Curated OER
Sow the Seeds of Victory!
Pupils use the National Archives and Records Administration's records to research the history of the U.S. Food Administation.
Curated OER
Executive Decisions
Young scholars explore the role of judges in Britain. In this current events lesson, students visit selected websites to discover the responsibilities of judges and the justice reform in Britain.
Curated OER
What Are the Ethical Considerations
Pupils investigate the socioeconomic and environmental issues associated with radon. They examine the laws that exist in New Jersey that pertain to real estate. They work in groups to design new legislation that addresses associated real...
US National Archives
National Archives: Congress Creates the Bill of Rights Iia
Ths is the second PDF is in the series Congress Creates the Bill of Rights. This part focuses on the debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists on questions surrounding passage of the Bill of Rights. Short biographies, pictures,...
Library of Congress
Loc: The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments
Help students grasp the idea of making amendments with this instructional activity on the debates of the amendments to the US Constitution. Use primary sources to have the students choose their own amendments, give them opportunity to...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: James Madison Debates the Bill of Rights
Lesson from the National Humanities Center explores the doubts, concerns, and misgivings surrounding the development of the Bill of Rights. Primary or secondary sources, text analysis and Close reading strategies, background notes, and...
US National Archives
National Archives: Congress Creates the Bill of Rights Iib
This is the 3rd section of a PDF entitled Congress Creates the Bill of Rights. This section focuses on the articles debated in Congress that eventually formed the Bill of Rights. Background on each article is given as well as a picture...
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: The Politics of the Bill of Rights: Part Iii
Investigate what the politics were leading to the creation of the Bill of Rights. Identify how the debates in the first congress led to the stages of approval and ultimately the adoption of the ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Bill of Rights in Action: The Lincoln Douglss Debates [Pdf]
Article and activity offering students problem-based learning by examining conflict, past and present, that call in to question our Constitutional Rights. Questions for writing and discussion as well as small group learning activity.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: The Federalist/antifederalist Debate Bill of Rights
Identify the role of the debates between the Federalists and Antifederalists during the creation of the ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
iCivics
I Civics: No Bill of Rights, No Deal
In the debate over the Constitution, the Bill of Rights was a deal-breaker. In this lesson, learners learn why the federalists thought the Constitution didn't need a bill of rights and why the anti-federalists refused to accept the...
Digital History
Digital History: A Bill of Rights? [Pdf]
There was no Bill of Rights attached to the original Constitution, but it was a topic of discussion. Read a reconstruction of speeches of delegates to the Constitutional Convention who debated for and against the inclusion of a way to...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Bill of Rights in Action: Welfare
Lesson in which students read the history of welfare in the United States, answer questions for discussion and writing, and debate who should be responsible for the welfare of others. Small group, individual and whole class work.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1754 1800: The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution guarantee citizens' essential freedoms and rights.
George Mason University
Roy Rosenzweig Center: Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
After a long debate about what should be included in their Bill of Rights, French leaders eventually came to a "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen," seventeen articles that laid out a government that protected natural rights....
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Declaration of Independence
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee brought what came to be called the Lee Resolution before the Continental Congress. This resolution stated "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states " Congress...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Benjamin Rush
The fourth of seven children born to Quaker parents, Benjamin Rush was the most famous physician of his time. Known and respected by many of the Founding generation, Benjamin Rush treated illnesses such as yellow fever and smallpox,...
iCivics
I Civics: The Federalist Debate
The ratification debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists gives us insight into the ideas behind both sides and a better understanding of how our government developed in its early years.
Yale University
The Avalon Project: Declaration of the Rights of Man
After a long debate about what should be included in their Bill of Rights, French leaders eventually came to a "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen," seventeen articles that laid out a government that protected natural rights....
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Major Debates at the Constitutional Convention
Activity on the orgins of the U.S. Constitution and the debates surrounding it. Includes questions for discussion and small group learning activity in which students evaluate the fairness of state representation within the structure of...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Developments in Democracy
Activity for high school students in which they apply Constitutional reasoning to explore the topic of equality for women and debate the necessity of an Equal Rights Amendment. Site provides comprehensive background and resource material...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: National Security and Freedom
In-depth and comprehensive learning activity in which students analyze the debate surrounding the Patriot Act and apply constitutional reasoning to formulate opinions about the balance between national security and right to privacy....
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Developments in Democracy
Learning activity in which students study the ideas of Enlightenment philosophers, Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. Lesson includes individual, group and whole class activity in which students write, discuss and debate the role...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Life Under Communism in Eastern Europe
Activity based resource on political and economic systems, asks students to explore communism, capitalism, socialism and democracy and formulate informed opinions for discussion and debate. Group and individual work.