Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: When Roman Law Ruled the Western World
A history of Roman law, culture and the development of Western European law codes. Includes questions for writing and discussion, small group activity and links to further reading.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Proposed Changes in the Way the Federal Government Operates
Examine amendments made to aid the government in balancing the budget and income tax as well as the debate over term limits.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Upton Sinclair's the Jungle: Muckraking the Meat Packing Industry
The Jungle dives into the terrible working conditions in the meat-packing industry which led to investigations and new food safety laws.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Labor and Law
Explore the rise of unions in the United States in the early 1900's. Understand Roosevelt's role in unions, the Wagner Act, and sit down strikes.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Economics and Democracy
Lesson in economics and democracy in which students analyze the decision to outsource jobs and determine if globalization is a threat to American workers. Small group, independent and whole class work. Links to related material.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Shays' Rebellion: A Massachusetts Farmer's Account
An historically based record of Shays' Rebellion, delivered by a fictious character, relaying the events and observances that occurred in the fall of 1786.
Other
Gunston Hall Plantation: Discover George Mason
Lesson plans, activities, and resources for learning about George Mason and his contributions to Virginia statehood and in forging the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
US Government Publishing Office
U.s. Government Publishing Office: Core Documents of u.s.democracy
Direct online access to the basic Federal Government documents that define our democratic society, a core group of current and historical Government publications.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Annotation 3: Eighth Amendment
This particular page of annotations on the Eighth Amendment discusses the background and intended meaning of the phrase "cruel and unsual punishment".
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Antifederalists' Victory in Defeat
By 1788 eleven states ratified the Constitution, more than enough to put it into effect as the document establishing rules for the nation. Read about the goals of the Federalists in estabilishing a national government and find out how...
iCivics
I Civics: Federalists & Anti Federalists
Look at the debate and eventual compromise, between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists that occurred around the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Other
Common Sense Americanism: Schenck v. United States
This summary provides the background for Schenck v. United States, a World War I-era Supreme Court case involving free speech. Schenck is an example of what can happen to basic constitutional rights in time of war.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Seventh Amendment
Text and summary of the 7th Amendment to the Constitution. From Annenberg Classroom with links to related materials including videos, timeline and news article.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: The 13th Amendment
An original 13th amendment restricting lawyers from serving in government that was supposedly ratified in 1819 and removed from the U.S. Constitution during the Civil War.
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: George Mason 1725 1792
This resource presents links for different parts of George Mason's life. Information about his life includes links to relevant topics.
Other
Us Courts: Fourth Amendment Activities
Activities for the classroom on the 4th Amendment in which students apply landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to search and seizure issues at school, in the car, and the home. With lesson plan and links to...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Who Will You Back? (The First American Political Parties)
Students will produce an illustrated documentary on one of the first two American political parties.
Library of Congress
Loc: Religion and the Founding of American Rep.: Religion and the Federal Gov
This site from the Library of Congress presents selections of articles, writings, and pictures that summarize the beliefs of the early American politicians that morality and personal independence were essential for the country. Links to...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Population Perils: The Potato Famine and Irish Immigration to America
Activity on the plight of the Irish immigrant in America during the potato famine. Through a combination of class discussion and role play, students gain an understanding of the reasons people sought to immigrate to America.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Reaction and Reform: Land, Liberty, and the Mexican Revolution
Activity on the Mexican Revolution in which students read the article provided, answer questions for discussion, and write an informed essay on why they think Villa or Zapata or both should or should not have become president of Mexico.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Revolution and Change: England's Glorious Revolution
Activity in which students read about and answer questions on the history of England's Glorious Revolution, citing evidence for discussion, then debate the goal or intentions of King James in a class activity.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Woodrow Wilson's Quest to Change the World
Activity in which students explore the ideas of Woodrow Wilson and his quest for peaceful world change. Through reading and writing and small group work, students discuss the relevancy of Wilson's arguments and evaluate his Fourteen Points.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Development of Confucianism in Ancient China
Comprehensive learning activity on Confucianism in Ancient China. Students survey the work of Confucius as they examine ideas of other philosphers throughout the ages for comparison and analysis. Includes activity for individual and...