 Citizens are people who have certain rights and duties.  Citizens owe their loyalty to their government

 A government is the ruling authority for a community.  For hundreds of years people have formed governments  The United States is only 230 years old so we are relatively young compared to other nations of the world

Thomas Hobbes English politically thinker of the 1600s He believed that life without gov’t would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” He also believed that without government we would compete for territory; fighting would become normal

 John Locke  In 1690, Locke published the Second Treatise of Government  He wrote that a “good gov’t is based on a social contract between the people and the rulers.”  People must give up some of their rights and freedoms and in return the gov’t promises to “protect the lives, property, and liberty of the people.  Locke wrote that all people have the rights to “life, liberty, and property”

 Keep order  pass and enforce laws (traffic laws)  establish courts (determine the innocence or guilt)  Provide public services  provide libraries, schools, hospitals, parks, water, and utilities  the goal of most public services is keep people healthy and safe  All 50 states give help to needy people through food aid, affordable housing, health care, job training.

 Provide security  Prevent crime(provide police officers)  Protect citizens from foreign attacks (armed forces)   Guide the community  manage the economy(create a budget)  conduct foreign affairs 

Rule of law everyone, even the leaders, are subject to the law Limited Gov’t the gov’t gets its power from people(popular sovereignty) they gov’t can only do as much as the people allow Consent of the governed American citizens are the source of all governmental power. Individual rights our Bill of Rights protect our individual rights freedom of speech, right to a trial by a jury of our peers, etc

 Representative Gov’t  we elect people to make laws and govern on our behalf   Majority v Minority Rule  The majority rule explains how we cannot please everyone  When there are disagreements we tend to agree with what the majority of people want.  Although we insist on the respect for the rights of the minority

 1.until the mid-1900s, most immigrants came from Europe  An immigrant is someone who moves permanently to an area.  2.the first Europeans to settle permanently in North America were the Spanish in the 1500s.  s people from France, and England came to North America  4. English colonist settled the 13 colonies

 The largest amount of immigrants came to the United States b/w , equaling 22 million.  African Immigrants  They did not come willingly  Western and Central Africans were taken from their homes to be sold as slaves in the Caribbean Islands and North and South America

 Ethnicity  We are not all alike.  Not all of us identify ourselves with as a member of one ethnic group  Whites of European descent number 211million, 35 million African Americans, 11 million Asians and Pacific Islanders, 2.5 million Native Americans, and 35 million Hispanics. (this number has changed in recent years and is now the largest minority in America).  Freedom of Religion  Although Christianity is the most popular religion in America, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and many other religions worship freely   ** How would you describe American culture??**

 Immigration may be one reason that we have a growing population but between 1830 and 1930 our population grew from 12 million to 120 million people.  Our population stands at over 300 million today.

 The places were we live are changing  African-Americans moved or migrated to the North, post-Civil War.  The Northeast used to be the most populous portion of the United States, now the South claims this distinction.  People are living longer, and having fewer children

 What makes us all Americans?  Founding documents  Declaration of Independence  U.S. Constitution of 1787  Bill of Rights of 1791  the basic rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness  English   ** Why does having one common language help unify a country?** 

 Patriotism  love for one’s country  Waving the flag  Singing the national anthem  Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance  Following the laws  Voting 

 Terrorism  Terrorism is the use of violence by groups against civilians to achieve a political goal.  ** Do you feel that since 9/11, we as Americans have become more or less patriotic? Is it okay to not agree with the war on terror? Why or Why not**  Please write a one paragraph response do the above statements.