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U.S. Government. Mitch Reed. South Dakota Content Standard. 9-12.C.1.2 . Students are able to determine the influence of major historical documents and ideals on the formation of the United States government. Documents that Impacted American Government. Declaration of Independence
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U.S. Government Mitch Reed
South Dakota Content Standard • 9-12.C.1.2. Students are able to determine the influence of major historical documents and ideals on the formation of the United States government.
Documents that Impacted American Government • Declaration of Independence • The United States Constitution • The Emancipation Proclamation • Articles of Confederation
The Declaration of Independence • This document stated that the thirteen states, that made up the United States, was independent from Great Britain. • One of the main fathers in this document was Thomas Jefferson. • People in America today rely on freedom, and this document was the foundation of that. • Without these brave historical individuals, people in America may not have the opportunity to practice freedom like they do today.
Interesting Points • We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. • That was the main statement made in this document.
The United States Constitution • The supreme law of the land in the United States • This document lays the foundation of American law. • This constitution breaks the government into three divisions: Legislative, Judicial, and Executive • Although there were amendments changed and added, a lot of the framework still remains.
Interesting Points • The Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. • The oldest written constitution used by any nation in the world today
The Emancipation Proclamation • Abraham Lincoln passed this under with his war powers. • It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million slaves in the nation. • This document laid the foundation for other civil right acts that occurred in the future. • Many laws are now present that outlaw the discrimination of employees; the Emancipation Proclamation was the beginning.
Interesting Points • Lincoln could make this document because he was the “Commander in Chief”, which is protected because of the Constitution. • It was signed January 1, 1863
Articles of Confederation • This was the first constitution of the United States. • It laid the framework for the United States Constitution. • They wrote the document to secure the freedom, sovereignty, and independence of the United States; this was the same reason they wrote the Constitution. • The same principles in this document are present in our constitution today
Interesting Points • The Second Continental Congress drafted this after many grueling days. • That congress ran the government during the American Revolutionary War.
What the Documents Mean Today • These documents play a vital role in our government today. • Although these exact documents are not used today, principles from each are present.