Outschool
Search

$20

weekly
or $360 for 18 classes
Class
Play

Law School for Teens - The Declaration, the Articles, and the Constitution

Completed by 28 learners
Ages 13-17
Live Group Course
We will read and discuss three important documents at the founding of the United States - The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(430 reviews)
Star Educator
Popular

Live video meetings
1x per week, 18 weeks
3-10 learners per class
50 min

What's included

18 live meetings
15 in-class hours
Mastery Evaluation
Outlines and various historic documents throughout the course.
Letter Grade
included

Class Experience

US Grade 8 - 11
Beginner Level
The purpose of the US Constitution is to limit government power. 

Why? 

Because the Founding Fathers lived through a time when government agents could search houses with impunity with general warrants – warrants that did not need to be specific in who they were arresting or what they were searching for.

Because the English government taxed the colonists without giving them representation in the Parliament.

Because the English government could force colonists to board English soldiers in their homes – better to watch over any of those who opposed the government.

And for many other reasons, which are outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

Get $11 off my classes with coupon code TRAYWXN0FP11 until Sep 1, 2023. Look through my classes at https://outschool.com/teachers/Michael-Traywick-2019 and enter the coupon code at checkout.

This course is designed to look at US History and the foundations of law in the United States through three core documents as well as a look at many of the laws and documents that influenced these foundational documents that were shaped by the Founding Fathers’ experience. 

The three core documents are: 

The Declaration of Independence, which outlines their reasons for declaring independence from the most powerful nation in the world; 

The Articles of Confederation, which was an over-correction into a government that was too weak to govern a nation effectively; and 

The United States Constitution, which separated and limited government powers and created an America that unleashed American ingenuity onto the world.

We will read each document and discuss the experiences and results of each document, and why they are important to us today. We will also read several supporting documents and understand the events that led up to creating the documents and what came after as well.

Below is a general overview of how the class will go, but this schedule may be adapted as needed:

Week 1 (August 20 - August 26): French and Indian War (1756 - 1763)
- 	The war between France and Great Britain
-	Look at the Stamp Act, Townshend Act, and the Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party

Week 2 (August 27 - September 2): The Intolerable Acts and Virginia’s Declaration of Rights
-	Punishing the colonies after the Tea Party: Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act
-	Virginia Declaration of Rights - Before The Declaration

Week 3 (September 3 - September 9): Declaration of Independence 
-	Why did the Founding Fathers write the Declaration?
-	What does it say?
-	Why is the Declaration so important?

Week 4: (September 10 - September 16) Articles of Confederation
-	A reaction to the totalitarian style of government
-	The Continental Congresses, First and Second, look at some of the Articles

Week 5: (September 17 - September 23) Articles of Confederation, continued
-	A look at a few more of the Articles - what do they do?
-	During the Revolutionary War and After (Northwest Ordinance)

Week 6: (September 24 - September 30) Articles of Confederation
- 	The failures of the Articles

Week 7: (October 1 - October 7) The Philadelphia Convention
-	The Main Issues
-	Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Week 8:  (October 8 - October 14): - The Federalist Papers
- 	A look at important parts of the Federalist Papers: Fed 10, Fed 39, Fed 51, Fed 68, and Fed 78

Week 9: (October 15 - October 21) The Constitution - Article I – Legislative Branch - The Design
-	What is in Article I?
-	What powers are given to Congress?
-	How are the requirements for being a Representative or a Senator?

Week 10 (October 22 - October 28) : The Constitution - Article I - Legislative Branch in Practice
-	Wickard v. Filburn (Commerce Clause ) 
-	Regulations – Federal Register – contains all the rules and regulations of the federal government
-	How are the other clauses of the Congress interpreted?

Week 11: (October 29 - November 4) The Constitution - Article II – Executive Branch - The Design
-	What is in Article II?
-	What powers are given to the Executive Branch?

Week 12: (November 5 - November 11) The Constitution - Article II – Executive Branch in Practice
-	Court Cases that affected the Presidential Powers
-	Executive Orders – 9066, etc.

Week 13: (November 12 - November 18) The Constitution - Article III – Judicial Branch - The Design
-	What is in Article III?
-	What powers are given to the Judicial Branch?
-	What does the federal judiciary system ourt look like today?

