PBS
Constitution Day
Travel back to 1787 as young scholars investigate the creation of the US Constitution. After first working in small groups to create sets of classroom rules, students go on to read a summary of the Constitution and watch a short video...
iCivics
Wanted: A Just Right Government
What type of government did American colonists gain and seek after gaining their independence after the Revolutionary War? Here is lesson that will guide your young learners through the new nation's progression from the Articles of...
Michigan State University
Michigan State University: American Revolution: The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
In a nutshell, you can find out the problems the new nation had under the Articles of Confederation and the process resulted in a new constitution.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Madison Debates
Read online from James Madison's report of William Patterson's proposal of the New Jersey Plan at the Federal Convention, 1787. Link to related document: Articles of Confederation as related specifically to each proposal in the New...
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Great Compromise
A learning module on the Great Compromise and the role it played in developing the US Constitution in 1787. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance...
Library of Congress
Loc: Records of the Federal Convention: Farrand
This article offers discussion of various aspects of the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787, along with images from original congressional documents.
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...
Library of Congress
Loc: Farrand's Records: Randolph's Suggestion for Conciliating
Read Randolph's actual words from the Library of Congress in his proposal and reaction to the New Jersey Plan for solving the representation question in Congress, as recorded by James Madison at the Federal Constitutional Convention.
Digital History
Digital History: Writing a Constitution [Pdf]
This site is from a unit called 'Writing the US Constitution.' It looks at the documents that preceded the Constitution, and the major issues that were debated while the Constitution was being created.
Digital History
Digital History: The Men of Philadelphia [Pdf]
Find short biographies of twenty-three of the fifty-five delegates to the Constitutional Convention and their ideas about government. These men were certainly not representative of the common man in the new United States, but they were...
Digital History
Digital History: Representation: By State or by Population? [Pdf]
Read the opinions of some of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in regard to the very thorny issue of how states would be represented in the national legislature. [pdf]
Digital History
Digital History: Drafting the Constitution
Those writing the Constitution had many issues to deal with in forming a document to govern the country. One thorny issue was the status of the states in regard to representation in the federal legislature. Read about the Virginia Plan...
Princeton University
Princeton University: William Paterson
A magazine article devoted to Princeton University offers a biography of its distinguished alumnus, who later became Governor of New Jersey and co-authored the New Jersey Plan which was presented to the Constitutional Convention.
Princeton University
Princeton: The Constitutional Convention of 1787
Information about a group of nine delegates to the Constitutional Convention, all of whom had attended Princeton University. Explains Princeton's role in the convention, with longer biographical entries for three Princeton-education...
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: The New Jersey Plan
The original text of The New Jersey Plan for the creation of a new constitution in the Constitutional Convention.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez: Everson v. Board of Education
Brief account of the Everson v. Board of Education Supreme Court case. Gives dates, facts, questions, and conclusion.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Tough Issues
Read about the change of plans when delegates to the Philadelphia convention decided to write a new constitution to replace the Articles of Convention. See the ideas delegates had to address concerns of large and small states.
Library of Congress
Loc: A Century of Lawmaking: Congressional, 1774 1875
Read the actual statements from the Library of Congress as recorded during the Federal Convention, of the debates on representation in the House of Representatives and of the struggle between small and large states. The responses to this...
iCivics
I Civics: Wanted: A Just Right Government
Look at the tensions and differences of opinion that existed among early American states and citizens. Learn about the Articles of Confederation, why the first "constitution" didn't work, and how compromise led to the Constitution.
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: William Paterson
This resource features a detailed biography on the politician from New Jersey who advocated for states' rights.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: New Jersey Plan
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...
Other
Urbana School District: Was the Three Fifths Compromise Fair?
How do political leaders solve political problems? This lesson is an example of how compromise is a vital part of our democracy. Learners will be able to visually see the effects of the Three-Fifths Compromise on the United States House...