Mr. Tredinnick's Class Site
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Welcome to Mr. Tredinnick's AP United States Government and Politics Class

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"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country." 
   - Franklin Roosevelt
This semester long course will guide students through an introductory examination of the political structures that form the foundations of the government of the United States. Through an analysis of the different ideas, beliefs, groups, and institutions students will become more familiar with the structure and function of the country's government. By examining different theoretical approaches, and examples of prior political procedures students will gain a better understanding of the methods and reasoning for the operation of the United States Government. Throughout the course of the semesters students will be examining the United States Government by examining its constitutional underpinnings, the different political beliefs and behaviors, how it is influenced by special interest groups, the institutions of the national government, the formation and implementation of public policy, and the civil rights and liberty issues that form the foundations of our government. Upon completion of the course students will be given the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement test for the possibility of earning college credit. 

Unit VII - Test Preparation and Review

Unit VII Course Schedule

Week 18 - Test Preparation
(Dec 11-15)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Final Exam
     - Units V-VI Test: Public Policy, Civil RIghts and Civil Liberties
  HW: Test Corrections due next class

Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Unpacking the MC
  - Practice FRQ
  + Make list of concepts you need to study based on exam

Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day
Week 19 - Test Preparation
(Dec 18-22)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Unpacking the FRQ
  - Practicing FRQs (Assignment)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Semester Finals
  - Class Wrap-Up
  - End of Course Survey
  - All Homework and Assignments need to be submitted
  - Citizenship Challenge (Assignment)
Friday: No School - Winter Recess
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Unit VII Assignments

Citizenship Challenge
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Practicing FRQs
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Unit VI - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Unit VI Course Schedule

Week 16 - Being an American
(Nov 27-Dec 1)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Rights and Responsibilites of Citizenship
     - Forum: American Citizenship (6.1)
     - The Duties of Citizenship (Notes)
​     - Requirements for Citizenship (Notes)
     HW: US Citizenship Quiz
​          + Civics Question for Naturalization
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Constitutional Protections
     - Forum: Importance of the Amendments (6.2)
     - The Amendments (Notes)
     - Unpacking the Amendments (Assignment)
     HW: Skim Schmidt pgs. 94-128
     HW: Know Your Rights (Assignment)
          + Crash Course: Civil Rights and Liberties 
Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day
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Week 17 - Upholding Your Rights
(Dec 4-8)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: The Upholding of the Law
​     - Forum: Fundamental Rights (6.3)
     - Review Amendments and Discuss Homework
     - Analyzing the 14th Amendment (Assignment)
     HW: Finish Analyzing the 14th Amendment                         Assignment
     HW: Skim Schmidt pgs. 134-173
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Social and Racial Equality
     - Forum: Explain the 14th's Importance (6.4)
     - Pursuing Rights for All (Assignment)
          + The Women's Rights Movement
          + The American Indian Movement 
          + The Civil Rights Movement 
Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day

Unit VI Notes

Requirements for Citizenship
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The Amendments
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The Duties of Citizenship
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Unit V & VI Review Guide - Policy, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
File Size: 214 kb
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Unit VI Assignments

Analyzing the 14th Amendment
File Size: 220 kb
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Know your Rights
File Size: 205 kb
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Pursuing Rights for All
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Unpacking the Amendments
File Size: 256 kb
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Unit VI Additional Resources

