USG.SS.8.A

Explain why the Founding Fathers created a distinctly new form of federalism and adopted a federal system of government instead of a unitary system.

United States Government · Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) · TEKS 2010

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Vocabulary
Founding Fathersfederalismfederal system of governmentunitary systemform of governmentUnited States Constitution
Skills
  • explain (reasons for creation of federalism by the Founding Fathers) #dok2
  • explain (adoption of a federal system instead of a unitary system) #dok2
  • analyze (differences between federal and unitary systems) #dok3
  • compare (features of federal, unitary, and other systems of government) #dok3
Learning Targets
  • I can describe the federal system of government created by the Founding Fathers. #dok1
  • I can recall key features of federal and unitary systems. #dok1
  • I can explain why the Founding Fathers designed a distinctly new form of federalism. #dok2
  • I can explain the reasons for adopting a federal system instead of a unitary system. #dok2
  • I can analyze the differences between federal and unitary systems of government. #dok3
  • I can compare how power is distributed in federal and unitary systems. #dok3
Big Ideas
  • The Founding Fathers intentionally developed a federal system as a response to the weaknesses and experiences of previous governance models.
  • Federalism was chosen to balance power between national and state governments, preventing tyranny and protecting individual liberties.
Essential Questions
  • Why did the Founding Fathers choose a federal system over a unitary system when forming the U.S. government?
  • How does federalism reflect the Founders' concerns about central authority and government power?
  • What are the main differences between a federal and a unitary system of government?
  • In what ways does the federal system influence how power is shared between the national and state governments?
  • How does the U.S. model of federalism differ from other historical forms of government?