Week 14: (November 19 - November 25): The Constitution - Article III – Judicial Branch in Practice 
-	Marbury v. Madison – tell the story and the details
-	McCulloch v. Maryland (Necessary and Proper Clause)

Week 15: (November 26 - December 2): The Bill of Rights 
-	Anti-Federalist Opposition to the Constitution
-	The Arguments for and Against the Bill of Rights

Week 16: (December 3 - December 9) The Bill of Rights in Practice
-	A look at the amendments and how they’ve been applied in our society
-	Why are the amendments so important?
-	Class Wrap up

Learning Goals

- Read and understand three important founding documents of the United States of America
- Be able to intelligently discuss at a basic level what is in the documents
- Have an increased knowledge of historical events through the laws passed at the time

Syllabus

18 Lessons
over 18 Weeks
Lesson 1:
French and Indian War (1756 - 1763)
 - 	The war between France and Great Britain
-	Look at the Stamp Act, Townshend Act, and the Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
The Intolerable Acts and Virginia’s Declaration of Rights
 -	Punishing the colonies after the Tea Party: Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act
-	Virginia Declaration of Rights - Before The Declaration 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Declaration of Independence
 -	Why did the Founding Fathers write the Declaration?
-	What does it say?
-	Why is the Declaration so important? 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Declaration of Independence, Part 2
 -	Why did the Founding Fathers write the Declaration?
-	What does it say?
-	Why is the Declaration so important? 
50 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Parental Guidance
We will cover Us History, some Constitutional Law, and discuss topics centered around the formation of the United States.
Pre-Requisites
This is a combination of a history class and law class as we will look at the three most important documents at America's founding.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
We will reference historical laws like the Intolerable Acts, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the US Constitution, among other historical documents like the Federalist Papers.

Meet the teacher

4.9
430reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Michigan Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Doctoral Degree from Western Michigan Thomas Cooley Law School
Master's Degree in Education from Aquinas College
Bachelor's Degree in History from Alma College
Associate's Degree in Foreign Language from Defense Language Institute
I have taught US history and law in high school, and I am a practicing attorney.

Reviews

Mike Traywick - Think, Reason, and Argue Better suggests this class next...
Law School for Teens - Weekly Class - Ongoing Class
Mike Traywick - Think, Reason, and Argue Better
4.9
(430)
$20 per class
Group Class
1/wk, 50 min
12-17


Parents also liked
AP United States History Private Tutoring
TeachAnew
4.9
(57)
$70 per session
1-on-1 Tutoring
On Demand
14-18
American / United States History
Sarah Wood
4.9
(75)
$15 per class
Group Class
36 wks, 2/wk, 50 min
13-17
United States History (Full Year) - Part 4 Of 4
Nicole Trusky
4.9
(496)
$18 per class
Next session at 6 PM on Wed 3/26
Group Class
8 wks, 1/wk, 1 hr
13-18
United States History (Full Year) - Part 3 Of 4
Nicole Trusky
4.9
(496)
$18 per class
Group Class
8 wks, 1/wk, 1 hr
13-18
American History - United States History
Tina Hugall MHA MBA
4.9
(886)
$12 per class
Next session at 4 PM today
Group Class
1/wk, 45 min
13-18
Social Studies for Fourth and Fifth Grade - United States History
Learning Adventures Academy
4.9
(1,067)
$17 per class
Next session at 2 PM on Tue 8/26
Group Class
36 wks, 1/wk, 45 min
9-11
United States History (Full Year) - Part 1 of 4
Nicole Trusky
4.9
(496)
$18 per class
Next session at 6 PM on Wed 9/3
Group Class
8 wks, 1/wk, 1 hr
13-18
United States History in Pictures: An Inquiry Based Social Studies Exploration (Ages 8-12)
Leigh Robertson
4.9
(755)
$18 per class
Next session at 6 PM on Monday
Group Class
1/wk, 45 min
8-12
United States History Part 1 I AP I Full Year Curriculum
Brandy Dahlen Yun and BE Education
4.9
(637)
$17 per class
Next session at 3 PM on Mon 6/2
Group Class
15 wks, 2/wk, 45 min
13-18
United States History in Pictures: An Inquiry Based Social Studies Exploration (Ages 11-14)
Leigh Robertson
4.9
(755)
$18 per class
Next session at 9 PM on Wednesday
Group Class
1/wk, 45 min
11-14
United States History Part 2 I AP I Full Year Curriculum
Brandy Dahlen Yun and BE Education
4.9
(637)
$17 per class
Next session at 8 PM on Tue 6/3
Group Class
15 wks, 2/wk, 45 min
13-18
United States History 1700s - A Historical Review - With Book Reading
Mrs. Bettina
4.9
(202)
$14 per class
Group Class
9 wks, 1/wk, 55 min
8-12
History Explorers (U.S. History)
Tamara J Stafford (T.J.)
4.9
(175)
$15 per class
Next session at 5 PM on Monday
Group Class
1/wk, 45 min
9-14
United States History: Civil War to Present | Semester Two Course
Wendy Wawrzyniak
4.9
(76)
$12 per class
Group Class
18 wks, 2/wk, 45 min
14-18
US History Condensed - A People's History
Courtney Runchey
4.9
(55)
$13 per class
Next session at 6 PM on Tue 9/2
Group Class
14 wks, 2/wk, 50 min
14-18
Coloring U.S. History (Ongoing)
Tamara J Stafford (T.J.)
4.9
(175)
$10 per class
Next session at 5:50 PM on Monday
Group Class
1/wk, 45 min
7-10
See More Classes
Home
Search
Give a Gift Card
Open currency, time zone, and language settings
Language & Region
Log In