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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Hamilton and Jefferson the Men and Their Philosophies [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton played a huge role not only in crafting important documents in U.S. history, but also by serving as secretaries in George Washington's first cabinet. Read about their diametrically opposing...
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Primary
Other

Real Democracy: Proposed Article of Amendment Xxvii

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a "proposed" Article of Amendment XXVII - Nonpartisan Direct Representative Democracy, Government Electorate, Voting and Education Networks. Read this example of a proposed amendment for the establishment of direct democracy and a...
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Website
Other

Representative Democracy Has Failed

For Students 9th - 10th
This politically oriented site outlines the degeneration of American Democracy and the erosion of democratic principles as exemplified by unconstitutional actions on the part of the Federal and State governments, as in the examples of...
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Activity
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: Anti Railroad Propaganda Poster

For Teachers 9th - 10th
From the National Archives and Records Administration site, this lesson, focusing on a poster circulated in Philadelphia in 1839 to discourage the coming of the railroad, relates to the struggle to define the powers of the national and...
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Role of the President of the United States

For Teachers 11th - 12th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Excerpts from Article II of the United States Constitution explaining the role of President. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Primary
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: The Preamble

For Students 9th - 10th
The preamble is the introduction to the Constitution. It outlines the general goals of the framers: to create a just government and to ensure peace, adequate national defense, and a healthy, free nation. With its first three words, "We...
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Born to Run

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating the necessity of Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution which states that only natural-born American citizens can be elected President of the United States. A question...
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Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour: Getting to Democracy, Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
With the end of major military action in Iraq, what obstacles do the people of Iraq and the coalition face in rebuilding their country? With this lesson, students will compare what is happening in Iraq to what happened after World War II...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs News Hour: Your Safety and Security or Your Civil Liberties Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The object of this lesson is to take a look at the USA Patriot Act and the controversies around the Act. Does the Patriot Act defy our Civil Liberties? This lesson will explore that question and more.
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: Native Americans Weren't Guaranteed the Right to Vote in Every State Until 1962

For Students 9th - 10th
Native people won citizenship in 1924, but the struggle for voting rights stretched on much longer. Native Americans couldn't be U.S. citizens when the country ratified its Constitution in 1788, and wouldn't win the right to be for 136...
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Handout
Other

Schoolhouse Rock: The Preamble

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site from Schoolhouse Rock, History Rock, provides the lyrics to a song called The Preamble. Need to learn the Preamble and what it means? This catchy tune from the popular 1970s cartoon series, Schoolhouse Rock, will help you to...
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Activity
Other

Understanding the Federal Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
A ten part publication which describes the federal court system, its structure and organization, what types of cases they hear and much more. You can also download a PDF version of the document.
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Website
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: The Articles of Confederation

For Students 3rd - 8th
At this site read a short synopsis of the Articles of Confederation, and then complete a short quiz by clicking on the "show what you know" link at the bottom.
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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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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Samuel Freeman Miller

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Samuel Freeman Miller, an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1862-90), a leading opponent of efforts to use the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution to protect business...