American Government (Half-Credit) Lesson Plans by Book

High School Government: American Government Lesson Plans by Book

These lists provide a recommended reading schedule for the American Government (half credit) resources to make it easier to assign them in other ways.

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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.)

Lexington Green and Ch 1. The Americans and the Empire
Ch 2. Sugar and Stamps, 1764-66
Ch 3. Peace without Honor, 1766-68
Ch 4. Troops and Tea, 1768-74
Ch 5. Equal Rights, 1774-76
Ch 6. War and Peace, 1776-83
Ch 7. The Independent States
The Declaration of Independence, pp. 159-162
The Articles of Confederation, pp. 163-170
Ch 8. The Independent Nation, 1776-81
Ch 9. “The Critical Period”
US Constitution: Preamble and Article I pp. 171-176
Ch 10. The Constitutional Convention
Constitution Article III, pp. 176-179
Constitution Article III, pp. 179-180
Constitution Articles IV-VII, pp. 180-181, the Bill of Rights, pp. 183-184

Books That Matter: The Federalist Papers, Hoffmann, Great Courses audio lectures [Amaz]

Lecture 1. A Blueprint for American Government
Lecture 2. A Democracy or a Republic?
Lecture 3. A Federation or a Nation?
Lecture 4. American Federalism
Lecture 5. Dual Sovereignty
Lecture 6. Popular Sovereignty and States’ Rights
Lecture 7. The Separation of Powers
Lecture 8. The Federal Legislature
Lecture 9. The President of the United States
Lecture 10. The Federal Judiciary
Lecture 11. The Evolution of American Federalism
Lecture 12. The Future of the United States Constitution

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.

Magna Carta and “Reading the Founding” by Bradley J. Birzer (from The Imaginative Conservative)
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.”
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…”
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.”
“A Discourse of Standing Armies” by Thomas Gordon second half, start at “Almost all Men desire Power, and few lose…”
“Remarks on the Quebec Bill” by Alexander Hamilton
Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer:1 by John Dickinson
Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 3 by John Dickinson
Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 8 by John Dickinson
Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 9 by John Dickinson
Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 10 by John Dickinson
Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer: 12 by John Dickinson
“Speech on American Taxation” by Edmund Burke pp. 1-21, stop at “…contrary to the true principles of commerce.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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)
“The Church’s Flight into the Wilderness” by Samuel Sherwood first part (of four), stop at “…exhibited, as ever England beheld.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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)
Federalist #1: “Introduction” by Alexander Hamilton
Federalist #47: “The meaning of the maxim, which requires a separation of the departments of power, examined and ascertained” by James Madison
“How to Read the Declaration of Independence” by M. E. Bradford (The Imaginative Conservative)
Federalist #9: “The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Faction and Insurrection” by Alexander Hamilton
Federalist #10 “The Same Subject Continued” by James Madison
Federalist #51 “The same subject continued, with the same view, and concluded” by James Madison
Federalist #39: “The Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles” by James Madison
Federalist #64: “A further view of the constitution of the senate, in regard to the power of making treaties” by John Jay
Federalist #53: “The same subject continued, with a view of the term of service of the members“ (the House of Representatives) by James Madison
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
Federalist #78 “A view of the constitution of the judicial department in relation to the tenure of good behaviour” by Alexander Hamilton
begin reading your state constitution
finish reading your state constitution (Use make-up or Ad lib reading time to finish it if your state constitution is long.)
Explore the website of the executive branch of your state government.
Federalist #84: “Concerning several miscellaneous objections” by Alexander Hamilton
Explore the website of the legislative branch of your state government.
Explore the website of the judicial branch of your state government.
Church Life Journal, “Holding Your Nose: How to Vote Like a Catholic” by Brett Salkeld
Explore the website of your county or city.

Cato: A Tragedy, Addison [Amaz][Project Gutenberg][Liberty Fund]

Prologue, Act I
Act II
Acts III and IV
Act V and Epilogue

Biographies

A Man for All Seasons: A Play in Two Acts, Bolt [Amaz]

Preface and cast, pp. vii-xxv
pp. 3-33
pp. 34-77
pp. 81-120
pp. 120-163 (end)

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass [Amaz][Internet Archive][Project Gutenberg][PDF download]

Preface
Letter from Wendell Phillips, Esq.
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Appendix

ad lib reading

These books aren’t scheduled in the plans but can be read as a student has time and interest.

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]

American Government (Half-Credit) Lesson Plans by Book

High School Government: American Government Lesson Plans by Book

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

government

primary Sources and Essays

Biographies

ad lib reading

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High School Government: American Government Lesson Plans by Book

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

government

primary Sources and Essays

Biographies

ad lib reading

Privacy Policy

Disclosure:

Usage:

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