Social Studies IV: US Government

This curriculum is available to anyone, anywhere, at any time, independently studying US Government. Homeschoolers are welcome to utilize this program and customize it to their needs and wants. Comment or email us about your experiences with the program, and ways you modified the course. campoakhallows@gmail.com

Our textbook: Ginsberg, Benjamin, et al. We the People: an Introduction to American Politics. W.W. Norton & Company, 2017.

Online resources: Quizlet study sets “US Government” Units 0-5

Course Map

• Introduction to Government [Project: Design a Nation]
• Branches of American Government [Report: A Significant Moment in the History of Checks and Balances]
• Early American Government and Politics [Project: “An Accompaniment to Hamilton“]
• Developing Politics in America [Report: A Selected Moment in Social Justice]
• Modern American Government and Politics [Project: Redesign a Nation]
• Final Exam: UTHS CBE: US Government OR AP US Government and Politics Released Exam Free-Response Essay

Design a Nation

Purpose: Encourage critical thinking about social, geographic, economic, and global influences on the development of nations.

Guidelines: Choose a medium in which to present a nation of your own creation. Visual models with detailed accompanying reports, video “news casts,” a mock newspaper, or PowerPoint presentation breaking down significant features are a few options.

Include:

• Name of Nation, location on the globe, type of government, flag
• Breakdown of society (Classes and their rights, history)
• Political processes and citizenship
• Geography
• Significant figures
• Foreign Policy

An Accompaniment to Hamilton

What happened from the perspective of other Revolutionary-Era characters portrayed in the Broadway musical Hamilton?

Purpose: Critical thinking encouraging realization and humanization of history

Guidelines: Choose a medium to work with (essay, music, skit, visual art) and show an era-appropriate figure’s perspective on the Revolution and early United States of America

Include:

• Figure’s name, age, socioeconomic status, political beliefs
• Their position in a significant moment portrayed in Hamilton
• An analysis of why they would have that position
• Their position in the Revolutionary War
• An analysis of why they would have that position
• Their position on the Reynold’s Pamphlet
• An analysis of why they would have that position

Redesign a Nation

Purpose: Analyze a government and country, and reconfigure it to “perfection.”

Guidelines: Choose a medium in which to present a nation of your own creation. Visual models with detailed accompanying reports, video “news casts,” a mock newspaper, or PowerPoint presentation breaking down significant features are a few options.

Include:

• Name of Nation, location on the globe, type of government, flag
• Breakdown of society (Classes and their rights, history)
• Political processes and citizenship
• Geography
• Significant figures
• Foreign Policy
• Their history in connection with the US, and how it would be different with your changes

Prepare for the Final Exam

Prepare to write an AP Essay