Part 1
Political principles and the Declaration of Independence: about 650 words total
1. Please write a one-paragraph (about 150 words), overview of the Declaration of Independence. Be sure to describe its purpose and how the document is structured.
For the following three separate paragraphs, you will explain the principles of popular sovereignty, social contract, and natural and individual rights. Each paragraph (about 100 – 150 words in length) should explain how the Declaration of Independence reflects a principle. Use at least one quote from the Declaration of Independence that illustrates the principle, in each of these paragraphs (three quotes total).
2. Paragraph 1: Describe the connections between the Declaration of Independence and the first principle, popular sovereignty. Be sure to include a quote from the Declaration of Independence that illustrates this principle.
3. Paragraph 2: Describe the connections between the Declaration of Independence and the second principle, social contract. Be sure to include a quote from the Declaration of Independence that illustrates this principle.
4. Paragraph 3: Describe the connections between the Declaration of Independence and the third principle, natural and individual rights. Be sure to include a quote from the Declaration of Independence.
5. Finally, write one paragraph (about 150 words), to explain whether or not you think the Declaration of Independence upholds the political principles Americans value. To guide your evaluation, consider these questions. Does the Declaration of Independence reflect all the important political principles? Did the writers of the Declaration of Independence accomplish their goals? If you had been an American colonist, would you have supported the Declaration of Independence? Why or why not?
Part 2
Naturalization process: about 250 words total
1. Write a two-paragraph (about 250 – 300 words) reflection of the naturalization process in the United States. Use the following questions as a guide:
o What is the purpose of the naturalization process?
o Does the process work well? In other words, does the process achieve its goals?
o Would you change the process if you could? Explain why you would or why you would not make a change. If you would, include how you would change the naturalization process.
Civic and political participation: about 550 words total
2. In a well-written paragraph (about 150 words), describe why civic and political participation is important.
3. “Most bad government has grown out of too much government.”–Thomas Jefferson
In at least two paragraphs (about 250 – 300 words), discuss the meaning of this quote in relation to one of the following principles: limited government, natural rights, separation of powers, or checks and balances.
4. “Your Vote Is Useless.” You read an editorial with this title in your local paper that says political and civic participation are pointless and serve no valuable purpose in American society. In a well-written paragraph (about 150 words), defend or argue against that perspective. Include at least two examples of how a person can participate in a democratic society.
Civil Rights: about 300 words total
5. In a well-written paragraph (about 150 words), describe the relationship between and significance of the Supreme Court cases Brown v. Board of Education and Plessy v. Ferguson.
6 Imagine a group in the United States protesting American involvement in a war overseas burns an American flag and two people are accidentally burned. Many people want to ban flag burning, while others say it is their right. Discuss your position on the issue and include an explanation of how it relates to an amendment in the Bill of Rights (about 150 words).
Part 3
Limitations to individual rights e-mail: about 450 words total
Imagine your area is in a state of emergency and you are concerned about the balance of liberty and security as people try to return to their normal lives, recover what was lost, and rebuild what was destroyed. Compose an email you could send to elected officials to voice your concerns. Your email should include positions on two of the potential issues related to civil liberties found below.
1. Imagine that the following situations have occurred in your community following the disaster. Select two of the following situations to address and evaluate in your email:
o The government suspended the right of habeas corpus (the right to see a judge after arrest to determine if imprisonment is lawful).
o The government forced people to evacuate from their homes.
o The press accessed the disaster area and published a story in a national newspaper about the event.
o The government allowed federal and state troops to be quartered in private residences to assist residents and protect order.
o Citizens were denied the right to bring legally owned firearms to storm shelters.
o The government made certain dangerous areas off-limits, which prevented residents from accessing their homes and personal property.
o Prisoners were kept in prisons that lacked power, supplies, and plumbing during the emergency.
o The federal and state courts postponed scheduled criminal and civil trials due to the emergency.
o The government prevented the press from publishing graphic photos of victims of the natural disaster to protect the privacy of the victim’s family.
o The federal government stated that local and state governments are solely responsible for the disaster recovery efforts and that it will not be providing assistance.
2. Once you have chosen the concerns you wish to address, use this template for your email:
Paragraph 1: Introductory paragraph for your email should address why rights are not absolute. Explain how the Constitution safeguards and limits individual rights.
Paragraph 2: Paragraph two should address one of the ten situations from the list. Be sure to include the following information in the paragraph.
o the Constitutional amendment that relates to the situation
o arguments that could be made for or against the action that took place
o your position on the situation and the reasons you think officials should agree with you)
Paragraph 3: Paragraph three should address a different situation from the list. Address the bulleted items again for this second situation.
Short summary conclusion with points made in your email and appreciation expressed for the officials’ time.