​Amendments 1-10

Amendments 11-27

Civics Questions for Naturalization

The Leadership Conference: Civil Rights

Crash Course Government: Civil Rights and Liberties


Unit V - Public Policy

Unit V Course Schedule

Week 13 - Policy and Elections
   (Nov 6-10)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Elections and Policy
     - Forum: The Will of the Nation (5.1)
     - Examining the 2016 Election (Discussion)
          + 2016 Election Geo-inquiry 
​          + ESRI - Community Analyst
          + NARA: The Electoral College
          + 270 to Win
          + YouGov
          + Real Clear Politics: Electoral Map
     - Gerrymandering Complexities (Assignment)
          + Re-Districting Game
​
     HW: Schmidt, pgs. 293-298
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
​Thursday: Domestic Policy
​     - Forum: Top Issue Today? (5.2)
     - Addressing Public Policy: Domestic Policy                  (Notes)
     HW: What is Being Done (Assignment)
          + GovTrack: Bills and Resolutions
          + Domestic Policy Council
​
     HW: Schmidt pgs. 476-502 (Skim)
Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day
Week 14 - Policy and the Machine
   (Nov 13-17)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Foreign Policy
     - Forum: Biggest Foreign Issue (5.3)
     - Setting Foreign and Military Policy (Notes)
     HW: SALT Treaties (Assignment)
     HW: Schmidt pgs. 539-564 (Skim)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
​Thursday: Building of Policy
​     - Forum: Influence of Agencies (5.4)
     - The Processes of Policy (Notes)
​     HW: Finding Policy Issues - 2015 (Assignment)
     HW: Paradox of American Power (Chpt 3)
Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day
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Week 15 - Contributors to Policy-making 
   (Nov 20-24)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Carrying Out Policy
     - Forum: Is Isolationism Possible? (5.5)
     - Discuss State of the Union
     - Examining Policy Issues (Assignment)
          + Kentucky County Clerk
          + Save Darfur
          + Affordable Care Act
     HW: Neglecting Rwanda (Assignment)
          + The Guardian: The US Chose to Ignore                         Rwanda
Wednesday: No School - Teacher Work Day
Thursday: No School - Thanksgiving Break
Friday: No School - Thanksgiving Break
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Unit V Notes

Addressing Public Policy: Domestic Policy
File Size: 911 kb
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The Processes of Policy
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Setting Foreign and Military Policy
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​Unit V Review

Unit V & VI Review Guide - Policy, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
File Size: 214 kb
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Unit V Assignments

Examining Policy Issues
File Size: 218 kb
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Finding Policy Issues - 2015
File Size: 275 kb
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Gerrymandering Complexities
File Size: 253 kb
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Predicting the 2016 Election
File Size: 211 kb
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SALT Treaties
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What is Being Done
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​Unit V Additional Resources

Domestic Policy Council

GovTrack: Bills and Resolutions

Redistricting Game


Unit IV - Institutions of National Government

Unit IV Course Schedule

Week 8 - The Congress
   (Oct 2-6)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
​Tuesday: Introduction to Congress
​     Forum: Limits on Congress (3.1)
     - The Legislative Branch (Notes)
     HW: Congressional Effectiveness (Assignment)
     HW: (Skim) Schmidt pgs. 341-348, 354-363
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: The Executive Branch
     Forum: Executive Powers (3.2)
     - Presidential Roles and Qualifications (Notes)
​     HW: The First Lady (Assignment)
     HW: (Skim) Schmidt pgs. 381-394  
Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day
     1st Years - Ashfall Field Trip
Week 11 - The Powers of Government
   (Oct 23-27) 

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Bill into Law Simulation
     Forum: Anticipated Opposition (3.7)
​     - Government RSP (Assignment)
          + Part 3 - Checking the Constitutionality
     HW: Final Product of Government RSP Due November 1st
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Keeping the Government Under Check
     Forum: Your Bill's Constitutionality (3.8)
     - Limitations on the Federal Government (Notes)
     - The Limitations on Government (Assignment)
          + PBS: Federalism
​          + About Education: Checks and Balances
     HW: Review for Unit III Test next Thursday
Friday: No School - Teachers Off
Week 9 - The Presidency
​   (Oct 9-13)

Monday: No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday: The Executive Branch
​     Forum: Presidential Approval (3.3)
     - Executive Departments (Notes)
     HW: Research an Executive Department                              (Assignment)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: The Judicial Branch
​     Forum: The Current Supreme Court (3.4) 
     - The Federal Court System (Notes)
     - Landmark Cases (Assignment)
     HW: Crash Course Courts (Assignment) 
​          + Crash Course: Structure of the Courts
     HW: Schmidt pgs. 446-449, 463-467
Friday: No Class "A" Day
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Week 10 - Creating a Bill 
   (Oct 16-20)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Bill into Law Simulation
     Forum: Passing a Bill (3.5)
     - Government RSP (Assignment)
          + Part 1 - Brainstorming Your Bill
     HW: Complete Part 1
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Bill into Law Simulation
​     Forum: Summarize Your Bill (3.6)
​     - Government RSP (Assignment) 
          + Part 2 - Drafting Your Bill
     HW: Complete Part 2
Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day
Week 12 - The Political Process and Elections
   ​
(Oct 30-Nov 3)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
​Tuesday: The Election Process
     Forum: Necessity of Electoral College (3.9)
     - Electing the President (Notes)
​          + Schoolhouse Rock: Electoral College
     HW: Midterm Test Next Class
          + Unit IV Study Guide - Institutions of National Government (Review)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Finish Unit IV
​     - Unit IV Test - Institutions of National                           Government
     HW: Test Corrections Due Next Class
Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day

