This unit will serve as an introduction to an Advance Placement Government and Politics class. The topic of government is not always a subject many of the seniors enrolled in this class are interested in. In an effort to prepare students for their roles as citizens of the United States, this unit will examine the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, in an effort to examine the impact the amendments had on the lives African Americans. It will also serve as an introduction to the study of the United States Constitution. Students will also examine the impact of work by African Americans that spoke out on the rights and responsibilities of African Americans as citizens of the US. At the completion of this unit, students will be able to: 1. Identify and understand important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S. Government and Politics. 2. Understand patterns of the political processes and behavior and their consequences, including the political effects of political structure and procedure and 3. Critically analyze relevant theories and concepts. Students will also apply them correctly in the appropriate context, and develop their own connections to subject matter.

(Developed for AP Government and Politics, grades 12; recommended for AP Government, grade 12; U. S. Government and U. S. History, grade 11; and African American Studies, grades 10-12)