Illinois Institute of Technology
The Oyez Project: Bigelow v. Virginia (1975)
Brief overview of the Bigelow v. Virginia (1975) Supreme Court case.
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: George Mason 1725 1792 Introduction
This site is provided for by the University of Groningen. Leader of the Anti-federalist faction against strong national government, Mason fought the ratification of the U.S. Constitution for protection for individual rights; read this...
SMART Technologies
Smart: Amendment Review
In this interactive activity, students match the given right to the proper amendment from the Bill of Rights.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Centralized vs. Decentralized Rule: The Articles of Confederation
Activity comparing the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution. Using a variety of articles, students research and create a chart with explanations and critical comparisons of the two governing documents.
Digital History
Digital History: The Age of Constitution Writing [Pdf]
See how colonial and state constitutions differed and how the idea of a social contract between a government and its citizens is reflected in the state constitutions. The second half of this site gives an abbreviated text of the Articles...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Civil Liberties Recap: You Be the Judge
How well can you decide the balance of civil liberties? Review three case summaries as well as the laws and facts about each case and arguments, and then make a ruling.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Free Exercise of Religion
Information about the Free Exercise Clause and general purpose laws which protect individuals from government interference in their religious affairs.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: National Security and Freedom
In-depth and comprehensive learning activity in which students analyze the debate surrounding the Patriot Act and apply constitutional reasoning to formulate opinions about the balance between national security and right to privacy....
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Developments in Democracy
Activity for high school students in which they apply Constitutional reasoning to explore the topic of equality for women and debate the necessity of an Equal Rights Amendment. Site provides comprehensive background and resource material...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Major Debates at the Constitutional Convention
Activity on the orgins of the U.S. Constitution and the debates surrounding it. Includes questions for discussion and small group learning activity in which students evaluate the fairness of state representation within the structure of...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Columbian Exchange
Article and activity in which students about the Columbian Exchange answer questions for discussion and then analyze and prepare a solution to the contemporary problem resulting from the introduction of non-native deer to California's...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Copying Music and Movies From the Internet: Digital Piracy and Fair Use
Activity-based resource on digital piracy and fair use. Students read the literature on the topic and participate in a role play acting as congressional members arguing about the lawfulness of file sharing copyrighted material over the...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Oil and National Security
Lesson and activity in which students critique U.S. energy policy and its relationship to national security, then evaluate energy alternatives. Lesson includes article with background information, questions for discussion and...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: King and Parliament in Medieval England
Activity in which students read and write about the development of democratic ideas in Medieval England, then in small groups, compare U.K. Parliamentary system to U.S. Presidential system.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Building Democracy: Every New Generation
Activity in which students read and write about whether or not today's generation of youth are prepared for the leaderhip and citizenship roles of tomorrow. Students will evaluate the role of schools and recommend approach to civic...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: How Political Parties Began
Activity in which students examine the history of political parties in America and evaluate the role they play and reasons they emerged. Questions for discussion and small group work to compare the late 1700s visions of Republicans and...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Transcendentalists in Action
Activity on the religious, philosophical and literary movement of Transcendentalism founded by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Article outlines the history and main ideas as well as the far-reaching literary and societal impact of Transcendentalist...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Three Visions for African Americans
Learning Activity on the divergent views of African American leaders. Students review and compare the competing visions of Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. Du Bois. In addition, students choose a contemporary African...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Religious Rights in Conflict
What happens when rights conflict? Explore sample conflicts: Free press vs. fair trial, religious rights in conflict, and Singapore: model society or city of fear? Great learning activities and lesson plans for teachers and students.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Conflict of Cultures: President Polk and the Taking of the West
Lesson and activity on conflict of cultures in which students study U.S. overtaking lands of Mexico and California and form policy on property rights and citizenship of conquered cultures. Activity guidelines, questions for discussion...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Communism, Capitalism, and Democracy in China
Activity in which students study the elements of communism, capitalism and democracy for a critical analysis of China's former and current economic/political system. Individual, small group, and class participation.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Free Markets and Antitrust Law
Lesson in economics and democracy in which students study and analyze Adam Smith's concept of free market mercantilism and determine how it would apply to government interventions today. Includes text, questions for study, resources for...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Rules of War: Choices: Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb
Lesson and activity on rules of war and the decision to drop the atomic bomb during WWII.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Development of Confucianism in Ancient China
Comprehensive learning activity on Confucianism in Ancient China. Students survey the work of Confucius as they examine ideas of other philosphers throughout the ages for comparison and analysis. Includes activity for individual and...