Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: u.s. V. Butler (1936)

For Students 9th - 10th
This Supreme Court case dealt with provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act conflicting with the Federal Constitution. Read the complete text of the court's opinions and decision. Registration for a free Findlaw account may be...
Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed description of the United States Supreme Court decision on the appeal of the case Escobedo v. Illinois, which ruled on the right to have counsel under the 6th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution.
Website
Other

Touro Law Center: William Marbury vs. James Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
Transcript of the landmark court case that established the constitutional principle of judicial review. Judicial review is the concept that the federal judiciary has final power as to whether an act of the Congress or the Executive...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Ratifying the Constitution

For Students 5th - 8th
The delegates to the Constititional Convention produced a new governing document for the new United States. Read about how they determined to take the ratification process to the people of the states.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: State Constitutions

For Students 5th - 8th
The new states did a great deal of experimentation within the bounds of the new republican ideals. Read about three very different takes on how a state should be organized governmentally.
Unit Plan
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History Period 3: 1754 1800: The American Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
This Khan Academy resource provides video lessons, detailed notes, and practice questions for the AP U.S. History Exam. The years 1754-1800 are covered.
Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Explaining the Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the need for a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution. Find out what each of the first ten amendments means.
Primary
US Government Publishing Office

U.s. Government Publishing Office: Eighth Amendment Further Guarantees in Criminal Cases [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides the various court rulings as to what has been interpreted as "excessive bail", etc.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Iii: Judicial Power

For Students 9th - 10th
Annotations to Article III on the characteristics and attributes of judicial power as related to specific Supreme Court decisions. The author distinguishes between judicial power and jurisdiction.
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
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Forgetting the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the story of a young Japanese-American girl whose family was sent to an internment camp after Pearl Harbor.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Hamilton, Jefferson, First National Bank of the Us [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
As with so many other ideas, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were on opposite sides of the formation of a national bank. Read why Hamilton thought it was a great idea, why Jefferson opposed it, and what they each wrote to...
Activity
Other

Us Courts: Sixth Amendment Activities

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Activities for the classroom in which students apply landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to the right to counsel and right to a fair trial. With plan for teachers, word bank, and links to related resources.
Activity
Other

Us Courts: Fourth Amendment Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
Activities for the classroom on the 4th Amendment in which students apply landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to search and seizure issues at school, in the car, and the home. With lesson plan and links to...
Activity
Other

Us Courts: First Amendment Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
Activities for students that make learning about the 1st Amendment relevant by applying landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to the five parts of the First Amendment and rights to freedom of religion, speech,...
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
The Declaration of Independence, made by the second American Continental Congress and adopted July 4, 1776, announced the separation of the original thirteen North American British colonies from Great Britain making them into the United...
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: New Jersey Plan

For Students 9th - 10th
New Jersey Plan was presented in the form of eleven resolutions drafted by William Paterson. It detailed a legislature of only one house and featured equal representation in which each state had the same number of representatives thus...
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Virginia Plan

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the Virginia Plan that was based on a national and state government system with a separation of powers consisting of legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also contained a resolution for proportional...
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Creating the United States

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource examines the creativity and inspiration that went into the creation and writing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

For Students Pre-K - 1st
The "Constitutional President," Andrew Johnson lived in this Tennessee historic site for 24 years. Peruse the history, culture, and photographs about the 17th president of the United States. Educators can take advantage of resources....
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

For Students Pre-K - 1st
The "Constitutional President," Andrew Johnson lived in this Tennessee historic site for 24 years. Peruse the history, culture, and photographs about the 17th president of the United States. Educators can take advantage of resources....
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: The Federalist Debate

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Rights of Citizens: The Bill of Rights (Grades 9 12)

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Ben's Guide is a fun way to present US laws to students grades K-12. This site presents a brief overview of the Bill of Rights. Links to related sites are available.
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...

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