Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Bill of Rights in Action: The Lincoln Douglss Debates [Pdf]
Article and activity offering students problem-based learning by examining conflict, past and present, that call in to question our Constitutional Rights. Questions for writing and discussion as well as small group learning activity.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: The Federalist/antifederalist Debate Bill of Rights
Identify the role of the debates between the Federalists and Antifederalists during the creation of the ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
iCivics
I Civics: No Bill of Rights, No Deal
In the debate over the Constitution, the Bill of Rights was a deal-breaker. In this lesson, students learn why the federalists thought the Constitution didn't need a bill of rights and why the anti-federalists refused to accept the...
Digital History
Digital History: A Bill of Rights? [Pdf]
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...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Bill of Rights in Action: Welfare
Lesson in which young scholars read the history of welfare in the United States, answer questions for discussion and writing, and debate who should be responsible for the welfare of others. Small group, individual and whole class work.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1754 1800: The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution guarantee citizens' essential freedoms and rights.
George Mason University
Roy Rosenzweig Center: Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
After a long debate about what should be included in their Bill of Rights, French leaders eventually came to a "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen," seventeen articles that laid out a government that protected natural rights....
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Declaration of Independence
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee brought what came to be called the Lee Resolution before the Continental Congress. This resolution stated "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states " Congress...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Benjamin Rush
The fourth of seven children born to Quaker parents, Benjamin Rush was the most famous physician of his time. Known and respected by many of the Founding generation, Benjamin Rush treated illnesses such as yellow fever and smallpox,...
iCivics
I Civics: The Federalist Debate
The ratification debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists gives us insight into the ideas behind both sides and a better understanding of how our government developed in its early years.
Yale University
The Avalon Project: Declaration of the Rights of Man
After a long debate about what should be included in their Bill of Rights, French leaders eventually came to a "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen," seventeen articles that laid out a government that protected natural rights....
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: 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: 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
Learning activity in which students study the ideas of Enlightenment philosophers, Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. Lesson includes individual, group and whole class activity in which students write, discuss and debate the role...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Life Under Communism in Eastern Europe
Activity based resource on political and economic systems, asks students to explore communism, capitalism, socialism and democracy and formulate informed opinions for discussion and debate. Group and individual work.
PBS
Pbs News Hour: Constitutional Amendments and Gay Marriage
In this lesson, students examine and debate the issue of same sex marriage by studying background information, news articles, legal arguments and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. They then draft an amendment of their own to...
Other
National Council for the Social Studies: Cloture Motion to Cease Debate
Using the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 as an example, students will understand the congressional procedures of cloture and filibuster. An in-depth article on how a filibuster was used during debate on this bill, the actual signed cloture...
ProCon.org
Pro Con: Should All Americans Have the Right (Be Entitled) to Health Care?
Website with comprehensive resources on the debate over the right to health care. Presents research, studies and arguments surrounding the topic.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Welfare to Work: The States Take Charge
Lesson on public policy, history and public debate over welfare and the Welfare Reform Act. Includes informative text with background and historical information, questions for writing and discussion, and guidelines for class debate.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Controversies: The Bush Doctrine
Activity-based resource from 2003 in which students research multiple sources on U.S. foreign policy and the implications of the Bush Doctrine then prepare to debate whether or not the Bush Doctrine should be part of U.S. foreign policy.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Proposed Changes in the Way the Federal Government Operates
Examine amendments made to aid the government in balancing the budget and income tax as well as the debate over term limits.
Other
Gunston Hall Plantation: Mason Objects
In this set of activities, students learn what George Mason's objections were to the U.S. Constitution. They then evaluate them through a class discussion and divide into groups to hold a debate about the disagreement between the...
Library of Congress
Loc: The u.s. Constitution: Governing of the u.s.
This unit includes four lessons using primary sources to examine continuity and change in the governing of the United States. Lessons one and two are focused on a study of the Constitution and Bill of Rights and provide access to primary...