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.
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,...
Interactive
Other

Constitution facts.com: Which Founding Father Are You?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Answer five questions to learn which of six Founding Fathers you are most like.
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.
Primary
US National Archives

National Archives and Records Administration: Founders Online

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides the texts of nearly 200,000 historical documents related to six Founding Fathers, including the papers of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. The...
Website
Other

Constitution Day

For Students 9th - 10th
Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens. Learn about each of...
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: John Jay

For Students 3rd - 6th
This article chronicles the life of John Jay, one of America's founding fathers and the first chief justice of the Supreme Court. Includes a portrait and illustrations.
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "The Founding of American Democracy" by Jessica Mc Birney

For Students 7th - 8th
A learning module that begins with "The Founding of American Democracy" by Jessica McBirney, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
Handout
PBS

Citizen Ben: Founding Father

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of a larger site about the extraordinary Benjamin Franklin, this section focuses on his being one of founding fathers of the new United States of America. Read about the three major documents he signed as a delegate and diplomat.
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Benjamin Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief review of the life of one of the founding fathers of the United States. Learn about the important events in the life of Ben Franklin - inventor, patriot, musician, scientist, statesman, and more. (In Spanish)
Primary
Other

Us Congress: Congress, the Court, and the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Transcript of a congressional hearing, held in 1994, to discuss whether Congress had given too much power to the Supreme Court, against the express intent of the Founding Fathers. This transcript is lengthy but informative, containing...
Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Branches of Government

For Students 3rd - 5th
A brief overview of the origins of the three branches of the federal government, with links to more in-depth information about each branch. Also discusses the concerns of the Founding Fathers about creating a government that had...
Website
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: Signing the Constitution

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site has a brief summary that describes the delegates to the Constitutional Convention. This group is sometimes called the "Founding Fathers."
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...
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Alexander Hamilton

For Students 9th - 10th
One of our original Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton was a controversial figure. This PBS site allows you to watch excerpts from a two-hour long documentary on his life and role in US history. Provides a detailed timeline that gives...
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Religion and Founding of American Republic: Religion and the Congress of the Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress offers descriptions of multiple events, people and beliefs that helped shape the government and culture of the U.S. Links to views of historical documents and pictures depicting the religious...
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.