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Primary
US National Archives

National Archives and Records Administration: Founders Online

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides the texts of nearly 200,000 historical documents related to six Founding Fathers, including the papers of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. The...
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Website
Other

Constitution Day

For Students 9th - 10th
Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens. Learn about each of...
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Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: John Jay

For Students 3rd - 6th
This article chronicles the life of John Jay, one of America's founding fathers and the first chief justice of the Supreme Court. Includes a portrait and illustrations.
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Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "The Founding of American Democracy" by Jessica Mc Birney

For Students 7th - 8th
A learning module that begins with "The Founding of American Democracy" by Jessica McBirney, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
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Handout
PBS

Citizen Ben: Founding Father

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of a larger site about the extraordinary Benjamin Franklin, this section focuses on his being one of founding fathers of the new United States of America. Read about the three major documents he signed as a delegate and diplomat.
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Benjamin Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief review of the life of one of the founding fathers of the United States. Learn about the important events in the life of Ben Franklin - inventor, patriot, musician, scientist, statesman, and more. (In Spanish)
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Primary
Other

Us Congress: Congress, the Court, and the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Transcript of a congressional hearing, held in 1994, to discuss whether Congress had given too much power to the Supreme Court, against the express intent of the Founding Fathers. This transcript is lengthy but informative, containing...
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Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Branches of Government

For Students 3rd - 5th
A brief overview of the origins of the three branches of the federal government, with links to more in-depth information about each branch. Also discusses the concerns of the Founding Fathers about creating a government that had...
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Website
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: Signing the Constitution

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site has a brief summary that describes the delegates to the Constitutional Convention. This group is sometimes called the "Founding Fathers."
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Founding Fathers' Notions of Religious Liberty (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore founders' views, particularly the views of George Washington, on the role of religion and religious liberty in public life. Includes excerpts from Washington's writings and speeches to give pupils opportunities to include primary...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Alexander Hamilton

For Students 9th - 10th
One of our original Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton was a controversial figure. This PBS site allows you to watch excerpts from a two-hour long documentary on his life and role in US history. Provides a detailed timeline that gives...
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Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Religion and Founding of American Republic: Religion and the Congress of the Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Primary
Other

Neatline: The Digital Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive Declaration of Independence. Passages of the original document are accompanied by typed text, and each founding father has a biography, a portrait, and a map showing where they are from.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers: Edmund Randolph

For Students 9th - 10th
The major focus of this site is Randolph's role in the creation of the Constitution and his views on the structure of the executive branch of government.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers: Benjamin Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
A general biography of Benjamin Franklin.
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Primary
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Founders Quotes

For Students 9th - 10th
Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood. -...
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Activity
Scholastic

Scholastic: Grolier: Thomas Jefferson

For Students 3rd - 8th
A thorough biography of one of the founding fathers of America, Thomas Jefferson.
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Benjamin Franklin Mini Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
"The First American", Benjamin Franklin, is the only Founding Father that signed all three major documents that founded the United States of America. Students explore the many roles he took during the founding of America.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Jefferson vs. Franklin: Revolutionary Philosophers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Jefferson vs. Franklin: Revolutionary Philosophers." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
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Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Benjamin Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
Although he was the old sage of the American Revolution and the Founding generation, Benjamin Franklin's considerable work in the areas of journalism, science, and invention often obscure his many contributions to the creation of the...
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Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: George Mason

For Students 9th - 10th
George Mason's ideas helped to shape the Founding documents of the United States, but few Americans remember him today. The words he used when writing the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution of 1776 inspired the...
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Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: John Witherspoon

For Students 9th - 10th
He was a father figure to America's Founders. A renowned theologian from Scotland, John Witherspoon educated many young men who became prominent leaders of the Founding generation. He went on to embrace the revolutionary cause. He signed...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
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Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers: George Washington: A Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
An introductory biography of George Washington.

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