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...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Political Experience
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.
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
Us Courts: Sixth Amendment Activities
Activities for the classroom in which students apply landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to the right to counsel and right to a fair trial. With plan for teachers, word bank, and links to related resources.
Other
Us Courts: First Amendment Activities
Activities for students that make learning about the 1st Amendment relevant by applying landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to the five parts of the First Amendment and rights to freedom of religion, speech,...
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.
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...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Annotation 2: Fifth Amendment
This resource explains the phrase "double jeopardy," including a look at its development through history.
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...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Communism, Capitalism, and Democracy in China
Activity in which students study the elements of communism, capitalism and democracy for a critical analysis of China's former and current economic/political system. Individual, small group, and class participation.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: John Dewey and the Reconstruction of American Democracy
Article and activity on the ideas and philosophy of John Dewey in which students critique Dewey's methods and evaluate the relevancy of his ideas for American democracy today.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Whiskey Rebellion and the New American Republic
Article and activity on the Whiskey Rebellion in which students read about this historic event for class discussion and identify larger themes of justice in early American government. Individual and small group participation.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Mendez v. Westminster: Paving the Way to School Desegregation
Article and activity on early school desegregation case brought by the Mexican-American community of California. Students explore background information and evaluate the impact Mendez v. Westminster had on school desegregation, and then...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Slavery, Civil War, and Democracy: What Did Lincoln Believe?
Activity in which students examine the concept of democracy and the idea of a "just society" through the eyes of Abraham Lincoln. Lesson includes questions for discussion and activity in which students prepare a speech on the what they...