American Government 1.1 Principles of Government  

OBJECTIVE
Students will identify the essential features of a state by analyzing the theories about the origin of government.

I. In the last 50 years the number of countries in the world has more than doubled. 
A. In 1996, there were 185 independent countries
B. Each with its own people and government.
II. Essential Features of a State (pages 6B8)
A. Population, the most obvious essential feature of a state.
B. An area with fixed boundaries.
C. Sovereignty, or absolute authority, within its territorial boundaries.
D. Governments maintain order, provides public services, and enforces laws 
III. Theories of the Origin of the State (page 8)
A. One person or a group used force to establish its authority to govern the people.
	B. The people gave the government its power to rule them, and in return the    government had to respect the people=s rights
IV. The Purposes of Government (pages 9B11)
A. Governments are needed to maintain order by making and enforcing laws.
B. Governments provide essential services, such as health and safety.
C. Governments protect people from attack
D. Governments pass laws that shape and control the nation=s economy
V. Odds & Ends
A. An independent state or country is considered a nation
B. Aristotle was one of the first students of government
C. A state is considered a political community
D. Thomas Hobbes identified a social contract as a bond between groups and or individuals
E. One of the most important tasks of government is to provide national security

American Government 1.1 Principles of Government  

Review Answers 1-1
1. D
2. A
3. E
4. C
5. B
6. B CHAPTER 3
7. D
8. C
 9. C
10. A

Primary Document
1. Both Albany Plan and the US Constitution provide for elected representatives; local independence within a larger framework of union; a president to make treaties and declare war.
2. Franklin believed that both the colonists and the monarch would have been appeased if: 
A. colonists would have been granted local, elected representation, just taxation, and local defense; 
B. the Crown would have appointed the President-General of the colonies and would be assured extension of British colonial settlement.

Summary: In today’s lesson we identified the essential features of a state and analyzed the theories about the origin of government.

Homework: State & Nation
State - a political community
Nation -an independent state or country

Name ______________________________________Class ___________ Date______________

American Government 1.1 Principles of Government

Match item in Column A with the items in Column B. Write the correct letters in the blanks. 
Column A
_____1. one of the first students of government
_____2. a political community
_____3. an independent state or country
_____4. social contract
_____5. task of government	Column B
A. state
B. national security
C. Thomas Hobbes
D. Aristotle
E. nation

In the blank at the left, write the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
_____6. This term means a state has supreme and absolute authority within its territorial boundaries.
A. consensus 						C. social contract
B. sovereignty 					D. democracy

_____7. This is the institution through which the state maintains social order.
A. sovereignty 					C. politics
B. republic 						D. government

_____8. This is NOT a theory of the origin of the state.
A. divine right theory 					C. ruler’s right theory
B. social contract theory 				D. evolutionary theory

_____9. American colonies declared their independence based on
A. Aristotle’s theory of the polis. 			C. John Locke’s political writings.
B. the Aztec’s divine right theory. 			D. consensus of the population.

_____10. Abraham Lincoln said that one of the important purposes of government is to
A. provide essential services. 				C. control people.
B. attack other states. 				D. control individual economic decisions.

In your own words, summarize today’s lesson.

Name ______________________________________Class ___________ Date______________

American Government 1.1 Principles of Government
Primary Documents-The Albany Plan of Union
Plan of a proposed Union of the Several Colonies of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pensilvania [sic], Maryland, North Carolina,
and South Carolina, for their mutual defence & Security & for the Extending the British Settlements in North America.

That humble application be made for an act of the Parliament of Great Britain by virtue of which
one General Government may be formed in America including all the said Colonies within & underwhich Government each Colony may retain it [sic] present constitution except in the Perticulars [sic] wherein a Change may be directed by the said act as Hereafter follows.—

That the said General Government be administered by a President General to be appointed & sup-ported by the Crown, & a Grand Council to be chosen by the Representatives of the People of the several Colonies met in their respective Assemblies.

That within [sic] Months after the passing of such act, the House of Representatives in the several
Assemblies that happens to be sitting within that time or that shall be especially for that purpose convened may & Shall chuse [sic] Members of the Grand Council . . .

Who shall meet for the first time at the City of Philadelphia in Pensilvania [sic] being called by the
President General as soon as conveniently may be after his Appointment. That there shall be a new Election of members for the Grand Council every three Years, & on the Death or resignation of any Member . . .

That the Grand Council have power to chuse [sic] their speaker . . .That the President General with the advice of the Grand Council hold or direct all Indian Treaties in which the General Interest or Welfare of the Colonies may be concerned, & to make Peace or declare War with Indian Nations. That they make such Laws as they judge necessary for regulating all Indian Trade. 

. . . That they may raise & pay Soldiers, and build Forts for the Defence of any of the Colonies, & equip Vessels of force to guard the Coast and protect the Trade on the Ocean Lakes or great Rivers, but they shall not impress men in any Colony without the consent of its Legislature—
That for these Purposes they have power to make Laws, & lay, & levy such General Dutys [sic]
Imports or Taxes as to themselves appear most equal & just considering the ability & other Circumstances of the Inhabitants in the Several Colonies . . .

DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
1. In what ways is the Albany Plan for colonial union a precursor of the United States Constitution?

2. Benjamin Franklin, who authored the Albany Plan, believed that if the Plan had been adopted, the American Revolution might not have been fought. What parts of the plan do you think support this belief? Explain.