Name: Mr. Maicki
7th Grade Social Studies
Week 2: Government
Unit: Road to the Constitution
How did we go from thirteen British colonies to the United States of America? Explore the major hardships of life under
British rule, how the colonists decided to break away, and how they set a path for a new and independent government.
American colonists had some strong ideas about what they wanted in a government. These ideas surface in colonial
documents, and eventually became a part of the founding documents like the Declaration of Independence and
Constitution. But where did they come from? This lesson looks at the Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, English Bill of
Rights, Cato’s Letters and Common Sense.
Essential Questions:
How would you feel if you knew that
someone else (parents, guardians)
would make decisions for you the rest of
your life?
What was the main reason the Articles of
Confederation was tossed out and a new
Constitution was created?
How did we go from thirteen British
colonies to the United States of America?
Learning Target
10 points
I can Trace the impact of the following documents on the colonists’ views of
government: Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, Cato’s Letters,
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
Rate your own mastery of this learning target. Remember that your rating can change over time:
New To Me (1)
I can describe how English policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing
of the Declaration of Independence
I can analyze the ideas (natural rights, role of the government) and complaints set forth
in the Declaration of Independence
I can analyze the impact of the Stamp Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Revenue Act,
Quartering Act, and Intolerable Acts
I can outline the Declaration of Independence and its parts
I can evaluate the colonists’ reaction to the Stamp Act using primary sources
I Got This! (10)
10 points
Rate your own mastery of this learning target. Remember that your rating can change over time:
New To Me (1)
I can describe how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the writing of
the Constitution
I can compare the Virginia plan with the New Jersey plan
I Got This! (10)
10 points
Rate your own mastery of this learning target. Remember that your rating can change over time:
New To Me (1)
I can compare the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution
I can identify cause/effect relationships in the development of America’s governmentI
can apply the five limits to fictional government systems.
I Got This! (10)
10 points
2 [Type text]
Rate your own mastery of this learning target. Remember that your rating can change over time:
New To Me (1)
I Got This! (10)
Vocabulary to Master:

constitution

Declaration of
Independence

Magna Carta

sovereign

Stamp Act

Townshend Act

Intolerable Acts

Declaratory Acts

Pre-Amble

Unalienable Rights

Articles of
Confederation

Confederation

government

Consent

Abolish