Lesson Plan

The Founding Fathers and the Constitutional Struggle Over Centralized Power

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Believe it or not, the Constitution was America's second attempt at a democratic government. Academics travel back to the past to explore the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation that would eventually lead to the Constitutional Convention. The lesson explains the ideology that formed the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists who helped to draft the new Constitution. Scholars participate in a mock convention, complete worksheets, group discussions, and analyze primary sources to understand the differing options in American democracy. 

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Instructional Ideas
  • Have pupils write a newspaper article defending the Federalists or the Anti-Federalists 
  • Create visual boards that represent the values of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists 
Classroom Considerations
  • Requires additional materials to complete the lesson 
Pros
  • Includes an exit ticket to gauge what students took away from the lesson
  • Resource includes a rubric to make grading easier 
Cons
  • None