Chapter 2: The Founding and the Constitution

Study Plan

Key Concepts

• The work of political philosophers influenced the Founders in important ways.
• The Constitution balances individual freedom with governmental power.
• British laws that hurt American economic interests pushed the colonies toward independence.
• The country's first founding under the Articles of Confederation failed because it created a national government that was too weak.
• The new Constitution of 1787 combined selfish interests and high principle.
• The new Constitution gave vast new powers to the national government, but it also sharply limited those powers.
• The new Constitution was highly controversial at first, and as a result, a Bill of Rights was added to calm the critics' fears.
• Later constitutional amendments dramatically changed the relationship between Americans and the government.

As you work through the below assignments, don't forget to generate a Progress Report. Fill out the sections you have completed and send a copy to your email account.

Organize

1. Follow this Study Plan to access your chapter assignments.
2. Print out the Chapter Outline and bring it to lecture to help structure your note-taking and check-off topics covered in class.
3. Access Quiz+! The results of this chapter quiz create a Custom Study Plan that links you directly to materials that will assist your pre-exam review.

Learn

1. Read Chapter 2 in your textbook or ebook.
2. Read the Chapter Review of Chapter 2. Note any material you have difficulty remembering from the text.
3. Master the key terms for this chapter by working through the deck of Flashcards.

Connect

1. Explore the Interactive Politics Simulation and the questions that follow.
2. Answer the Questions for Discussion and Thought and articulate your own point of view on the chapter's material.
3. Complete the What Government Does Exercises to understand the structure of American government and how it affects your life in a direct way.
4. Complete the Get Involved Exercise to see how you can use what you have learned in this chapter to effect change in politics and policy.
5. Watch the Video Exercises for this chapter and answer the accompanying questions.
6. Mobilize for political action with Mobilize.org!

Links

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