The United States Government by Amy Wiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment How did we end up with the DEMOCRATIC government that exists today in the United States and what does it look like? en-us 2014-02-17 22:21:05 UTC 2025-12-20 14:13:45 UTC hello@padlet.com Important Documents - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21458800 Check out three important documents that helped shaped the United States as we know it today.

]]> 2014-02-17 22:24:02 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21458800 Declaration of Independence - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21458848 This document was pivitol in establishing the rights that were later laid out by the United States Constitution - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

]]> 2014-02-17 22:25:09 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21458848 Articles of Confederation - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21458951 The Second Continental Congress adopted this as the first Constitution of the United States. It wasn't RATIFIED until March 1, 1781. The delegates to the Continental Congress wanted to establish a government where the states held most of the power and there was a weak central government.

]]> 2014-02-17 22:27:54 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21458951 The Constitution - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21459153 It wasn't long before it became evident that the Articles of Confederation were not working for this young country. After Virginia took the lead in electing DELEGATES to a 'Grand Convention' to be held in May of 1787 and 6 other states followed suit, the Confederation Congress approved this meeting with the idea that the delegates would revise the current Articles of Confederation.

]]> 2014-02-17 22:34:07 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21459153 Want to learn more about the United States under the Articles of Confederation?? - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21459317 2014-02-17 22:38:54 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21459317 Psst!! Over Here.... - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21459533 Did you notice that some words are CAPITALIZED AND BOLD? These are some vocabulary words that you may not know. Head to the Merriam-Webster website to learn more!

]]> 2014-02-17 22:43:36 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21459533 The Constitutional Congress - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21459948 55 delegates attended what became known as the Constitutional Congress from all states except Rhode Island. George Washington was elected President of the Congress. There were a number of different views about how the government should be set up. Among them were:

  • The Virginia Plan - proposed a BICAMERAL legislative branch, as well as an executive branch and a judicial branch. States had less power under this plan.
  • The New Jersey Plan - placed more power in the hands of the states over the FEDERAL government.
  • The Hamilton Plan - envisioned a President for life (much more similar to the Royal system in England)

]]> 2014-02-17 22:51:15 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21459948 The Connecticut Compromise - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461033 Delegates realized that none of the plans brought forth really suited the needs of the new country. Under the Connecticut Compromise, the legislative branch was divided into two house:

  • House of Representatives - representation of the people
  • Senate - representation of the states

]]> 2014-02-17 23:14:47 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461033 So what happened next? amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461212 2014-02-17 23:19:12 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461212 The United States Government Today amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461285 2014-02-17 23:20:52 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461285 amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461328 This image simply shows the way in which our government is set up, as planned by our Founding Fathers in 1787. Isn't it amazing that the system set up over 200 years ago is still working today?

]]> 2014-02-17 23:22:03 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461328 Hey! Isn't there something called the Bill of Rights? Tell me more about that! - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461349 Okay, you asked for it! Check out this INFOGRAPHIC that explains what right each AMENDMENTin the Bill of Rights protects. Some of the states refused to ratify the Constitution unless certain rights of the people were protected. This is what the Founding Fathers came up with.

]]> 2014-02-17 23:22:38 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461349 Aren't there more than 10 amendments to the Constitution? - Ms. Wiktor amywiktor https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461564 Yes, there are. Written into the Constitution was the ability to add amendments to the original document. The Founding Fathers had the foresight to realize that the world may not stay the same forever. By including a way to change the Constitution, they were able to protect its longevity while remaining realistic about how things change. There are 27 amendments to the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. Check out some important amendments you may have heard of:

13th Amendment: Abolished slavery and indentured servitude. Ratified December 6, 1865

19th Amendment: Grants women the right to vote. Ratified August 18, 1920

22nd Amendment: Limits the time a President can serve to two terms. Ratified February 27, 1951

26th Amendment: Grants US citizens 18 and older the right to vote

]]> 2014-02-17 23:28:16 UTC https://padlet.com/amywiktor/302USGovernment/wish/21461564