From its creation, the United States was different from its European predecessors. Its people were not united by a common heritage, ethnicity or even language. It was then, as it is now, a diverse nation of immigrants. What united it was a radical belief of the time, that "all men are created equal," and that a free people could govern themselves and not descend into anarchy and chaos. For centuries, European nations had monarchs and aristocracies to maintain order and stability from generation to generation. The United States declared that its people would be governed only by their elected representatives. This belief in democracy, as one British commentator observed, created in the United States "a nation with the soul of a church," united by a common belief.
Three documents have been central to the essence of this perception. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by the Second Continental Congress in 1776 in Philadelphia to explain and justify why the colonies were separating themselves from the domination of Great Britain. Delegates from 13 colonies along the Atlantic Coast sent delegates to the convention in Philadelphia. They approved a resolution to separate themselves from Britain and appointed a committee of five men to draft an explanation to the world why the colonies were taking this step. The committee chose Thomas Jefferson of Virginia to write the original draft. He began with an explanation of why governments are established and then moved on to the injustices the colonies had endured by Parliament and the king. The document ends with the declaration that the colonies were from now on free from British rule. It was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, America's Independence Day. It declares that "all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights." The nation has never fully lived up to that bold statement in practice, but it is the measure against which perceived injustices are measured.
The former colonies that defeated the British Empire needed to establish some legal framework that would bind them together for certain purposes but not become as oppressive as the monarch they had just defeated. At first, the Articles of Confederation provided a weak central government but pressure for a stronger authority developed quickly. In 1787, delegates to a Constitutional Convention began meeting to strike a balance between responsibilities left to the states and those delegated to the federal government.
Like the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution begins with a preamble that sets forth its purpose — "to form a more perfect union." Federal authority is divided into three branches: the legislative branch that makes the laws; the executive that administers the laws; and the judicial that interprets the laws in cases of conflict. Central to the Constitution is the concept of checks and balances. Each branch has some authority to curb undue power exercised by the other two branches. Some duties were specifically delegated to the federal government and some specifically reserved to the states. The Convention specified that the plan would go into effect when nine states approved it. New Hampshire was the ninth in 1788, and Rhode Island was the last in 1790. George Washington was elected as the first president in 1788.
Ever concerned that the central government could abuse the rights of the people as the colonists felt Great Britain had done, Congress proposed a series of amendments to the Constitution that specifically spelled out restrictions on the federal government. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights, including the First Amendment, which states that individuals shall have the right to freedom of speech, religion, the press and assembly and the right to petition the government.
These three documents are central to how the United States presents itself to its own people and to the world. They have been copied by many emerging democracies around the world and show remarkable resilience over the 250 years since their adoption.
Government, Democracy and Laws Teaching Guide |
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The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.
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This document is the written judgment from Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Mason, who in 1839 ruled that a former enslaved man named Ralph would be "...free by operation of law; it is therefore ordered and adjudged; that he be discharged fro...
Iowa's first constitution of 1846 required Black individuals to pay a $500 bond to enter the state and stopped them from voting, holding office, serving in the state militia, attending public schools and marrying White individuals. Alexander Clark par...
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he Civil Rights Act of 1968 was a landmark law in the United States signed into law by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson provided an avenue for equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed or national origin and made it a federal crime to...
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In the 1960s, some Des Moines students tested the U.S. Constitution's definition of freedom of speech. A few students wore black armbands to school to support a truce (period of peace) in the Vietnam War (1965-73). Black armbands are a symbol of sadne...
This webpage offers perspective about the democratic ideals that led to the development of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.
This organization offers free educational video lessons that feature the museum's education staff, distinguished scholars and even some famous faces who bring America's democracy and the stories of "We the People" to life.
This is a National Archives digital activity to sort documents and images related to the founding of the United States.
This webpage from Iowa PBS and Iowa Pathways focuses on the creation and implementation of the Iowa Constitution.
This archived issue of The Mini Page - an educational children's newspaper - focuses on the Bill of Rights.
This archived article from The Mini Page - an educational children's newspaper - focuses on the Amendments 11 through 26 of the U.S. Constitution.
This book explains the meaning of the Bill of Rights for students.
The Declaration of Independence in Translation: What It Really Means by Amie Jane LeavittThis book explains the meaning of the Declaration of Independence for students.
We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States by David CatrowThis book is helpful to inspire discussion in classrooms with an illustrated look at the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution and provides an accessible introduction to America's founding ideals for citizens of all ages.
Listed below are the Iowa Core Social Studies content anchor standards that are best reflected in this source set. The content standards applied to this set are elementary-age level and encompass the key disciplines that make up social studies for fifth-grade students.
No. | Standard Description |
SS.5.14. | Explain how various levels of government use taxes to pay for the goods and services they provide. |
SS.5.24. | Explain probable causes and effects of historical developments. |
SS.5.25. | Develop a claim about the past and cite evidence to support it. |