Mr. Allen's Civics Class
Monday, October 20, 2025
Executive Branch Departments and Their Functions
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Declaration of Independence - The Second Paragraph
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 to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
1) What are the unalienable rights?
2) From where does government get its power to govern?
3) Why are governments created?
4) What must man do when government fails to do what it was created to do?
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Three Fifths Compromise
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The Great Compromise/ The Connecticut Plan
Monday, September 22, 2025
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Self Government in the Thirteen Colonies
dissent (n.) - the expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held.dissent (v.) - hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially expressed.representative government – a government where citizens vote to elect people to represent their interests and concerns in making their laws.colonial charter - a document that gives colonies the legal rights to exist. Charters can bestow certain rights on a town, city, university, or other institution. Colonial charters were approved when the king gave a grant of exclusive powers for the governance of land to proprietors or a settlement company.constitution - the basic principles and laws of a nation or state that determine the powers and duties of the government.social contract - an agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits.
In 1619, colonists in Jamestown, Virginia, created a legislature, or lawmaking body - the House of Burgesses. The burgesses, or delegates, were chosen by Virginia's landowners. Thus, the House of Burgesses represented the colony's people of property. The legislature became the first example of representative government in the colonies.
Self-Government in Massachusetts
Early Personal Freedoms
Other Rights and Freedoms
- Protection of life, freedom, and property.
- Habeas corpus. This
term refers to people's right to know about any criminal charges made against
them. By knowing these charges, people
can defend themselves. The term also
refers to people's right not to be held in jail except as the law provides.
- Protection from having one's house searched without legal
permission in the form of a written search warrant.
- Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly (the right to speak and meet in public without being bothered)
1) List the name of Jamestown’s colonial legislature?
2) Who was Jamestown named after?
3) How were colonial governors involved in making laws for
the colonies?
4) How did a person become a colonial governor?
5) What power did the colonial legislatures have over the
colonial governors?
6) List the name of the legislature for Massachusetts Bay
Colony.
7) How did the towns within Massachusetts Bay Colony govern
their local affairs?
8) What is a constitution?
9) List all the rights and freedoms present in the colonies
as listed and mentioned in this reading.