Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Enlightenment Ideas and the Founding Fathers

For Students 7th - 8th
A tutorial that looks at the ideas from the Enlightenment that influenced the Founding Fathers, particularly those of John Locke and Montesquieu. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Article
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers: New York: Alexander Hamilton

For Students 9th - 10th
A short biography of one of America's founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton.
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: North Carolina

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the five delegates from North Carolina to the Constitutional Convention: William Blount, William Richard Davie, Alexander Martin, Richard Dobbs Spaight Sr., and Hugh Williamson.
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: 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: 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.
Unit Plan
Other

Left Justified: Founding Fathers

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical accounts of fifty men who played a wide variety of roles in bringing about America's break with Great Britain, and in the creation of the documents and plans that created the new nation, like the Declaration of Independence,...
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Founding Mothers Mini Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
We've heard a lot about the role the Founding Fathers played in the early United States, but what role did our Founding Mothers play? Discover the contributions of women in the Revolutionary War and the founding of the U.S.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Founding Fathers' Notions of Religious Liberty (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore founders' views, particularly the views of George Washington, on the role of religion and religious liberty in public life. Includes excerpts from Washington's writings and speeches to give students opportunities to include...
Primary
Other

Neatline: The Digital Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive Declaration of Independence. Passages of the original document are accompanied by typed text, and each founding father has a biography, a portrait, and a map showing where they are from.
Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers: Edmund Randolph

For Students 9th - 10th
The major focus of this site is Randolph's role in the creation of the Constitution and his views on the structure of the executive branch of government.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers: Benjamin Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
A general biography of Benjamin Franklin.
Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers: George Washington: A Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
An introductory biography of George Washington.
Website
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Religious Rights in Conflict

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: John Adams

For Students 3rd - 8th
An overall look at the life of America's second president, John Adams (1735-1826 CE). Contains small articles of information, as well as portraits, actual photos of inaugural addresses, obituary notices, and more.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Our New Nation

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
After studying the American Revolutionary War, students learn about the founding of the United States of America. Pretending to be the founding fathers, students will divide into small groups to create and design their own nation and...
Website
Robin Chew

Samuel Adams: American Patriot & Politician

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a brief overview of the life of Samuel Adams, one of the founding fathers of the United States. Links to other resources about Adams are included.
Handout
Other

Are We a Democracy or a Republic?

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay on the present political state in America contending the country is leaning further towards a republican form of government instead of a democracy. Defines and explains the major differences between democracy and republicanism...
Website
US House of Representatives

Office of the Clerk: The Role of the House

For Students 6th - 8th
Why did the founding fathers create two separate chambers in Congress - the House of Representatives and Senate? Find out the reasons for the dual chamber and the responsibilities of each one. Included is a glossary and printable puzzles...
Handout
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute: Benjamin Franklin Fa Qs

For Students 9th - 10th
Dozens of frequently asked questions about Ben Franklin with answers that cover all the essential facts about one of America's favorite founding fathers.