Unit1:
Foundations of
Government
Mr. Sickman - Heard County High School
Unit 1: Foundations of Government
What is the purpose of Government?
Provide Public Goods and Services
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
1
Purpose of Government
Types of Government
2
Economic Systems
3
Documents that
3
4
American Revolution
5
*Libraries
* Fire and Rescue
Protect Citizens & Nation
influenced the
U.S. Constitution
Declaration of
Independence
*Health Department
*Transportation
1-2
Principals of Democracy
*Schools
*Police
*Jails
*Military
* Laws
Caption describing picture or graphic.
Keep Order & Resolve Conflict
*Laws
*Police
* Civil Suites
*Courts
Caption describing picture or graphic.
Types of Government Systems
Questions for thought:
1. What types would you
pick for a country?
2. Why did you pick the
ones you did?
3. What are some of the
pros and cons of the
types you picked?
Main Idea:
There are many different types and variations of
government systems around the world.
A Country Could be:
A Country Could also be:

Unitary

Autocratic

Federal

Democratic

Confederal

Oligarchic
And a Country Could be either:

Presidential

Parliamentary
Page 2
U nit1: Foundatio ns of Government
Functions and purposes of:
Unitary
The country of China is very large
but has a Unitary type of
government that is an Oligarchy.

A Single government with all the
power in the hands of the national government.

Mostly in small or autocratic
countries

Two or more governments with
shared and separate powers.

Mostly in large or democratic
countries.

A loose union of states each with
its own powers

Very rare and not really functional

A country run by a single ruler

Popular long time ago but rarely
used today

Rule by the people.

Very popular today but many
countries find it difficult to
achieve

Rule by a few powerful or elite

Considered to be the most common form of government today
Presidential

Form of democratic government
in which a president heads the
executive branch which is sepa-
Parliamentary

Has only the legislative branch
and no executive branch but
does have a prime minister that is
a part of the legislative branch
Federal
Confederal
Autocratic
Under democracy one party
always devotes its chief
energies to trying to prove
that the other party is unfit to
rule - and both commonly
succeed, and are right.
Democratic
H.L. Mencken
Oligarchic
As President of the United
States, President Obama’s role
is to provide leadership to the
United States people.
What is Democracy?
5 Basic Principles
of a Democratic
Government
1.
Consent of the
3.
Rule of Law
governed
4.
Democracy
2.
Limited Government
5.
Representative
Government
U nit 1: Foundations of Government
Page 3
Differences between Economic Systems
Capitalism.
The father of capitalism is
considered to be Adam
Smith who developed the
idea of laissez-faire, which
means “hands off” (no
government interference).
The United States has a
free enterprise system but
with some government
control, this is referred to
as a mixed market system.
Some people think that
the United States is moving
towards socialism.
Socialism:
Communism:
This type of system developed from the ideas
of Karl Marx theories of
Communism. In this
type of system the government controls major
resources and interferes in the economy.
The idea is to have a
balance of wealth and
access to resources for
all citizens. Some common ideas of socialism
are minimum wage,
universal health care,
and welfare.
The father of communism is Karl Marx
when he wrote his
book the Communist
Manifesto. This type of
system allows the government to control all
aspects of the economy. Basically the governments tells everyone
what is best for them
and controls all resources and ownership
of everything in the
Three Famous Documents that shaped the
United States Government
Magna Carta
Petition of Right
English Bill of Rights
Magna Carta = established in 1215 on
King John. The first example of limiting the
power of the King.
No taxes without
Parliamentary
consent
Petition of Right = established in June of 1628 on King
Charles I. The Petitions were supposed to be a safeguard,
but they were violated by Charles I, and he was beheaded.
English Bill of Rights = established in 1688 it
restored the monarchy to William and
Mary in the Glorious Revolution.
Rule of
Law
No imprisonment
without a cause
Soldiers cannot be
housed in private
homes
No martial law in
times of peace
Quick Question?
Which economic system do you
think is best and why?
Declaration of Independence
Who wrote it, when was it written and why ?
Three Parts:
Statement of purpose and human rights
First part that list the natural rights philosophy and social contract theory.
List of specific complaints against the king
The second part and the longest. Cites
specific reasons for separation.
Determination to separate from Britain
Last part where they sign the document
and risk everything (treason?)
Political Philosophies that shaped the U.S. Government
John Locke
Wrote Two Treatises of Government. Set
ideas of Life, liberty, and property which
is known as natural rights philosophy
Thomas Hobbes
Wrote Leviathan. Set the idea of Social Contract
Theory, which says people give power to government but if the government abuses that
power the people have the right to alter or
abolish the government.
Charles Barron Montesquieu
Wrote The Spirit of Laws. Developed the idea of
Separation of Power. People will abuse power if
it is not separated to check and balance itself.
Events Leading to the American Revolution
Stamp Act
Daughters of Liberty
Intolerable Acts
Committees of Correspondence
Sons of Liberty
Common Sense
The American Revolution
George Washington
Ben Franklin
Leader of the Continental Army. Know for
his leadership ability.
Battle of Trenton
Ambassador to France was able to secure
French aid after the Battle of Saratoga
Marquis de Lafayette
Washington crossed the Delaware River on French solder sent to show support to the
Christmas eve to surprise the Hessian army American Army.
Battle of Saratoga
Battle of Yorktown
A huge victory for the Americans. Considered to be the turning point in the war.
The final battle of the war and where the
French fleet final arrived trapping Lord Corn-
Articles of Confederation
1. Why didn’t it work?
2. What weakness do you think was most damaging to a new government?