WEEK TWO

Unit Questions:
-

What historical documents influenced our own government?

What are some of the key ideas that our country believes in?

C2.1.1 Explain the historical and philosophical origins of American

constitutional government and evaluate the influence of ideas found in the
Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, Iroquois
Confederation, Northwest Ordinance, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom,
Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and selected
Federalist Papers (the 10th, 14th, 51st), John Lockes Second Treatise,
Montesquieus Spirit of Laws, Paines Common Sense.
C2.1.3 Explain how the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of
Rights reflected political principles of popular sovereignty, rule of law, checks
and balances, separation of powers, social compact, natural rights, individual
rights, separation of church and state, republicanism and federalism.
C2.1.4 Explain challenges and modifications to American constitutional
government as a result of significant historical events such as the American
Revolution, the Civil War, expansion of suffrage, the Great Depression, and
the civil rights movement.
C2.2.1 Identify and explain the fundamental values of Americas
constitutional republic and their reflection in the principles of the United
States Constitution.

Objectives:

Instructions: Welcome to Week 2 of the online U.S. Government course! Please complete the
following activities for this week. Make sure that you complete each activity by the time it is
due. Due dates are located at the end of each activity listed below.
(1) Read Chapter 2 Section 1 (pages 46-50). Create a new document with your Google
Drive account and title it Your Name Week 2 Activities. On this new document
you will type out each of the Key Terms and Concepts for Section 1, as well as their
definitions. Make sure to label this section Ch. 2 Vocabulary Terms: Sec 2. Using
your Google account, log into Blogger and create your personal blog. Name your
blog according to website instructions. Send blog URL to me via email. Complete
this activity by 11:59pm Monday of Week 2.
(2) Begin formatting your blog. Watch the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, and
American Government video. Download the audio creation software Audacity. Watch
the videos on using Audacity. View the Getting Started Audacity Manual. Complete
this activity by 11:59pm Tuesday of Week 2.
(3) Watch the videos on copyright and Creative Commons. Complete the Trial Podcast
assignment. Complete this activity by 11:59pm Wednesday of Week 2.

(4) Read Chapter 2 Section 2 (pages 51-56). In your "Week 2 Activities document, type
out each of the Key Terms and Concepts for Section 2, as well as their definitions.
Make sure to label this section Ch. 2: Vocabulary Terms: Sec 2. Download and
install the LAME Mp3 Encoder for Audacity. Watch the video on how to accomplish
this. Create account on the Internet Archive. Save Trial Podcast assignment as an mp3
file. Complete this activity by 11:59pm Thursday of Week 2.
(5) Upload Trial Podcast to the Internet Archive. Create your first blog post. Visit the
Discussion Blog and answer the questions for Week 2. Review your Week 2 Google
Drive document. Complete the Week 2 Post-Test. Complete this activity by
11:59pm Friday of Week 2.
Resources:
-

Chapters to read in Textbook: Ch. 2 Sec.s 1 and 2 (pgs. 46 - 56).

Create a Blog with Blogger https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=QaQUdIXEJ9Q
Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, and American Government
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca_kI948JUA
Learn how to use Audacity https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=pPMR4ZPGIGU
Audacity Tutorial for Podcasting https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=IC3VZkfdgV8
Audacity User Manual http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/quick_help.html
Copyright Basics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uiq42O6rhW4
Creative Commons & Copyright Info https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=8YkbeycRa2A
How to Save MP3s in Audacity With the LAME Encoder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99uOkzzLbHE
Discussion Questions located on the class blog.
A Google Forms Quiz located at the bottom of the Week 2 Activities page of
the class website.

Discussion Questions:
1. In your own words, why was the signing of the Magna Carta so important? Why do you
think the king signed it?

2. Which historical government document did you find the most intriguing?

3. Have you ever created a blog before? How about a podcast? If so, explain what it was
about. If not, what do you know about blogging or podcasting?