mixed Constitution:
a. limited monarchy
b. aristocracy (House of Lords)
c. democracy (House of Commons)

13. From What Forms of Government Could the Founders Choose?
-British Parliament = representative govt.
Why not choose direct democracy?
History shows failure
Personal experience shows failure
Representative govt ensures that those who govern are required to obey the law.

14. What is a constitution?
Constitution: a plan of government that sets forth the structures and powers of government.
Written Constitution: Controversy about intent of words written long ago
Unwritten Constitution: combination of previous written laws (Britain, Israel, NZ)

15. How did the Founders Characterize Higher Law?
Sets forth the basic rights of citizens
Establishes the responsibility of the government to protect those rights
Establishes limitations on how those in government may use their power
It can be changed only with the consent of the citizens and according to established procedures

16. Critical Thinking Exercise
Students (Hamilton, Franklin, or Mason) will read their quote on p.10, and answer, then ho-group and share.
What view of human nature is expressed in each of these statements?
If you agree with the views of human nature expressed in these statements, what kind of safeguards would you include in a constitution?
Do you think the Founders’ concerns about government are as valid today as they were in the 1700s? Why or Why not?

17. What Do You Think? Journal Response
Is it important that a constitution be written? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a written constitution? Of an unwritten constitution?