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Handout
Other

Concord Learning Systems: Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer

For Students 9th - 10th
A short account of the life of Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer.
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Handout
Other

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, South Carolina

For Students 9th - 10th
A short but nice biographical article on the life of this delegate from South Carolina to the Constitutional Convention. Also he served in the American Revolution.
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Unknown Type
Quia

Quia: The Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a quiz on the Articles of Confederation, Constitutional Convention, Northwest Ordinance and Shay's Rebellion.
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Unknown Type
Quia

Quia: The Articles of Confederation and the Writing of the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Take a quiz on the Articles of Confederation and the writing of the Constitution.
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Handout
Other

Gunning Bedford, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description of the life of Gunning Bedford, Jr. (1747-1812 CE). He was a delegate from Delaware to the Constitutional Convention. There is a nice portrait included.
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Article
Cato Institute

James Madison's Vision of Liberty [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
An article by the CATO institute about James Madison's vision for his writing and contribution for the U.S. Constitutional Convention. Includes information on his views of a limited government for citizens' rights.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: North Carolina

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the five delegates from North Carolina to the Constitutional Convention: William Blount, William Richard Davie, Alexander Martin, Richard Dobbs Spaight Sr., and Hugh Williamson.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: New Jersey

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the five delegates from New Jersey to the Constitutional Convention: David Brearly, Jonathan Dayton, William C. Houston, William Livingston, and William Patterson.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Connecticut

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the three delegates from Connecticut to the Constitutional Convention: Oliver Ellsworth, William Samuel Johnson, and Roger Sherman.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Massachusetts

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the four delegates from Massachusetts to the Constitutional Convention: Elbridge Gerry, Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King, and Caleb Strong.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Pennsylvania

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the eight delegates from Pennsylvania to the Constitutional Convention: George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Benjamin Franklin, Jared Ingersoll, Thomas Mifflin, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, and James Wilson.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Delaware

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the five delegates from Delaware to the Constitutional Convention: Richard Bassett, Gunning Bedford, Jr., Jacob Broom, John Dickinson, and George Read.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Maryland

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the five delegates from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention: Daniel Carroll, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Luther Martin, James McHenry, and John Francis Mercer.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Georgia

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the four delegates from Georgia to the Constitutional Convention: Abraham Baldwin, William Few, William Houston, and William Leigh Pierce.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: New Hampshire

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the two delegates from New Hampshire to the Constitutional Convention: Nicholas Gilman and John Langdon.
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Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: South Carolina

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the four delegates from South Carolina to the Constitutional Convention: Pierce Butler, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Rutledge.
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: James Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia provides an extensive biography on the life of James Madison. Provides information about his life before and after the presidency as well as his policies on foreign and domestic...
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: James Madison (1751 1836)

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biographical sketch of James Madison.
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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.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Political Experience

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about how the state governments in the new American nation served as the laboratory to try out new ideas of governing and treating citizens. See how remarkably similar the ideas put forth in state constitutions were to each other.
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: The Constitutional Convention

For Students 9th - 10th
Travel back to 1787 and become a delegate to the convention in Philadelphia. As the Founding Fathers struggle to decide how the young nation will be governed, explore how very different men representing their states' conflicting...
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Study Guide
Ohio Test Prep

Ohio Test Prep: u.s. Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
Video test preparation module for Social Studies on the U.S. Constitution teaches students about provisions and compromises made during the Constitutional Convention and how the terms reflect Enlightenment thinking.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: The Voting Record of the Constitution

For Teachers 5th - 8th
For this activity, students will analyze a primary source document to find relevant historical data and measure the degree of agreement and disagreement during the Constitutional Convention.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: To Sign or Not to Sign

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students will consider the arguments made by members of the Continental Congress regarding whether or not to sign the Declaration of Independence. They will also have the opportunity to analyze each section of the Declaration to...