July 4 is Independence Day. This is a celebration of the United States’ independence from the British Empire. This independence was bravely fought by the citizens of the original thirteen colonies. Independence was declared on July 4, 1776 when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. This is an important part of American history, arguably the most important part. It is the birth of what would become the American Government. The American Government governs the rule of law in this country. As citizens, we follow the rules set out by the government. It’s an important part of civics studies. Our American Government ready-made lesson plan highlights the basics of American Government and provides the building blocks for understanding of how our government works.
The government of the United States is based on the Constitution. It is set up as a democracy or a government in which the people choose who governs them. The belief that the people hold the highest power in a government is called popular sovereignty. Download a copy of the Constitution here.
The U.S. Constitution can be added to or changed by amendments. In order for an amendment to become a law, the voters must approve it. The first ten amendments of the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. Do some research into the 10 Amendments of the Bill of Rights. Download this chart to write down what you find.
The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. It divides the government into three parts: the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. It also states that any citizen may take part in the government by voting. Each of the three parts of government has an important purpose. The Constitution describes each part and its purpose. Download this Reading Passage and Mini Poster to learn about the three branches of government and what they do.
Celebrate this Fourth of July by exploring the government that it represents. Utilize our American Government ready-made lesson plan to learn how a bill becomes a law, how government is elected, and how the system of checks and balances work, among others. Visit the blog post on Our Approach to Core Subjects: SOCIAL STUDIES to learn how our ready-made lesson plans are broken down.