Library of Congress
Loc: The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation
Using primary texts and prior study of Colonial America and the Revolution, students examine "what type of government would best represent the ideals of the American Revolution." Worksheets, discussions, and role-playing within this...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement:the Preamble to the Constitution
These step-by-step lesson plans help students understand the historical background to the U.S. Constitution. Students simulate a hypothetical situation where they must create their own rules and figure out how to work together. Links to...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Robert Morris
Known as the "Financier of the Revolution," Robert Morris played a critical role in winning and securing American independence. As chairman of the Continental Congress's Finance Committee between 1775 and 1778, Morris traded flour and...
US Department of State
Office of the Historian: Constitutional Convention and Ratification
Among the many weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was the inability of the government to conduct foreign policy in an effective manner. Find out how the Constitutional Convention addressed this issue by allowing the Executive...
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress for Kids: Democracy
Aimed at younger students learning about government, this section of the larger 'Congress for Kids' website focuses on Democracy. Links to related topics include democracy vs autocracy, 13 Colonies, Declaration of Independence, and...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: Founding the United States
This is a collection of 15 Grade-Leveled texts (5-12) on the topic The Founding of America. Once the Revolutionary War was over, America's Founding Fathers had to develop a nation. Learn about the founding of American democracy, from the...
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.
A&E Television
History.com: Continental Congress
From 1774 to 1789, the Continental Congress served as the government of the 13 American colonies and later the United States. The First Continental Congress, which was comprised of delegates from the colonies, met in 1774 in reaction to...
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: The Articles of the Constitution
Each of the Articles of the Constitution are described in full detail with simplified summaries of each of the sections together with the full, original text.
Library of Congress
Loc: Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention
This site provides a collection of material regarding the work of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. Content includes a focus on how the Revolutionary War was organized, fanning the flames of patriotism,...
Other
Indian Historical Bureau: Land Ordinance of 1785
Read the text of the Land Ordinance of 1785, which was written to manage the land controlled by the Confederation government west of the Appalachian Mountains, land that became part of the United States after the Revolutionary War.
Library of Congress
Loc: The New Nation 1783 1815
The creation and growth of the new nation of the United States is the focus of this article. Being divided into time periods makes this site easy to understand.
Library of Congress
Loc: Religion and Founding of American Republic: Religion and the Congress of the Confederation
This site from the Library of Congress offers descriptions of multiple events, people and beliefs that helped shape the government and culture of the U.S. Links to views of historical documents and pictures depicting the religious...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: A New Government
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart discusses the events following the American Revolution and how the new government developed. The Articles of Confederation and their replacement by the US Constitution are explained....
Digital History
Digital History: Was the Constitutional Convention Legal?
A look at the convening of a Constitutional Convention to address the problems inherent in the Articles of Confederation. Read a quote from George Washington, who addressed the legality of such a convention.
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: The u.s. Constitution: Quiz (1)
This 10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and covers details about the Constitution and Articles of Confederation.
Library of Congress
Loc: The New Nation, 1783 1815
The links in the New Nation, which is provided for by the Library of Congress, will lead you to sets of selected primary sources on a variety of topics,such as the Constitution, governmental policy on Native Americans, and problems and...
Cato Institute
James Madison's Vision of Liberty [Pdf]
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.
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.
iCivics
I Civics: Constitution Day Lesson Plan
This interactive lesson gives students a quick snapshot of the Constitution, including the purpose of each article, the powers of the three branches, how a bill becomes a law, and the concepts of separation of powers and checks and...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Powers Denied to the States
Resource explains how during the time of the Civil War the Supreme Court used Article I, Section 10, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution to show that the Confederation formed by the seceding States had no legal existence. The site also...
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...
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: April 13: Thomas Jefferson, Grand Old Flag
Multi-faceted site with hypertexted links to Jefferson's writings, summary of the events leading to the Constitution and the failure of the Articles of Confederation; included is Jefferson's original draft of the "Bill for Establishing...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Northwest Ordinance
Enacted through the Articles of Confederation, the Northwest Ordinance led to the organization of the Northwest Territory and expedited the expansion of the United States westward. This is a thorough explanation of the ordinance.