High School Government: American Government

Course Description

In this course, students explore the founding principles of American government mainly through primary source documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Federalist Papers. The course examines the Constitutional Convention, the structure of federal and state governments, and the development of American political thought from colonial times through ratification. Students read Frederick Douglass’ autobiography alongside founding documents to understand different perspectives on liberty and citizenship. Students also investigate how concepts of duty, conscience, and civic virtue shaped American governance. The course concludes with exploration of current state and local government structures, connecting historical foundations to contemporary civic participation.

Books and Resources

Mater Amabilis participates in affiliate programs with Amazon and Living Book Press.

Government:

• The Birth of the Republic, 1763-89, Morgan, third edition [Amaz] (The fourth edition would work as well, but it’s usually more expensive.)
• Books That Matter: The Federalist Papers, Hoffmann, Great Courses audio lectures [Amaz]

Primary Sources and essays:

• Selections of essays by American Founders and others from online sources – If you do not want your student online for the course, you may choose to print these and put them in a binder. A purchased copy of The Federalist Papers will contain many of the readings.
• Cato: A Tragedy, Addison [Amaz][Project Gutenberg][Liberty Fund]

Biographies:

• A Man for All Seasons: A Play in Two Acts, Bolt [Amaz]
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass [Amaz][Internet Archive][Project Gutenberg][PDF download]

Ad lib reading:

• any of the Plutarch readings from American Government and Economics I-IV.
• Paul Revere’s Ride, Fischer [Amaz]
• 1776, McCullough [Amaz]
• John Adams, McCullough [Amaz]
• The Words That Made Us: America’s Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840, Amar [Amaz] – This book is excellent, but incredibly long. Reading this book would make the course Honors level and perhaps even a full credit.

Lesson plans

All readings are narrated, orally or in writing. In this introductory course, readings are assigned only three days a week. More formal government and economics study will begin in Level 5 Year 2.

TERM 1

Week 1
Day 1: The Birth of the Republic, Lexington Green and Ch 1. The Americans and the Empire
Day 2: Primary sources, Magna Carta and “Reading the Founding” by Bradley J. Birzer (from The Imaginative Conservative)
Day 3: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 2. Sugar and Stamps, 1764-66

Week 2
Day 4: Primary sources, “A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law” by John Adams first half, stop at “…in a manner that I believe has been unknown to any other people ancient or modern.”
Day 5: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 3. Peace without Honor, 1766-68
Day 6: Primary sources, “A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law” by John Adams second half, start at “The consequences of these establishments we see and feel every day…”

Week 3
Day 7: Primary sources, Cato’s Letters at the Free Speech Center AND “A Discourse of Standing Armies” by Thomas Gordon first half, stop at “…rescue a Turtle Dove from the Persecution of two Crows, and then eat him up for himself.”
Day 8: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 4. Troops and Tea, 1768-74
Day 9: Primary sources, “A Discourse of Standing Armies” by Thomas Gordon second half, start at “Almost all Men desire Power, and few lose…”

Week 4
Day 10: Cato: A Tragedy, Prologue, Act I
Day 11: Cato: A Tragedy, Act II
Day 12: Cato: A Tragedy, Acts III and IV

Week 5
Day 13: Cato: A Tragedy, Act V and Epilogue
Day 14: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 5. Equal Rights, 1774-76
Day 15: Primary sources, “Remarks on the Quebec Bill” by Alexander Hamilton

Week 6
Day 16: Primary sources, Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer:1 by John Dickinson
Day 17: Primary sources, Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 3 by John Dickinson
Day 18: A Man for All Seasons, Preface and cast, pp. vii-xxv

Week 7
Day 19: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 6. War and Peace, 1776-83
Day 20: Primary sources, Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 8 by John Dickinson
Day 21: A Man for All Seasons, pp. 3-33

Week 8
Day 22: Primary sources, Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 9 by John Dickinson
Day 23: Primary sources, Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 10 by John Dickinson
Day 24: A Man for All Seasons, pp. 34-77

Week 9
Day 25: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 7. The Independent States
Day 26: Primary sources, Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 12 by John Dickinson
Day 27: A Man for All Seasons, pp. 81-120

Week 10
Day 28: Primary sources, “Speech on American Taxation” by Edmund Burke pp. 1-21, stop at “…contrary to the true principles of commerce.”
Day 29: Primary sources, “Speech on American Taxation” by Edmund Burke pp. 21-39, start at “These have always been, and still are, the sentiments…”, stop at “…frequently even defeat its own purpose.”
Day 30: A Man for All Seasons, pp. 120-163 (end)

Week 11
Day 31: Primary sources, “Speech on American Taxation” by Edmund Burke pp. 39-61, start at “After the war, and in the last years of it, the trade of America…”, stop at “…received a fair and full answer to his question.”
Day 32: Primary sources, “Speech on American Taxation” by Edmund Burke pp. 61-end, start at “I have done with the third period of your policy…” AND “Edmund Burke and the Dignity of the Human Person” by Bradley J. Birzer (The Imaginative Conservative)
Day 33: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Preface and Chapter Letter from Wendell Phillips, Esq.

WEEK 12: DAYS 56-60 MAKEUP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for exam week
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose two of the questions to answer.

1. Describe the conditions of government in the “American” colonies at the time of the Declaration of Independence.
2. Tell what you know about one of the speeches or essays you read in primary sources this term.
3. What are some of the themes of faith and government raised by the play, A Man for All Seasons?

