Curated OER
Debate over the Ratification of the Constitution
Twelfth graders discuss the creation of the United States, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Through a class debate, role-playing Federalists and Anti-federalists, they identify the reasons for and against ratification...
Curated OER
A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution
Sit back, relax, and transport to 1787! This lesson on the Constitution begins with guided imagery of the Constitutional Convention. The class reads A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution in an interactive read-aloud...
Curated OER
Ratifying the Constitution
After a lecture on ratifying the Constitution, this learning exercise would be perfect to reinforce your government (or U.S. History) students' new knowledge. The activity contains ten knowledge-level and comprehension-level questions....
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: The Confederation and the Constitution
Four maps cover the tumultuous period during and after the American Revolution. Especially interesting is the first map, which details the land cessions to the United States after 1782. Think about incorporating these pictures into your...
Curated OER
Arguments Against Ratifying the Constitution
Students define federalism, Federalist, and Anti-Federalist, debate issue of ratification in classroom convention, and take vote on whether to add bill of rights. Three lessons on one page.
Curated OER
Teaching With Documents Lesson Plan:Launching the New U.S. Navy
Students demonstrate understanding of the issues related to the creation and ratification of the United States Constitution and the new Government it established.
Library of Congress
Loc: Policies and Problems of the Confederation Government
This teacher resource includes imagesand historical documents, alllowing readers to trace the creation of our government from the Continental Congress through the Articles of Confederation. An overview helps to clarify the policies and...
University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma Law Library: Federalist Papers
The complete text of the 85 Federalist Papers which explained why the authors believed the new Constitution should be ratified.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: John Tyler, Virginia Ratifying Convention
The original text of a statement by John Tyler, member of the Virginia Constitutional Ratifying Convention, on his opposition to the new Constitution.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Massachusetts
The original text of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution by the state of Massachusetts in February 1788.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New Hampshire
The original text of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution by the State of New Hampshire in June 1788 with a list of the legislators.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Pennsylvania
Text of the document recommending ratification of the U.S. Constitution by the Pennsylvania legislature.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Ratification of the Constitution by the State of South Carolina
The text of the document signed by the legislature of South Carolina ratifying the U. S. Constitution.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Virginia
The original text of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution by the State of Virginia.
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Constitutional Convention and Federal Constitution
After reading this section of the chapter on "Creating Republican Governments", students will be able to identify the central issues of the 1787 Constitutional Convention and their solutions and also describe the conflicts over the...
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Ratification of the Constitution Introduction
An overview of the process of ratification which occurred following the Constitutional Convention proposed the first version of the Constitution. Meet the primary contributors and understand the six stages of the ratification.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: State by State Ratification Table
A chart illustrating the order of states as they ratified the new constitution. Find the delegates from the states, vote, population, and outcomes.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Proposing a Constitutional Amendment
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention had to decide the means of amending the Constitution. Discusses Madison's proposal for empowering Congress to propose amendments, either on its own initiative or upon application by the...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Article Vii
This resource provides information about Article VII of the United States Constitution.
Library of Congress
Loc: The United States Constitution
See transcripts of the debates of the Federal Convention of 1787, the draft of the Constitution, or see the facsimiles of the original documents. Trace the progress of the Constitution using the historical documents themselves.
iCivics
I Civics: Road to the Constitution
How did we go from thirteen British colonies to the United States of America? Explore the major hardships of life under British rule, how the colonists decided to break away, and how they set a path for a new and independent government....
US National Archives
Nara: Charters of Freedom: Constitution of the United States
Comprehensive overview of the U.S. Constitution. Places the Constitution in context with two other founding charters of American democracy and government, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Includes access to digital...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The Debates on Diversity and the Extended Republic
In this Curriculum Unit, students will consider "The Federalist and Anti-Federalist Debates on Diversity and the Extended Republic" in 2 Lessons. The unit also includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the...
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress for Kids: Constitution: The Work Begins
Discover how the Constitution was initiated and read about the Constitutional Congress. After learning about the beginning stages of the Constitution, take a quiz to show your learning.