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Lesson Two: The Federalist Papers
Learners identify Articles of Confederation and explain why it failed, explain argument over need for Bill of Rights in Constitution and James Madison's role in securing it's adoption, and compare and contrast ideas of Federalists and...
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The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan: Student Worksheet
These guided reading questions accompany several websites on the development of the US Constitution. While some of the links have changed, they are still accessible. History or government classes benefit from reading primary source...
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The Articles of Confederation
In this Articles of Confederation activity, learners fill in blanks in an outline about the Articles. No text reference is given.
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The Federalist Papers
What were The Federalist Papers? If you're preparing your class for a quiz on this topic, consider providing them with these thought-provoking study questions. Ten questions are provided, although only three contain possible answers.
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Constitution Jeopardy
Although just a quick review of general information learned about the Constitution and U.S. government, this presentation could be used as a fun activity before the beginning of a class lesson, or as an independent experience. The...
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Role of the Government
Namely through discussion, get your opinionated scholars examining the roles of government- is it even necessary? They analyze the quote: "To be free, one must be chained," writing what it represents and then sharing. Consider...
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Understanding The Preamble
Students explore the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution. In this government lesson, students write a preamble to encourage cooperation in their classroom as they study the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution.
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The Articles of Confederation
The purpose of this lesson is to assist students in discovering the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the foundation for creation of the United States Constitution. Students will investigate the events leading up to the...
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The Happy Progress of Our Affairs: George Washington and the U.S. Constitution
Students engage in a instructional activity which uses Washington's own words to illustrate the events leading to the establishment of our national government, and the crucial roles he played throughout that process.
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Why was the Constitutional Convention Necessary?
Eleventh graders explore the steps leading up to the Constitution. In this American Government lesson plan, 11th graders practice document based questions. Students create a letter that describes how a person felt during...
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The Federalist Debates: Balancing Power Between State and Federal Governments
Middle schoolers explain the basic positions of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. They chart the differences and similarities between state and federal governments. They write a persuasive essay in response to an open-ended...
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A Five-Step Plan for the Ohio Country and the Northwest Territory
Students complete five worksheets which correspond to the five problems the American government faced and the five solutions they instituted, accompany this lesson. They select and research one of the steps in this plan and write a...
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American Revolution and Constitution Take-Home Assessment
In this early American history worksheet, students draw diagrams of that feature the responsibilities of each of the 3 branches of the federal government and then create their own original visuals that highlight the formation of American...
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Constitutional Convention
Students examine the structure and function of the United States government established by the Constitution. They also explore the problems the country faced under the Articles of Confederation.
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Worksheet #49 - Constitution
In this historical quiz worksheet, students test their knowledge on multiple historical references about the Constitution as they answer the ten fill in the blank questions.
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Decisions, Decisions: The Constitution
Eighth graders, after working with the software Decisions, Decisions: The Constitution, become face to face with the dilemmas, compromises, and struggles of writing the American Constitution. Each student is evaluated on how well they...
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Lead Stories about Confederation Lesson 5
Students identify what a lead story is and how to write one, for their simulated newspaper, about Confederation. They use primary-source documents from the "EvidenceWeb" portion of the Learning Centre, on the Library and Archives Canada...
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The Three Branches of Government
Seventh graders discover details about the responsibilities of the 3 branches of government in the United States. In this checks and balances lesson, 7th graders view a SMART Board supported lecture that reveals the jobs of the...
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Our System of Checks and Balances
Students study the governmental system of checks and balances between the individual branches. The balances are reviewed and the goal of the lesson is to develop and answer the question, "What are some ways the three branches of our...
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The Bills of Rights: Cutting It down to Size
Eighth graders explore democratic values. In this U. S. Constitution lesson, 8th graders read the Bill of Rights and consider the significance of the amendments. Students design a governmental time capsule that includes their own plan...
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Battle of Lexington and Concord
Eleventh graders study the causes of the American Revolution. In this American History lesson plan, 11th graders read a story "Guns for General Washington. Students read and discuss statements about war.
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin Franklin, Elder Statesman
Ben Franklin was the only American to sign The Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and the US Constitution. An interesting resource explores his role in the latter by comparing the US...
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Rights and Responsibility
Young scholars identify the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and explain how these shortcomings lead to the creation of the Constitution. They explain why the Bill of Rights was added to the constitution and identify six...
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Confederation Comparison
Learners compare/contrast through primary sources the Articles of Confederation in the United States to the Confederation Period in Canada. They summarize the successes and failures of each. In essence, they analyze the impact of...