Matrix of Thinkers: MEET THE PRESS

AKA- WHICH FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS BEST?

FUN WITH HISTORICAL FIGURES!!!

Please turn to a blank page in your JOURNAL and title it

This activity is designed to:

• Get you thinking about forms of government….which is the best? Why?

• Introduce you to the philosophical roots of the Constitution….we’re going to examine a wide variety of ideas held about government by prominent thinkers of the time.

TITLE IT: Matrix of Thinkers Notes

Types of Government- the biggiesYou should take notes on these on

your paper….• AnarchyNo rulership or enforced authority. Anarchy does not

necessarily mean chaos and disorder it means that there is no organized government.

• Democracy Democracy is a form of government in which power is held

by people under a system where people are trusted to make decisions; the people vote in representatives to make decisions for them.

• MonarchyA monarchy is a government where one person holds the

power. They are typically born into this role. This head is a king or queen.

Aristocracy is a government where the ruler is elected based on social class, generally passed down in the same family.

• TyrannyIn modern usage, a tyrant is a single ruler

holding absolute power over a country. Generally a cruel ruler who places his or her own interests or the interests of a small group over the best interests of the general population which the tyrant governs or controls. (Hitler)

Second: On your paper, answer the following questions:

• Can people be trusted to govern? (as opposed to Kings/Queens)

• What is the best form of government?

But before youLearn how it worksORGet into groupsORFigure out your roleORGet all the information you need…..

YOU MUST READ AND BECOME AN EXPERT ON YOUR HISTORICAL THINKER… FUN FACT- anyone with the same historical thinker as you will be in your group… Group work starts tomorrow. So this needs to be done today…or tonight if you slack

In a nutshell:

• In groups of 3 or 4 you will do the following:– Become an expert on ONE historical figure– Use your expert info. to bring to life the ideas and

beliefs of your historical figure in a “Meet the Press” panel-style discussion about government.

– This discussion will focus on two questions:• Can people be trusted to govern?• What is the best form of government?

– Each group member will have a role during this discussion. Groups will be comprised of an ACTOR/PR AGENT, and two REPORTERS (reporters are either friendly or investigative

– Mrs. Nadell will now explain what our “Meet the Press” discussion will look like….

Roles (as opposed to rolls

or a roll)

Actor/ PR• The Actor will play the part of the historical figure during the discussion.

QUESTIONS WILL BE FIRED AT THIS PERSON!

• Answer the questions…– Can people be trusted to govern?– What is the best form of government?

• Prepare a paragraph that summarizes your philosophy of government and why you believe the way you do. Be prepared to support yourself during the questioning with a focus on why you believe the way you do. From this, prepare a 15 -30 second introductory speech for your character. Type this out.

• Study up who you are and what you believe in.

• You will also create and decorate your own mask/ nametag.• Prepare answers to all of the Friendly Reporter questions.• Talk to Investigative Reporter about potential attacks against your character.• *** PR person, if your group has one, works side by side getting the actor

prepped!! All of the above are your jobs too

Friendly Reporter

• Have five questions that you will ask those characters who share your philosophy. You do not need 5 separate questions for each character, just 5 total questions. These must be typed or printed clearly on a piece of paper to turn in (we’ll write some example questions together for in just a bit…). Main idea: the questions you’ll ask your actor and other actors with the same philosophy will make these people look GOOD.

• Discuss with actor all your questions making sure they have answers to each.

• Work with the Investigative Reporter to ensure you all get your jobs done!

Investigative Reporter

• Have five questions that you will ask those characters that have a different philosophy. You do not need 5 separate questions for each character, just 5 total questions. These must be typed or printed clearly on a piece of paper to turn in. Main idea: you’ll ask these questions to characters with a different philosophy than your actor’s philosophy-- you want to ATTACK them and make their view on govt. seem WEAK

• Discuss with actor the potential attacks that will be made against your character and prepare your actor to answer.

• Work with the Friendly Reporter to ensure your questions and jobs get done.

Let’s meet the characters!!!

Abigail Adams• Wrote letters to husband

John urging colonial independence. Felt colonists were being unfairly oppressed by the British government. Reminded John not to forget about women’s rights as the new government of the United States was being formed.

Hiawatha• One of the creators of the

Iroquois League, an organization of the Native American tribes established to bring peace to warring tribes and to settle disputes. The League had a council made up of members from various tribes that made decisions based unanimous agreement. In addition, the League had a chief executive. Women had much power in the Iroquois League.

Thomas Hobbes

• English philosopher who argued that all humans were naturally wicked. Believed that an absolute monarchy-- one that gave all power to a king or queen- was the best form of government. Thought governments were created to protect people from their own selfishness.

