The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress for Kids
Take a tour of the federal government with Uncle Sam and learn the story of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the three branches of government, and elections. Along the way learn how laws are made, about the Bill of...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Sixth Amendment
This resource contains the text of the 6th amendment. It has several pages of annotations covering the major concepts in the rights of the accused.
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...
Other
Senate Bill a Step Backwards for Immigrant Rights
This article examines a recent bill debated in the U.S. Senate regarding immigration and border policy.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Radical Reconstruction
Read about the frustration the Radical Republicans in Congress had with the Reconstruction plans of Andrew Johnson. Find out what legislation they were able to pass over Johnson's veto, and how they attempted to protect emancipated...
Other
Gunston Hall Plantation: Discover George Mason
Lesson plans, activities, and resources for learning about George Mason and his contributions to Virginia statehood and in forging the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
iCivics
I Civics: Federalists & Anti Federalists
Look at the debate and eventual compromise, between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists that occurred around the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
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.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Nation Building: Different Visions for Vietnam
Collaborative learning activity on the concept of nation-building in which students examine historical events in Vietnam and use what they learn to develop a vision for 21st Century America.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Jackson vs. Clay and Calhoun
Two very important politicians in the Age of Jackson were Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun. Andrew Jackson detested both for personal and political reasons. Read about the relationship between these two men individually and Andrew Jackson.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Domestic Challenges
The American soldiers returning from World War I had a huge impact on the economy. Read about President Truman's domestic policies and find out about the surprise of the election of 1948.
Other
Common Sense Americanism: Schenck v. United States
This summary provides the background for Schenck v. United States, a World War I-era Supreme Court case involving free speech. Schenck is an example of what can happen to basic constitutional rights in time of war.
Other
Freedom Forum: Lesson Plans for the First Amendment
These lessons address constitutional principles and contemporary issues involving the First Amendment. They intend to have explore how freedoms began and how they operate in today's world. Students will discuss just how far individual...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Amazing Americans
Checklist of inventors, politicians, performers, activists, and ordinary people who made America. Meet Harry Houdini, Langston Hughes, Buffalo Bill Cody and dozens of other famous and interesting American adventurers, presidents,...
Other
Swarthmore College: Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges
Read an excerpt of William Penn's Charter of Privileges- an early manifestation of religious freedom later to be enshrined in the U.S. Bill of Rights- that isolates the provisions Penn made for the free practice of religion in the colony.
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...
Ducksters
Ducksters: Us Government for Kids: Constitution Amendments
Kids learn about the amendments in the United States Constitution. Seventeen not included in the Bill of Rights of the twenty-seven total.
The Washington Post
The Washington Post: Politics
The Washington Post provides the latest news, issues, and events surrounding U.S. politics today. The wealth of information found here includes top stories, transcripts, party perspectives, poll watchers, video, audio, and more. PLEASE...
Other
Streetlaw: Introduction to Law and the Legal System
This website, a unit introducing the law and legal system, is organized into six chapters where you can learn about laws, lawmaking, citizen advocacy, dispute settlements, the court system, and lawyers.
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress Link: Lesson Plans
The Dirksen Congressional Center provides abundant lesson plans on all aspects of the US Congress and the US Constitution. All lessons contain time frames, objectives, and links to material, and are built around Bloom's taxonomy.
iCivics
I Civics: The Constitution: Rules for Running a Country
Handy introduction to the Constitution of the United States, which has been our government's rulebook since 1789.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Ratification
This site from the University of Groningen provides a synopsis chronologically written on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution beginning with the first states who accepted the document to pressures exerted by the Federalists to...
Other
Founding Fathers
Find information about the founding fathers and what they accomplished. Presents the Federalist Papers, The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and The U.S. Constitution. Also includes images, quotes, a history of the...
Other
Freedom Forum: Finding Common Ground Religious Liberty in Public Schools [Pdf]
A lengthy report on the issue of religious liberty and the public schools. Issues explored are religious holidays, a teacher's guide to the teaching of religion, and much more. The report is in PDF format.