Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Ratification and Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is provided for by the University of Groningen. Learn about the struggle for approval by the states of the U.S. Constitution, continuous disagreements after the Constitutional Convention between the Federalists and the...
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The Articles of Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
At this site from the University of Groningen's page of "From Revolution to Reconstruction", you can read the Articles of Confederation, written in 1781. Authors listed with the states for which they were writing.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Drafting the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Essay covers from the Articles of Confederation and the problems of disunity of the new states after the Revolutionary War, internally as well as externally, to the Constitutional Convention, an attempt to address the Articles' problems....
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Oliver Ellsworth (1745 1807)

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of Oliver Ellsworth who represented Connecticut in the Continental Congress and also was a promoter of the Connecticut Compromise.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Religion and the Founding of American Rep.: Religion and the Federal Gov

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress presents selections of articles, writings, and pictures that summarize the beliefs of the early American politicians that morality and personal independence were essential for the country. Links to...
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using primary texts and prior study of Colonial America and the Revolution, students examine "what type of government would best represent the ideals of the American Revolution." Worksheets, discussions, and role-playing within this...
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: James Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of James Madison. Find out why James Madison was called the father of the constitution. Learn how his life affected the United States. (In Spanish)
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Edmund Randolph 1753 1813

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University of Groningen profiles Edmund Randolph and chronicles his role as Attorney General of the US. Also includes his role as the presenter of the Virginia Plan to the Constitutional Convention.
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: George Mason 1725 1792

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents links for different parts of George Mason's life. Information about his life includes links to relevant topics.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Road to Philadelphia [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The new United States government had many problems under the Articles of Confederation. Find out what these problems were, but also discover some of the successes accomplished under that constitution. [pdf]
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Representation: By State or by Population? [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the opinions of some of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in regard to the very thorny issue of how states would be represented in the national legislature. [pdf]
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Local Control vs. National Authority [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
One of the debates at the Constitutional Convention centered on whether states or a national government would have greater authority. Read a reconstruction of speeches given by delegates to the convention concerning this important issue....
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Majority Rule vs. Checks and Balances [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
It is interesting to read how the delegates to the Constitutional Convention thought as they debated important issues such as the checks and balances that should be written into the new Constitution. Read these conversations based on...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: A Bill of Rights? [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
There was no Bill of Rights attached to the original Constitution, but it was a topic of discussion. Read a reconstruction of speeches of delegates to the Constitutional Convention who debated for and against the inclusion of a way to...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Hamilton and Jefferson the Men and Their Philosophies [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton played a huge role not only in crafting important documents in U.S. history, but also by serving as secretaries in George Washington's first cabinet. Read about their diametrically opposing...
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Constitutional Convention

For Students 9th - 10th
George Washington wrote of the period between the Treaty of Paris and the writing of the Constitution that the states were united only by a "rope of sand."Disputes between Maryland and Virginia over navigation on the Potomac River led to...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Checks and Balances

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Overview of the principle of checks and balances proposed in the Federalist Papers.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Delegates

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting look at the background of the men who gathered in Philadelphia to frame a new constitution for the new country.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Convention

For Students 9th - 10th
The delegates at the Constitution established strict guidelines for writing the document. Read about the general housekeeping rules, and the way they reached compromises.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Drafting the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Those writing the Constitution had many issues to deal with in forming a document to govern the country. One thorny issue was the status of the states in regard to representation in the federal legislature. Read about the Virginia Plan...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Compromises

For Students 9th - 10th
Compromise was the name of the game when writing the Constitution. See how taxation, elections, and the power of the federal government were enshrined in the document. Marvel at the ideas that were rejected.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Completing a Final Draft

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the committee that produced a final draft of the Constitution to present to the entire Constitutional Convention. Find out what the delegates to the convention kept in the final draft and what they changed.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The Constitutional Convention: What the Founding Fathers Said

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "The Constitutional Convention: What the Founding Fathers Said." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The Creation of the Bill of Rights: "Retouching the Canvas"

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "The Creation of the Bill of Rights: "Retouching the Canvas"." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.