TERM 2

Week 13
Day 34: Primary sources, “The Church’s Flight into the Wilderness” by Samuel Sherwood first part (of four), stop at “…exhibited, as ever England beheld.”
Day 35: Primary sources, “The Church’s Flight into the Wilderness” by Samuel Sherwood second part (of four), start at “If we pass from this dark and bloody period…”, stop at “…and efforts for this base, malignant purpose.”
Day 36: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter I

Week 14
Day 37: Primary sources, “The Church’s Flight into the Wilderness” by Samuel Sherwood third part (of four), start at “One objection of weight…”, stop at “might be established to all the ends of the earth.”
Day 38: Primary sources, “The Church’s Flight into the Wilderness” by Samuel Sherwood fourth part (of four), start at “1. We learned from what has been said, the true cause…”, stop at the end (including the Appendix)
Day 39: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter II

Week 15
Day 40: Make-up or Ad lib reading
Day 41: Primary sources, Federalist #1: “Introduction” by Alexander Hamilton
Day 42: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter III

Week 16
Day 43: Primary sources, Federalist #47: “The meaning of the maxim, which requires a separation of the departments of power, examined and ascertained” by James Madison
Day 44: The Birth of the Republic, The Declaration of Independence, pp. 159-162
Day 45: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter IV

Week 17
Day 46: Primary sources, “How to Read the Declaration of Independence” by M. E. Bradford (The Imaginative Conservative)
Day 47: The Birth of the Republic, The Articles of Confederation, pp. 163-170
Day 48: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter V

Week 18
Day 49: Primary sources, Federalist #9: “The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Faction and Insurrection” by Alexander Hamilton
Day 50: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 8. The Independent Nation, 1776-81
Day 51: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter VI

Week 19
Day 52: Primary sources, Federalist #10 “The Same Subject Continued” by James Madison
Day 53: Make-up or Ad lib reading
Day 54: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter VII

Week 20
Day 55: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 9. “The Critical Period”
Day 56: The Birth of the Republic, US Constitution: Preamble and Article I pp. 171-176
Day 57: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter VIII

Week 21
Day 58: Primary Sources, Federalist #51 “The same subject continued, with the same view, and concluded” by James Madison
Day 59: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 10. The Constitutional Convention
Day 60: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter IX

Week 22
Day 61: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 1. A Blueprint for American Government
Day 62: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 2. A Democracy or a Republic?
Day 63: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter X

Week 23
Day 64: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 3. A Federation or a Nation?
Day 65: Primary sources, Federalist #39: “The Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles” by James Madison
Day 66: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Chapter XI and Appendix

WEEK 24: MAKEUP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for exam week
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose two of the questions to answer.

1. Is America a democracy or a republic? What is the difference? What were the reasons for establishing it as such?
2. Describe one of the primary source documents you read this term.
3. Why should high school students read the autobiography of Frederick Douglass?

TERM 3

Week 25
Day 67: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 4. American Federalism
Day 68: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 5. Dual Sovereignty
Day 69: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 26
Day 70: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 6. Popular Sovereignty and States’ Rights
Day 71: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 7. The Separation of Powers
Day 72: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 27
Day 73: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 8. The Federal Legislature
Day 74: Primary sources, Federalist #64: “A further view of the constitution of the senate, in regard to the power of making treaties” by John Jay
Day 75: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 28
Day 76: Primary sources, Federalist #53: “The same subject continued, with a view of the term of service of the members“ (the House of Representatives) by James Madison
Day 77: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 9. The President of the United States
Day 78: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 29
Day 79: The Birth of the Republic, The Constitution Article III, pp. 176-179 AND Primary sources, Federalist #70: “The same view continued, in relation to the unity of the executive, and with an examination of the project of an executive council” by Alexander Hamilton
Day 80: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 10. The Federal Judiciary
Day 81: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 30
Day 82: The Birth of the Republic the Constitution Article III, pp. 179-180 AND Primary sources, Federalist #78 “A view of the constitution of the judicial department in relation to the tenure of good behaviour” by Alexander Hamilton
Day 83: Primary sources, begin reading your state constitution
Day 84: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 31
Day 85: The Birth of the Republic, Ch 11. Ratification
Day 86: Primary sources, finish reading your state constitution (Use Make-up or Ad lib reading time to finish it if your state constitution is long.)
Day 87: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 32
Day 88: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 11. The Evolution of American Federalism
Day 89: Primary sources, Explore the website of the executive branch of your state government.
Day 90: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 33
Day 91: Primary sources, The Constitution Articles IV-VII, pp. 180-181, the Bill of Rights, pp. 183-184, AND Primary sources, Federalist #84: “Concerning several miscellaneous objections” by Alexander Hamilton
Day 92: Primary sources, Explore the website of the legislative branch of your state government.
Day 93: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 34
Day 94: Books that Matter: The Federalist Papers, Lecture 12. The Future of the United States Constitution
Day 95: Primary sources, Explore the website of the judicial branch of your state government.
Day 96: Make-up or Ad lib reading

Week 35
Day 97: Primary sources, Church Life Journal, “Holding Your Nose: How to Vote Like a Catholic” by Brett Salkeld
Day 98: Primary sources, Explore the website of your county or city.
Day 99: Make-up or Ad lib reading

WEEK 36: MAKEUP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for exam week
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose two of the questions to answer.

1. Tell what you know about the defense of the Constitution in the Federalist Papers.
2. How has the balance of powers shifted between the federal and state governments since the ratification of the Constitution?
3. Tell what you know about your local or state government.