U.S. GOVERNMENT

Our History

STANDARDS

SS2H1 The student will read about and describe

the lives of historical figures in Georgia history.

SS2G1 The student will define the concept of

government and the need for rules and laws.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5EASiHAKpY

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

What was the Declaration of Independence?

Why did the colonies not want a king?

How did they run their government without a king?

What is the difference between fact and opinion?

WHO?

One Big Bad King vs. the 13 Original Colonies• The colonists had come to America to find freedom

from English rule. They did not want to elect a king in America!

• The king of England wanted the colonists to listen to him, even if they were on the other side of the ocean!

WHAT?

American Revolution• George Washington lead an army against the king’s

soldiers.• Samuel Adams made speeches to get people to fight for

independence.• Benjamin Franklin encouraged people to think about

why they wanted freedoms.• Abigail Adams wrote what she saw and thought about the

fight for independence.

Declaration (making a statement) of Independence

Government

WHEN?

The war ended in 1783.

How would you find out how many years ago the

Revolutionary War ended?

1791: Still not there…

1811: Slaves Revolting

1831: 55th birthday of Declaration of Independence

1851: Sewing Machine Invented

1871: 1st Major League Baseball

1931: Grandparents’ Grandparents

1911: Titanic was built

1891: Basketball Invented

1991: 2nd Grade Parents…

1971: Cell Invented…Grandparents

1951: Parents’ Grandparents

2011:2nd Graders…

1985: CDs invented… 2 years later Ms. Wain was born!

WHERE?

HOW?

The colonies got what they wanted because they

were no longer controlled by the king of England.

The colonies got what they needed because they

created a government to keep them safe, at peace,

and working together. The created a government

that was fair and just, and that they could all trust.

Fact or Opinion?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

What was the Declaration of Independence?

Why did the colonies not want a king?

How did they run their government without a king?

What is the difference between fact and opinion?

VOCABULARY

Independence

Declaration

Government

Fact

Opinion

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What would things be like today if there were no

government?

Or if we were still ruled by England?