Teaching American History
Teaching American History: The Delegates
Find the delegates of the Constitutional Convention listed both alphabetically and by the state they represented. Check out the biographical information for each one.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Benjamin Franklin's Speech
From James Madison's notes, this speech is Benjamin Franklin's final speech of the Constitutional Convention.
Yale University
Avalon Project: The Plan of Charles Pinckney (South Carolina)
The original text of a plan presented by Charles Pinckney to The Second Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.
Other
History.library Point: John Francis Mercer: A Neglected Patriot
An interesting article on the life of the delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention who eventually walked out (along with his fellow delegate Luther Martin) and fell into the anti-Federalist camp.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: The New Nation, 1783 1815
[Free Registration/Login Required] This website documents the United States through its struggles to become a new nation. Site includes primary source documents for the Articles of Confederation, US Constitutional Convention, and George...
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: Hugh Williamson 1735 1819
Overview of a biography of Hugh Williamson, 1735-1819, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from North Carolina.
Cato Institute
James Madison's Vision of Liberty [Pdf]
An article by the CATO institute about James Madison's vision for his writing and contribution for the U.S. Constitutional Convention. Includes information on his views of a limited government for citizens' rights.
![Loc: New Nation: The Constitution [Pdf] Primary](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/409969/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc05nzyyltfmd25rnwyuanbn.jpg?1589982760 "Loc: New Nation: The Constitution [Pdf] Primary")
Library of Congress
Loc: New Nation: The Constitution [Pdf]
This teacher's guide provides a list of resources for information about the Constitution and its signers.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation
Using primary texts and prior study of Colonial America and the Revolution, students examine "what type of government would best represent the ideals of the American Revolution." Worksheets, discussions, and role-playing within this...
State Library of North Carolina
N Cpedia: Convention of 1835
The constitutional convention of 1835 was convened to modify the North Carolina Constitution of 1776. Some provisions of the 1776 document were rooted in the colonial experience, and a growing segment of the population came to consider...
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: The Three Fifths Compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise that was presented at the Constitutional Convention resolved the issue of counting slaves towards the population in regards to representation in the House of Representatives.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: The Great Compromise
Covers details of the Great Compromise which was presented at the Constitutional Convention. It consisted of the idea of proportional representation in the lower house (House of Representatives) and equal representation of the states in...
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Slave Trade Compromise
The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise was reached at the Constitutional Convention by stating that Congress could not prohibit the slave trade until 1808, but that any imported slaves could be taxed.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Virginia Ratifying Convention
Primary source text of Patrick Henry's speech objecting to the Constitution, June, 1788.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Four Founding Fathers
The lesson plan provides varies information and links to help teach about the Constitutional Convention and learn about the Founding Fathers.
Digital History
Digital History: Ratifying the Constitution
After the Constitution was written, debated, and finally adopted by the Constitutional Convention, it was sent to the states to ratify. Read about the fears of those who did not want to ratify it and see how their fears were addressed.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Alexander Hamilton to James Duane
The original text from the University of Chicago Press of a 1780 letter from Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, who later became a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, on the weaknesses of the existing U.S. government under the...
Digital History
Digital History: The Convention
The delegates at the Constitution established strict guidelines for writing the document. Read about the general housekeeping rules, and the way they reached compromises.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Ratifying the Constitution
The delegates to the Constititional Convention produced a new governing document for the new United States. Read about how they determined to take the ratification process to the people of the states.
Other
Charleston County Public Library: Charles Pinckney and the U. S. Constitution
A good biography on Pinckney and his role in the formation of the Constitution.
Tom Richey
Tom richey.net: The u.s. Constitution: Framing, Principles and Ratification [Ppt]
Presents key ideas for examining how the Articles of Confederation were replaced with the Constitution and the compromises that were reached during debates.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Constitution: Drafting a More Perfect Union
This lesson plan provides discussion, culminating, and extension activities to enhance student understanding of the Constitution, and the Committees of Detail and Style. Students have the opportunity to compare the work of those two...
Digital History
Digital History: Writing a Constitution [Pdf]
This site is from a unit called 'Writing the US Constitution.' It looks at the documents that preceded the Constitution, and the major issues that were debated while the Constitution was being created.
Digital History
Digital History: Drafting the Constitution
Those writing the Constitution had many issues to deal with in forming a document to govern the country. One thorny issue was the status of the states in regard to representation in the federal legislature. Read about the Virginia Plan...