Ms. Leon

Understanding Government Systems • Forms of Government

• Democracy: Rule by the people through elected representatives

• Autocracy: Rule by a single individual with absolute power

• Oligarchy: Rule by a small group of powerful individuals • U.S. Constitutional Democracy

• Three branches: Executive, Legislative, Judicial

• System of checks and balances

• Federalism: Power shared between federal and state governments

 Fundamentals of Economics • Basic Economic Concepts

• Scarcity: Limited resources vs unlimited wants

• Opportunity Cost: What you give up to get something else • Economic Systems

• Market Economy: Private ownership, price mechanism

• Command Economy: Government control of resources

• Mixed Economy: Combination of market and government control • Supply and Demand

• Price determination in competitive markets

• Market equilibrium

Government's Role in the Economy • Fiscal Policy

• Government spending and taxation

• Budget management and national debt • Monetary Policy

• Federal Reserve System

• Interest rates and money supply • Regulation

• Consumer protection

• Environmental standards

• Financial market oversight

Current Economic Issues • Global Trade

• International markets and trade agreements

• Balance of trade and exchange rates • Economic Challenges

• Inflation and its effects

• Unemployment types and measurement

• Income inequality • Policy Debates

• Role of government intervention

• Tax policy and economic growth

• Social welfare programs

Course Expectations & Resources • Assessment Methods

• Research papers and presentations

• Economic analysis projects

• Policy debate participation • Learning Resources

• Required textbooks and readings

• Online economic databases

• Government websites and publications • Office Hours & Support

• Weekly consultation times

• Study group formations

• Digital learning platforms

Colonial America to Revolution

• Early Settlement Patterns (1600s-1700s)

  • Jamestown (1607) - First permanent English settlement

  • Plymouth Colony (1620) - Religious freedom seekers

• Colonial Development

  • New England, Middle, Southern colonies

  • Distinct economic and social structures

• Path to Revolution

  • Navigation Acts

  • Stamp Act (1765)

  • Boston Tea Party (1773)

  • First Continental Congress (1774)

Westward Expansion

• Louisiana Purchase (1803)

  • Doubled U.S. territory

• Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)

  • Scientific discoveries

  • Native American relations

• Impact on Native Populations

  • Forced relocations

  • Treaty violations

• Economic Implications

  • New trade routes

  • Agricultural expansion

  • Transportation revolution