Influences on American Government: From Ancient Thinkers to the Constitution
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.To what extent did ancient, English, and European political philosophies shape the foundational principles of American government, as reflected in the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- How did ancient Greek and Roman political thought influence the Founding Fathers?
- In what ways did English political thinkers like John Locke and William Blackstone shape American government?
- How did European thinkers such as Montesquieu and Machiavelli contribute to the development of American political philosophy?
- How did the Founding Fathers' understanding of human nature impact the structure of the U.S. Constitution?
- To what extent do the Federalist Papers reflect the political philosophies of the aforementioned thinkers?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Students will be able to identify and explain the key political philosophies of ancient Greek, Roman, English, and European thinkers, including Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Montesquieu, Machiavelli, and Blackstone.
- Students will be able to analyze the influence of these philosophies on the Founding Fathers and the development of American government.
- Students will be able to evaluate the extent to which the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers reflect these political philosophies.
- Students will be able to explain how the Founding Fathers’ view of human nature shaped the American constitutional system.
- Students will be able to compare and contrast the ideas of different political thinkers and their impact on American government.
Teacher Provided Standard
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsFounding Fathers Face-Off
Students participate in a mock constitutional convention where they are assigned roles as influential political thinkers (e.g., Locke, Montesquieu). They must debate and negotiate to create a new government, highlighting the challenges and compromises faced by the Founding Fathers. This activity allows students to embody the perspectives of these thinkers and understand their influence on American government.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Human Nature Analysis Essay
Students will analyze excerpts from the Federalist Papers to understand the Founding Fathers' views on human nature. They will write an essay explaining how this view influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution, focusing on specific examples such as checks and balances, separation of powers, and federalism.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA well-supported essay that explains the Founding Fathers' views on human nature and how these views shaped the structure of the U.S. Constitution, with specific examples from the Federalist Papers.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses SS.Gov.12.2 by focusing on the Founding Fathers' view of human nature and its impact on the structure of the U.S. Constitution.Political Thinker Profiles
Students research and create brief profiles of each key political thinker (Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Montesquieu, Machiavelli, and Blackstone), summarizing their main ideas and contributions to political thought.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collection of well-researched profiles, each approximately 250-300 words, that highlight the main ideas of each political thinker, including key quotes and concepts.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses SS.Gov.12.1 by focusing on the identification and summarization of key political thinkers and their philosophies.Influence Tracker Chart
Students will identify specific influences of the political thinkers on the Founding Fathers and elements of the U.S. Constitution. They will create a detailed chart linking each thinker to specific aspects of American government.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive chart that links each political thinker to specific ideas, quotes, and elements of the U.S. Constitution, along with explanations of how these influences shaped American government.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses SS.Gov.12.1 and SS.Gov.12.2 by requiring students to connect specific philosophical ideas to the Founding Fathers' beliefs and the U.S. Constitution.Contemporary Issue Application Presentation
Students will choose a contemporary political issue and analyze it through the lens of the political philosophies and principles discussed throughout the project. They will create a presentation that explains how the ideas of the political thinkers and the Founding Fathers' views on human nature can inform our understanding of the issue and potential solutions.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA well-researched and thoughtful presentation that applies the political philosophies and principles learned throughout the project to a contemporary issue, demonstrating a deep understanding of the material.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses SS.Gov.12.1 and SS.Gov.12.2 by synthesizing the information learned throughout the project and applying it to a contemporary issue.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioPolitical Philosophy and American Government Essay Rubric
Philosophical Connections
This category assesses the student's depth of knowledge and analytical skills in connecting political philosophies to the U.S. Constitution and Federalist Papers.Understanding of Political Thinkers
Demonstrates understanding of key political thinkers (Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Montesquieu, Machiavelli, Blackstone)
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates a sophisticated and nuanced understanding of the key political thinkers, integrating their ideas seamlessly into the essay.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates a thorough understanding of the key political thinkers, accurately summarizing their main ideas.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging understanding of the key political thinkers, but may have some inaccuracies or omissions.
