• Introduction
  • Topic 1. The Philosophical Foundations of the United States Political System
  • Topic 2. The Development of the United States Government
  • Topic 3. Institutions of United States Government
  • Topic 4. The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
  • Topic 5. The Constitution, Amendments, and Supreme Court Decisions
  • Topic 6. The Structure of Massachusetts State and Local Government
  • Topic 7. Freedom of the Press and News/Media Literacy
  • Glossary
  • Index of Terms
  • References
  • Download
  • Translations
  • The Development of the United States Government
    • Topic 2

    The Development of the United States Government

    Topic 2 examines the development of the United States government during the time period of the American Revolution. It focuses on the founding documents of our democracy—the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights—as well as the contentious political debates that surrounded, and continue to surround, the meaning of those texts, demonstrated by current struggles of people of color, women, and LGBTQIA individuals for equal rights as well as efforts by people and courts to balance states rights and federal power in the pursuit of social and economic justice.
    U.S. flag
    Image by Angelique Johnson from Pixabay 

    Snapshot of Topic 2

    Supporting Question

    How did the framers of the Constitution attempt to address issues of power and freedom in the design of a new political system?

    Massachusetts Standards [8.T2.1-5]

    1. The Revolutionary Era and the Declaration of Independence
    2. The Articles of Confederation
    3. The Constitutional Convention
    4. Debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists
    5. The Articles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

    Advanced Placement Standards for U.S. Government and U.S. History

    Modules in this Topic can also be used to address the following Advanced Placement (AP) Standards:

    Topic 2: The Development of the United States Government

    The Revolutionary Era and the Declaration of IndependenceThe Articles of ConfederationThe Constitutional ConventionDebates between Federalists and Anti-FederalistsArticles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

    This content is provided to you freely by Equity Press.

    Access it online or download it at https://equitypress.org/democracy/topic2.