Intellectual Foundations of American Democracy

Gregory·

Political Philosophy

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At a Glance

Grade Level12th Grade

SubjectPolitical Philosophy

Original Prompt

SS.912.CG.1.1: Examine how intellectual influences in primary documents contributed to the ideas in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

This learning resource focuses on the intellectual influences that shaped American democracy, particularly through key Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It examines how their ideas, articulated in primary documents, informed the foundational concepts in the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The resource includes analyses and connections to pivotal philosophical concepts, such as natural rights, separation of powers, and the social contract. By engaging with primary sources and argumentation, students will explore the links between Enlightenment thought and American political structures, aiming to articulate how these ideas justified the principles laid down in founding documents. The document encourages critical thinking through various analytical prompts, connecting historical concepts to contemporary governance.