​Unit IV Notes

Electing the President
File Size: 1051 kb
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Executive Departments
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Limitations on the Federal Government
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Presidential Roles and Qualifications
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The Federal Court System
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The Legislative Branch
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Unit IV Review

Unit IV Study Guide - Institutions of National Government
File Size: 216 kb
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Unit IV Assignments

Congressional Effectiveness
File Size: 294 kb
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Crash Course Courts
File Size: 202 kb
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Government RSP
File Size: 667 kb
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Landmark Cases
File Size: 214 kb
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Research an Executive Department
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The First Lady
File Size: 257 kb
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The Limitations on Government
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​Unit IV Additional Resources

About Education: Checks and Balances

Crash Course: Structure of the Court

PBS Federalism

​Principles of the Constitution Series

Schoolhouse Rock: Electoral College


Unit II & III - Influencing the Political Process

Unit II Course Schedule

Week 4 - The Formation of Political Identity
   (Sept 4-8)

Monday: No School - Labor Day
Tuesday: Civic Education and Participation
     - Forum 2.1 - Purpose of Government
​​     - Forms of Government (Notes)
     - The Role of Citizens (Assignment)
          + TIME: The Case for National Service
          + The Atlantic: The Case Against Universal                     National Service
     - In-Class Discussion: What makes Democracy             Work? (Assignment)
     HW: Examining Voter Turnout (Assignment) 
          +
Bipartisan Policy - 2012 Election Statistics
​     HW: ISideWith
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Formation of Political Identity
     - Forum 2.2 - Group Thinking Politics
     - Discussing Political Affiliation (Assignment) 
     - Major Party Platforms (Assignment) ​
     HW: Understanding Public Opinion (Assignment)
          + Iraq versus Vietnam: A Comparison of Public              Opinion
          + Schmidt: Pgs. 181-188
​     HW: Crisis of Confidence (Assignment)
Friday: No Class "A" Day
Week 5 - Political Parties
   (Sept 11-15)
Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Introducing Political Parties
     - Forum: Political Parties (3.1)
     - The Evolution of Political Parties (Notes)
     - How the Parties Differ (Assignment)
          + Thought Question
          + Diffen: Difference Between the Parties
     HW: State Political Profile (Assignment)
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Political Parties
​     - Forum: Debating Political Parties (3.2)
     - The Roles of Political Parties (Notes)
     - Caucuses and Primaries (Assignment)
          + The 2016 GOP Selection Process
     HW: Party Technicalities (Assignment)
Friday: No School - Staff Development
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Week 6 - Interest Groups
   (Sept 18-24)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Interest Groups
     - Forum: Ice Cream Politics (3.3)
     - Interest Groups and Lobbyists (Notes)
​          + How it Happens: Lobbyists
          + The "L" Word
     HW: Philip Morris vs. the World (Assignment)
          + Philip Morris International
​          + Thank You For Smoking
​
     HW: Schmidt pgs. 217-225
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: PACs and Super PACs
     - Forum: Political Finance (3.4)
     - Political Action Committees (Notes)
          + Colbert's Super PAC Lessons
​          + Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow
​          + Colbert's Super PAC
     HW: Schmidt pgs. 318 - 321
​     HW: Test Corrections
Friday: No School - Vehicle Day
Week 7 - The Media
​   (Sept 25-29)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: News Stations
​     - Forum: Which do you prefer? (3.5)
     - The Role of News Media (Notes)
​     HW: Bias in the News (Assignment)
          + TED Talk - Alisa Miller
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: The Wider Media
​     - Forum: Media and Politics (3.6) 
     - Analyzing Political Cartoons (Assignment)
     - Media Portrayals (Notes)
​          + Conan O'Brien at the Corespondents Dinner 
          + Fakin It - The Daily Show and Colbert Report
          + The Colbert Bump
​
     HW: Unit II Review: Influencing the Poltiical                       Process
​     HW: Unit II Test - Influencing the Political Process
Friday: No Class - Zoo Project Day

