Transcript Preamble Breakdown

Preamble
Breakdown
GET YOUR NOTEBOOK
AND A HANDOUT
FROM THE FRONT
TABLE!!!
What is a Preamble?
Preamble- An introduction
*The Preamble to the U.S.
Constitution provides an
introduction to the
Constitution.
So how does the
Preamble Begin?
We the People of the United
States,
Who are We the People ?
Every person in the United States
The people agree to live under a
government and have that
government create laws all will
follow.
In return, the people gain the
protection of the government…
We the People of the United
States,
Popular Sovereignty
The idea of Popular Sovereignty was used by the
framers of the Constitution as a founding principle of
the government of the United States of America.
What does this mean???
The people have all the power!
The people of the U.S. can hold
elections and change the
government.
…in order to form a more
perfect Union,
What is a “Union” in
context of the
Preamble?
The “Union” refers to the
United States.
…establish Justice,
What does “justice”
mean?
Fairness; the act of
applying or
upholding the law
…insure domestic tranquility,
What does
“domestic” mean?
What does “tranquility”
mean?
Within a country
Peace
domestic + tranquility = ?
Peace within a country
…provide for the common defense,
What does
“common defense”
mean?
Security of all
people
Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armed_Forces
…promote the general Welfare,
What does “Welfare” mean in the
context of the Preamble?
Well- being; the state or condition of
being healthy, safe, happy, and/or
prospering
So what would the “general Welfare” be?
The well-being of the community as a whole.
…secure the Blessings of Liberty
to ourselves and our Posterity,
What does “liberty”
mean?
What does
“posterity” mean?
freedom
All future
generations
…do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the
United States of America.
What does “ordain”
mean?
Establish formally or
by law
So what does the Preamble
mean to the people?
The Goals of the Preamble
 To

Wanted states to be more unified
 To

Promote the General Welfare
Promote the well-being of all its citizens (health, happiness)
 To

Provide for a Common Defense
Gives the government power to protect citizens
 To

Insure Domestic Tranquility
Peace and order at home (US)
 To

Establish Justice
Applied fairly to every American regardless of race, religion,
and gender
 To

Form a More Perfect Union
Secure the Blessings of Liberty
Protect freedom and rights for its people
Think About It…
Make
a list of things that
the Government can or
can’t do to meet that
goal.
Essential Questions
1.
2.
3.
Explain how the Preamble serves as an
introduction to the U.S. Constitution.
What does “We the people” mean?
How is the principle of popular
sovereignty expressed in the Preamble?