Goals and Objectives

This roughly month-long unit will look at the foundations of American democracy. We will also study the French Revolution to compare and contrast the democracy-building experience between our two countries.

Unit Objectives:

• Terms and concepts: democracy, direct democracy, indirect democracy, rule of law
• What are the key functions of government? What things do our governments provide for us today?
• Participate in a two part "Building An Island Government" Simulation: understand difficulties of making a democracy.
• Study the influences of American Democracy:
  • Athenian Democracy
  • Roman Democracy
  • Judeo-Christian Tradition
  • British Constitutional History
  • The Enlightenment
    • Who were the philosophes? What did they believe
      • Key beliefs of:
        • Montesquieu
        • Locke
        • Hobbes
        • Beccaria
        • Voltaire

• Describe the major events and stages of the French Revolution.
  • Identify the members, privileges, and problems with the Three Estates.
  • Compare and contrast elements of the American and French Revolutions.
  • Describe the events and attitudes of the Reign of Terror.
  • Describe Napoleon’s rise to power, his key accomplishments, and the key mistakes that led to his ultimate defeat.
• Discuss: All in all, did the French Revolution afford people a freer, happier life?
• Compare the lasting legacies of the American and French Revolutions.