Citizenship and the Constitution Essay In this lesson, you will construct a five-paragraph essay explaining
how the Constitution and its European influences support the
modern concept of
American citizenship and citizens' rights and
responsibilities. This essay will demonstrate your understanding of
the origins of American government and democracy. In the
process, you will be able to use primary sources to support your
ideas from the documents discussed in previous lessons.
Be sure to cite evidence from the Constitution and at least two of the following: John Locke's Two Treatises of
Government, the English Bill of Rights, Baron de Montesquieu's The Spirit of Laws, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's
The Social Contract. A third influential document may be selected for comparison from primary sources studied
throughout this unit. Writing this essay is an opportunity for you to synthesize your knowledge of American
government, the origins of democracy, and the importance of the people in the principle of popular sovereignty.