Lesson Plan
Success Link

Success Link: 1787 [Archived Version]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
By using the novel, Shh! We're Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz, and 1787 by Joan Anderson, students learn the lively discussion among the delegates to the Constitutional Convention concerning the ratification of the document they...
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: John Dickinson

For Students 9th - 10th
A good biography of John Dickinson (1732-1808 CE). He was one of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention from Delaware. He was a strong supporter of the new Constitution and as a result, Delaware became the first state to ratify...
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a very brief description of three of the founding fathers of the Constitution: Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington. The site provides links to further biographies of all three men as well as...
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...
Handout
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Richard Dobbs Spaight

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of this delegate from North Carolina to the Constitutional Convention. He was a strong federalist and helped with persuading North Carolina to endorse the new constitution. He later served as a Congressman.
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.
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: William Samuel Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
A short but detailed biography of one of the representatives to the Constitutional Convention from Connecticut. An interesting fact about Johnson is that he was not a supporter of the War for Independence.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: New Jersey

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the five delegates from New Jersey to the Constitutional Convention: David Brearly, Jonathan Dayton, William C. Houston, William Livingston, and William Patterson.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Connecticut

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the three delegates from Connecticut to the Constitutional Convention: Oliver Ellsworth, William Samuel Johnson, and Roger Sherman.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Massachusetts

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the four delegates from Massachusetts to the Constitutional Convention: Elbridge Gerry, Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King, and Caleb Strong.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Pennsylvania

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the eight delegates from Pennsylvania to the Constitutional Convention: George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Benjamin Franklin, Jared Ingersoll, Thomas Mifflin, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, and James Wilson.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Delaware

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the five delegates from Delaware to the Constitutional Convention: Richard Bassett, Gunning Bedford, Jr., Jacob Broom, John Dickinson, and George Read.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Maryland

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the five delegates from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention: Daniel Carroll, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Luther Martin, James McHenry, and John Francis Mercer.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Georgia

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the four delegates from Georgia to the Constitutional Convention: Abraham Baldwin, William Few, William Houston, and William Leigh Pierce.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: New Hampshire

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the two delegates from New Hampshire to the Constitutional Convention: Nicholas Gilman and John Langdon.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: South Carolina

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the four delegates from South Carolina to the Constitutional Convention: Pierce Butler, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Rutledge.
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.
Handout
University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania Archives & Records: Jared Ingersoll (1749 1822)

For Students 9th - 10th
This article gives highlights on the career of this delegate from Pennsylvania to the Constitutional Convention. Ingersoll was considered one of the best lawyers in Philadelphia at that time.
Handout
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.

New Georgia Encyclopedia: Georgia Encyclopedia: William Few Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource offers a brief biographical entry on a delegate from Georgia to the Constitutional Convention, William Few, Jr., who later served as a United States Senator.
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Pierce Butler

For Students 9th - 10th
A biographical sketch of this delegate from South Carolina to the Constitutional Convention. He later served as a Senator.
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: John Blair

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of John Blair, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Virginia. He later served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court.
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Richard Bassett

For Students 9th - 10th
A good biography of Richard Bassett (1745-1815 CE). He was a delegate from Delaware to the Constitutional Convention. He also served as Governor of Delaware and as Senator.
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Gunning Bedford, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides good biographical details on Gunning Bedford, Jr. (1747-1812 CE). He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Delaware.
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Jacob Broom

For Students 9th - 10th
A good biography of Jacob Broom (1752-1810 CE). HE was one of the delegates from Delaware to the Constitutional convention.

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