Louis XIV

• Ruled France from 1643 to 1715 as an absolute monarch, or a ruler with unlimited power. Believed in “Divine Right,” the idea that rulers receive their authority from God and are answerable only to God, not other people. He was the most powerful ruler of his time.

John Locke• English philosopher who

believed that people had the ability to reason and make good decisions if given the proper information. Thought governments should be formed only with the approval of the people they were governing. Argued that governments should be established to protect individual freedoms and liberties.

William Laud• Head of Church of

England from 1633 to 1643. Supported the concept of “Divine Right,” the idea that rulers receive their authority from God and are answerable only to God, not to the people. Also believed that government and the Church should work together, since God gave the king the right to rule. Severely punished those who did not support his church.

Baron de Montesquieu

• French political theorist who established the idea of “separation of powers.” This idea meant government power should be divided or spread out among different branches of government so that no individual or group could gain too much power and threaten liberty.

Benjamin BannekerBenjamin Banneker African American who African American who

believed that slaves and believed that slaves and free blacks should have free blacks should have full rights as citizens full rights as citizens under the constitution. under the constitution. Wrote well-reasoned Wrote well-reasoned letters to Thomas letters to Thomas Jefferson urging him to Jefferson urging him to use his influence to use his influence to secure equal rights for secure equal rights for African Americans. African Americans. Pointed out that Pointed out that colonists had fought to colonists had fought to end their enslavement end their enslavement under British rule; under British rule; argued that maintaining argued that maintaining slavery of African slavery of African Americans was illogical. Americans was illogical.

Example friendly reporter questions:

• Explain why you believe freedom of religion is so important?

• What problems do you see with the idea of absolute monarchy (rule by King/Queen)?

• In what way does the idea of “divine right” hurt the people?

Example investigative reporter questions:

• How can you possibly think it’s fair to force your religion on other people?

• If the rich and powerful rule, how will the poor and powerless ever have a chance to have their voices heard?

You will all receive a brief biographical sketch on all the historical figures so

these questions will be easier to write….

The investigative reporter is also responsible for predicting attacks

on his/her actor…

• If you were assigned to John Locke, you would expect attacks on the idea of freedom of religion, the idea of natural rights etc….work with the actor to prepare responses to these attacks!

• Can you think of a way that another person might attack the idea of natural rights, democracy or freedom of religion?

Finally…

• Let’s get into groups, receive our roles, and begin to prepare by reading about our historical figure

• As you read about your historical figure, please stop to answer and discuss the questions you see along the way…

• Use your paper to take notes in your group

To-do list…• Get familiar with ALL the characters by reading bio sheet• Do additional research on your character using the

resource sheet provided (websites)• Friendly reporter creates 5 questions (ask the actor all 5

and be sure they can answer!)• Investigative reporter creates 5 questions and help actor

predict possible attacks• Actor writes a paragraph that summarizes and defends

philosophy of government • Actor prepares a 15 -30 second introductory speech for

character (your paragraph will give you ideas)• Prepare name card• Prepare mask• Prepare actor for “attack” questions-- quiz them!

Grading will go like this…

• Each person will receive a score out of 35 points• Peer grading will be 10 points• I’ll grade you individually on:

– The Actor’s ability to answer questions and defend philosophies– The Actor’s intro. speech– Reporter questions (these will be turned in after discussion)– Each reporter needs to ask at least two of their questions (try to

ask good FOLLOW UP questions!- BONUS points if you can engage in a debate)

– 45 points total~~~

Our Meet The Press will go like this…

Prep:• Actors: affix masks to face, put name cards in

front of you, take notes if you need them and sit at a desk in front.

• Reporters: sit in audience with questions- you must ask at least 3 out loud

Giddy Up!

Let’s Go

• Actor- Introductions- 15-30 sec each• Mrs. Nadell will ask Pop questions to actors• Pause to begin filling out note taking guide• Friendly Reporter Questions (you can respond to

answers or follow-up as well)• Invest. Reporter Questions (you can respond to answers

or follow-up as well)• Pause to fill out note taking guide• Group Reflections• HW assignment

Reflecting on our activity:Name:

Your thinker:1. What were the different forms of government that the actors promoted?

2. Which ideas have been incorporated into the US system of government? Which have been rejected?

3. Fill out the table and grade your peers, yourself included:

Names Score 1-10; 10 is best

Why?

Your homework:

• 15 points, due Friday-Staple this sheet to your paragraph!

• In a well-written paragraph, explain which historical thinker has the best ideas about government. Defend your opinion in a complete paragraph that uses two specific examples of the person’s ideas about government and mentions details from the person’s life. Also in your answer, mention one thinker who makes the least sense, and explain why with one specific example.