Beginning
1 PointsShows a limited understanding of the key political thinkers, struggling to identify their main ideas.
Influence on Founding Fathers
Explains the influence of these thinkers on the Founding Fathers
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a highly insightful and original analysis of the influence of these thinkers on the Founding Fathers.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear and accurate explanation of the influence of these thinkers on the Founding Fathers.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging understanding of the influence of these thinkers on the Founding Fathers, but the explanation may lack depth or clarity.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to explain the influence of these thinkers on the Founding Fathers.
Reflection in Constitution and Federalist Papers
Evaluates the extent to which the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers reflect these philosophies
Exemplary
4 PointsOffers a compelling and well-supported evaluation of the extent to which the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers reflect these philosophies.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a reasonable evaluation of the extent to which the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers reflect these philosophies.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging ability to evaluate the extent to which the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers reflect these philosophies, but the evaluation may be superficial.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to evaluate the extent to which the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers reflect these philosophies.
Human Nature and Governance
This category evaluates the student's understanding of the Founding Fathers' perspective on human nature and how it influenced the creation of the Constitution.Understanding of Human Nature
Identifies and explains the Founding Fathers’ views on human nature
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides an exceptionally insightful and nuanced analysis of the Founding Fathers’ views on human nature, demonstrating a deep understanding of their complexities.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear and accurate explanation of the Founding Fathers’ views on human nature.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging understanding of the Founding Fathers’ views on human nature, but the explanation may lack depth or clarity.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to identify and explain the Founding Fathers’ views on human nature.
Impact on Constitutional System
Explains how these views shaped the American constitutional system
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a highly compelling and well-supported explanation of how the Founding Fathers' views on human nature shaped the American constitutional system.
Proficient
3 PointsExplains how the Founding Fathers’ views on human nature shaped the American constitutional system, providing relevant examples.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging understanding of how the Founding Fathers’ views on human nature shaped the American constitutional system, but the explanation may be incomplete.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to explain how the Founding Fathers’ views on human nature shaped the American constitutional system.
Use of Evidence
Provides specific examples from the Federalist Papers and the Constitution to support their arguments
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides exceptionally well-chosen and compelling examples from the Federalist Papers and the Constitution to support their arguments, demonstrating a deep understanding of the texts.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides relevant and accurate examples from the Federalist Papers and the Constitution to support their arguments.
Developing
2 PointsProvides some examples from the Federalist Papers and the Constitution, but they may not always be relevant or accurate.
Beginning
1 PointsProvides few or no examples from the Federalist Papers and the Constitution to support their arguments.
Essay Quality
This category assesses the quality of the essay itself, including its clarity, organization, use of evidence, and mechanics.Writing Quality
Clarity of Writing and Organization
Exemplary
4 PointsEssay is exceptionally well-written, logically organized, and persuasively argued.
Proficient
3 PointsEssay is well-written, logically organized, and clearly argued.
Developing
2 PointsEssay is generally well-written, but may have some organizational issues or unclear arguments.
Beginning
1 PointsEssay is poorly written, disorganized, and lacks a clear argument.
Evidence and Support
Use of Evidence and Support
Exemplary
4 PointsUses a wide range of evidence from credible sources to support claims and arguments, demonstrating a deep understanding of the topic.
Proficient
3 PointsUses sufficient evidence from credible sources to support claims and arguments.
Developing
2 PointsUses some evidence, but it may be limited or not always from credible sources.
Beginning
1 PointsUses little or no evidence to support claims and arguments.
Grammar and Mechanics
Grammar, Spelling, and Mechanics
Exemplary
4 PointsEssay is free of grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and mechanical issues.
Proficient
3 PointsEssay has very few grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and mechanical issues.
Developing
2 PointsEssay has some grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and mechanical issues, but they do not significantly impede understanding.
Beginning
1 PointsEssay has numerous grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and mechanical issues that significantly impede understanding.