Unit II Notes

Forms of Government
File Size: 638 kb
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Interest Groups and Lobbyists
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Media Portrayals
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Political Action Committees
File Size: 641 kb
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The Evolution of Political Parties
File Size: 936 kb
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The Role of News Media
File Size: 1078 kb
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The Roles of Political Parties
File Size: 980 kb
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Unit II & III Review

Unit II & III Review: Influencing the Political Process
File Size: 231 kb
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Unit II Assignments

Analyzing Political Cartoons
File Size: 455 kb
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Bias in the News
File Size: 294 kb
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Caucuses and Primaries
File Size: 202 kb
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Discussing Political Affiliation
File Size: 204 kb
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How the Parties Differ
File Size: 211 kb
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Major Party Platforms
File Size: 203 kb
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Party Technicalities
File Size: 305 kb
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Philip Morris vs. the World
File Size: 204 kb
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State Political Profile
File Size: 207 kb
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The Role of Citizens
File Size: 212 kb
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Understanding Public Opinion
File Size: 204 kb
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What Makes Democracy Work?
File Size: 205 kb
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Unit II Additional Resources

Bipartisan Policy - 2012 Election Statistics

Diffen - Differences Between the Parties

Iraq Versus Vietnam: A Comparison of Public Opinion

Jimmy Carter - Crisis of Confidence Speech

How it Happens: Lobbyists

Most and Least Trusted News Agencies

Historical Presidential Elections

Open Secrets - Super PACs

TED Talk - Alisa Miller

The 2016 GOP Selection Process

​The "L" Word


Unit I - Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government

Unit I Course Schedule

Week 1 - Course Introduction
   (Aug 14-18)
Monday: No School - Summer Vacation
Tuesday: No School - Summer Vacation
Wednesday: ​No School - Summer Vacation
Thursday: No Class - Orientation
Friday: No Class - Orientation
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Week 2 - Formation of the U.S. Government
   (Aug 21-25)
Monday: No Class - Eclipse Events
Tuesday: Class Introductions
     - Teacher and Student Introductions
     - What is America? (Assignment)
     - Citizenship Challenge (Assignment)
     - Course Expectations and Overview (Syllabus)
     HW: Review Syllabus
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Origins and Principles of Democratic                             Government
     - Foundations of Democratic Government (Notes)
     - Principles of the Enlightenment (Assignment)
     HW: Arguments for Independence (Assignment)
     HW: Schmidt pgs. 10-15
Friday: No Class "A" Day
Week 3 - Democratic Citizenship
   (Aug 28-Sept 1)

Monday: No Class "A" Day
Tuesday: Creation of the United States Government
     -  The Declaration of Independence (Notes) 
     - The Constitutional Convention (Notes)
​          + The Articles of Confederation (Notes)
     HW: Federalists and Anti-Federalists                                   (Assignment)
     HW: Schmidt pgs. 47-53
Wednesday: No Class "A" Day
Thursday: Major Ideas of the Constitution
     - The Six Big Ideas of the Constitution (Notes)
     - Finding the Six Big Ideas (Assignment)
     HW: Unit I Test (Schoology)
          + Unit I Review: Constitutional Underpinnings
Friday:  No Class - Zoo Project Day

​Unit I Notes

Foundations of Democratic Government
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The Articles of Confederation
File Size: 335 kb
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The Constitutional Convention
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The Declaration of Independence
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Unit I Review

Unit I Review: Constitutional Underpinnings
File Size: 214 kb
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Unit I Assignments

Arguments for Independence
File Size: 254 kb
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Citizenship Challenge
File Size: 234 kb
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Federalists and Anti-Federalists
File Size: 288 kb
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Finding the Six Big Ideas
File Size: 238 kb
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Principles of the Enlightenment
File Size: 448 kb
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What is America?
File Size: 234 kb
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Unit I Additional Resources

Anti-Federalists - Brutus I

Cows Explain Politics

​Federalists No. 10 - Publius

The U.S. Constitution

The Anti-Federalists Papers

​The Federalist Papers

Thomas Paine: Common Sense


AP U.S. Government Course Resources

Course Materials

AP Exam Tips: The FRQ
File Size: 227 kb
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AP MC TIPS AND TRICKS

AP US Government Syllabus (Fall 2017)
File Size: 961 kb
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Social Studies Writing Guide
File Size: 267 kb
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Socratic Seminar Guidelines
File Size: 249 kb
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Test Correction Form
File Size: 209 kb
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Class Forum

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Helpful Websites

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Domestic News Services

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Foreign News Services

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