Curated OER
Congress and the Creation of the Bill of Rights
Students participate in inquiry activities to explore powers outlined in the Bill of Rights. In this Bill of Rights activity, students creation of a class Bill of Rights, evaluate and propose amendments, and analyze primary source...
Curated OER
Understanding James Madison The Father of the Constitution
Learners research James Madison and create a table of his strengths and weaknesses. For this James Madison lesson, students read Jean Fritz's, The Great Little Madison, while developing their research skills, vocabulary strategies, and...
Curated OER
Get to Know Your Bill of Rights
Sixth graders research and examine the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America. They sequence events significant to this time period, read and discuss text, and in small groups prepare and present the...
Curated OER
In His Own Words: James Madison On the Problem of Faction
Students are introduced to the writings of James Madison and explain why he is often called "The Father of the Constitution". Using primary source documents, they examine his view of the Bill of Rights and what he meant by faction. In...
Curated OER
TURNING POINT IN HISTORY:The War of 1812
Students act as investigative reporters and research battles or events of the War of 1812. They write an original article, which may include a map, drawing, or illustration.
Curated OER
I'm Number One!
Fourth graders complete a unit of lessons on the first seven presidents of the U.S. They conduct research, write a four-paragraph essay, and create posters and speeches for a simulated campaign convention.
Curated OER
James Madison
In this online interactive history quiz worksheet, learners respond to 50 multiple choice questions about James Madison. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Why a Bill of Rights? What Impact Does it Have?
Students explore the Bill of Rights. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students compare the Federalist view of government to the Anti-Federalist view of government. Students consider the impact of the bill of rights as they take notes on...
Curated OER
Worksheet #61 Questions - James Madison
For this James Madison historical term quiz, students define the meaning of several terms relating to the aforementioned topic in order to advance their historical knowledge.
Curated OER
James Madison Coloring Page
In this James Madison worksheet, students color and decorate a picture of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison.
Curated OER
Bill of Rights
Students research, list, define and discuss all the aspects to the United States Bill of Rights. They assess their foundations by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson and reflect on all the conditions happening at the time period of...
National First Ladies' Library
Government: Defending the Bill of Rights
Pupils examine the proposition of a country without the Bill of Rights. In a role-playing activity, teams of students gather information to build a case for retaining the Bill of Rights and present it before their congressperson.
Curated OER
VS.6a
Sixth graders explore, discuss and explain why George Washington is called the "Father of our Country" and James Madison is called the "Father of the Constitution." They view and create a graphic organizer after discussing a variety of...
Library of Congress
Loc: Presidents as Poets: James Madison
An account of President James Madison's brief stint as a poet. Includes the text of his poem "A poem against the Tories".
University of Groningen
American History: Presidents: James Madison: Proposed Amendments to Constitution
Text of James Madison's "Proposed Amendments to the Constitution," June 8, 1789. Madison states his reasons for the amendments in view of the anti-federalist feelings in many of the colonies. The proposal explains in Madison's own words...
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: The Marshall Cases: Marbury v. Madison
The text of the famous Supreme Court decision, Marbury v. Madison, is presented here.
University of Groningen
American History: Presidents: James Madison
Included are James Madison's two inaugural addresses, his State of the Nation speeches, as well as other writings related to the Constitution. Of particular interest is his speech of 1812.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: The Virginia Resolution of 1798
This resource presents the full text of the Virginia Resolution of 1798, in which the General Assembly of the State of Virginia protests the enactment of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
Library of Congress
Loc: Portraits of the Presidents & First Ladies
A collection from the Library of Congress of formal and informal portraits of the US presidents and their first ladies.
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: State of the Union Addresses and Messages
This site compiles all of the State of the Union addresses and messages by all the presidents in U.S. history (except William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield).
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: Presidents' Day Lessons
Presidents' Day lessons for Grades 10-12 on the constitutional legacies of George Washington, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan, and how they shaped the history and Constitution of our nation. Each lesson was written and...
University of Virginia
University of Virginia Press: The Papers of James Madison
The papers of James Madison, plus a short biography, bibliography, and links to other sites. Site is detailed and comprehensive.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Constitutional Convention
A list of links to texts of original documents written by participants in the Constitutional Conventions, relating to their attempts to create an acceptable national constitution. Organized in chronological order.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Confederation
The original text of a 1787 article in which James Madison discusses the failures of the Articles of Confederation. An interesting look at the problems with the states and with foreign countries.