CIVICS Β· AMERICAN GOVERNMENT Β· UNIT 2
Foundations of American Government Unit Plan
Everything you need for an engaging, student-driven unit on the foundations of American government in Civics or American Government, with easy-to-follow lesson plans for every day.
Unit 2 Overview
Where did our democracy begin?
This is the second unit in my Civics and American Government curriculum. Before students can make sense of the Constitution, they need to see where its ideas came from. This unit traces those roots from ancient Athens and Rome through English rights, the Enlightenment, and the documents of the American Revolution.
Along the way, students compare ancient governments, analyze the Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights, meet the Enlightenment philosophers through "magic portrait" videos, break down the Declaration of Independence, and wrap up with a project on the fundamentals of American democracy.
You can buy every resource for this unit here, or join Students of History to immediately access every lesson online, along with every other unit in the course.
Day-by-Day Flow
How the unit runs
The unit plan guide includes lesson plans for every day, so you always know which resource to use and how. Here's how the unit moves from start to finish.
Athens and Rome
The unit opens with station readings on Greek forms of government. Then students compare the governments of ancient Athens and Rome with a drag-and-drop Google Drive page and start the unit guide packet they'll use all unit.
English Rights
A Magna Carta reading kicks things off before a PowerPoint traces England's shift from a powerful king to a powerful Parliament. Students then analyze the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and English Bill of Rights.
The Enlightenment
Students meet Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, and more through a "magic portrait" PowerPoint where the philosophers blink and smile on screen. A salon party activity or Hobbes and Locke comparison helps them sort out each thinker's ideas.
Early American Documents
Students read the Mayflower Compact and rewrite Thomas Paine's Common Sense for a modern audience. Then George Mason and Thomas Jefferson come alive in another magic portrait lesson and a webquest.
The Declaration of Independence
Framed as a "break-up letter" to England, students analyze each part of the Declaration. A comparing declarations worksheet lines it up with France's Declaration of the Rights of Man.
Democracy PBL & Review
Students create a project promoting the fundamentals of American democracy as a clothing designer, marketing executive, landscape architect, and more. After sharing projects, a Clue-style review game gets them ready for the test.
What's Included
Over 30 resources, ready to teach
Every resource comes in both print and digital formats, plus a unit plan guide with lesson ideas for each day and links to videos and online resources.
- A complete unit guide packet students use throughout the unit
- A full set of digital notebook activities for Google Drive
- 3 PowerPoint lessons with guided notes on the English Civil War, the Enlightenment philosophers, and the influence of George Mason and Thomas Jefferson
- A comparing Athens and Rome activity and a Greek forms of government activity
- A Magna Carta reading and an activity on the development of English rights
- An Age of Enlightenment "salon party" activity
- A comparing Hobbes and Locke activity, plus Enlightenment interactive notebook pages in print and digital versions
- Analysis activities on the Mayflower Compact and Thomas Paine's Common Sense
- A Revolutionary Ideas Mailbox activity and an Iroquois Constitution analysis
- A Jefferson and the Declaration webquest
- Declaration of Independence analysis pages in print and digital versions, plus a comparing declarations worksheet
- A project-based learning assignment on the fundamentals of American democracy, with sample student projects
- "Magic Portrait" videos of the Enlightenment philosophers
- A Clue-style review game and an editable unit test with a Google Forms version
Teacher Reviews
What teachers say about this unit
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βThis was a great addition to my government unit. The students really enjoyed working together on these activities.β
Megan G.Teacher
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βThis resource was super engaging for my students! They really love many of the activities offered here.β
Jacqueline H.Teacher
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βWell thought out resource with numerous fun activities and diverse resources.β
Kaleb E.Teacher
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βThese lessons are very well organized and kept my students engaged.β
Andrea T.Teacher
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βHighly recommend, excellent resource. The content is accurate, accessible, and aligned with educational standards, making it an excellent resource for middle and high school classrooms.β
Joshua L.Teacher
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See the rest of the course
This is unit 2 of 11 in my complete Civics and American Government curriculum.
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