University of Oregon
Mapping History: American History
Interactive and animated maps and timelines of historical events and time periods in American history from pre-European times until post-World War II.
US Senate
The u.s. Senate: The Senate and the United States Constitution
This site from the United States Senate provides information about the evolution of the Senate as the Constitution was being written by the Constitutional Congress.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Sixteenth Amendment
This resource provides a detailed overview of the 16th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Content includes a focus on income tax, the history and purpose of the amendment, and the incomes subject to taxation.
Read Works
Read Works: Our Constitution
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text giving facts about the Constitution of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: George Washington: The First Administration
Read about George Washington's presidency. See why his role was so important in setting precedents to be followed by future chief executives. Find out about some of the warts in his personality too, all of which made him more human.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Constitution Through Compromise
Read about how compromises were reached at the Philadelphia convention that dealt with issues between large and small states, and slave and free states. Take the quick quiz to assess knowledge about the writing of the Constitution.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Rights of Citizens: The Bill of Rights (Grades 6 8)
Ben's Guide is a fun way to present US laws to students grades K-12. This site presents a brief history of the Bill of Rights. Links to related sites are available.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: Articles of Confederation vs. the u.s. Constitution
Fourth graders will be introduced to the primary documents of the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution. They will figure out the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and compare them to the US Constitution. Students...
Digital History
Digital History: The u.s., Cuba, and the Platt Amendment [Pdf]
After the SpanishAmerican War the American occupation of Cuba and the adoption of the Platt Amendment, which was forced upon the Cuban government when it formed its constitution, showed the signs of imperialism on the part of the United...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Creating the Us Constitution
A collection which uses primary sources to explore the creation of the US Constitution.
Digital History
Digital History: Constitutional Quiz
See the questions about the Constitution that have been asked in recent polls.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Twenty Fourth Amendment
This resource provides the text of the amendment, and annotations about its application, including footnotes citing cases in U.S. history pertaining to the topic.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Impact of Slavery
See how the ideals of freedom and equality garnered from the American Revolution were reflected in the early abolitionist movement and the banning of slavery in many Northern state constitutions as the new country was forming.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Bill of Rights Introduction
What is the Bill of Rights? Why were they created? Find out the purpose of these ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and how they work to protect the citizens in the U.S.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The War in Afghanistan: What Should American Policy Be? [Pdf]
Article on American policy and the war in Afghanistan in which students read background history and assert an informed opinion about what they think the U.S. role in Afghanistan should be. Small group work and questions for writing and...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The European Union: Toward a "United States of Europe"?
Learning activity on the economic and political unification of Europe. Article outlines the history and reasons for a European Union. Includes questions for discussion followed by small group activity asking students to evaluate the idea...
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: u.s. Constitution: The Preamble
Students will be able to explain the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: u.s. Constitution: The Powers of the Presidency
Students will see the powers of the presidency as described in the Constitution being put into practice by real people and by a real president.
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: After the Fact: Virginia, New Yok, and "The Federalist Papers"
Read about the necessity for Virginia and New York to support the ratification of the Constitution. See what influenced the vote in Virginia and how the legislature of New York was finally convinced.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Federalists
A brief look at the men who supported the new Constitution and the reasons they supported it.
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.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Bill of Rights
The Constitution spelled out the powers of the national government, but many Anti-federalists felt there should be equally explicit a guarantee of individual rights. Read about the compiliation of what became known as the Bill of Rights...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Ratification Process: State by State
The ratification of the Constitution was placed at the hands of the state legislatures. Read about which states supported the ratification, which were opposed, and why. Find out why, even after the requisite number of states had voted...