Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Tough Issues
Read about the change of plans when delegates to the Philadelphia convention decided to write a new constitution to replace the Articles of Convention. See the ideas delegates had to address concerns of large and small states.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: A New Government
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart discusses the events following the American Revolution and how the new government developed. The Articles of Confederation and their replacement by the US Constitution are explained....
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: The u.s. Constitution: Quiz (1)
This 10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and covers details about the Constitution and Articles of Confederation.
Digital History
Digital History: Was the Constitutional Convention Legal?
A look at the convening of a Constitutional Convention to address the problems inherent in the Articles of Confederation. Read a quote from George Washington, who addressed the legality of such a convention.
Quia
Quia: Building of the Constitution
Quiz yourself on how well you know the events leading up to writing the United States Constitution.
Library of Congress
Loc: Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention
This site provides a collection of material regarding the work of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. Content includes a focus on how the Revolutionary War was organized, fanning the flames of patriotism,...
Library of Congress
Loc: The New Nation 1783 1815
The creation and growth of the new nation of the United States is the focus of this article. Being divided into time periods makes this site easy to understand.
Library of Congress
Loc: The United States Constitution
See transcripts of the debates of the Federal Convention of 1787, the draft of the Constitution, or see the facsimiles of the original documents. Trace the progress of the Constitution using the historical documents themselves.
Tom Richey
Tom Richey: The u.s. Constitution (1783 1789)
A comprehensive unit of the colonies gaining their independence from and trying to create an effective constitution establishing a new government. Find lessons, videos, and primary sources.
iCivics
I Civics: Road to the Constitution
How did we go from thirteen British colonies to the United States of America? Explore the major hardships of life under British rule, how the colonists decided to break away, and how they set a path for a new and independent government....
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: The Constitution
Ben's Guide is a fun way to present U.S. Government to students grades K-12. This site presents a brief history of the Constitution. Links to related sites are available.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Themepark: Liberty: United States Historical Documents
Find a large collection of internet resources organized around historical documents. Links to places to go, people to see, things to do, teacher resources, and bibliographies.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Alexander Hamilton: Lawyer, Writer, and Founding Father
Through a short video and an analysis of two primary sources, students will examine the life of Alexander Hamilton, an important military and political leader.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: After Shays' Rebellion
Lesson on the aftermath of Shays' Rebellion as a reflection of the republican nature of American government and the right to vote. Includes primary resources with background information and strategies for analysis.
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.
iCivics
I Civics: The Federalist Debate
The ratification debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists gives us insight into the ideas behind both sides and a better understanding of how our government developed in its early years.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Declare the Causes
Offers lesson plans that guide students to understanding the structure of the Declaration of Independence. Throughout the course of the lesson, students will be working on writing their own declaration of grievances relative to issues in...
Virginia History Series
Virginia History Series: Virginia Becomes a State [Pdf]
Virginia played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War and the creation of our new government. This slideshow uses pictures, graphs, and a detailed timeline showing the major events in Virginia from 1760-1800.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Democracy in America: The Constitution: Fixed or Flexible?
This unit explores the timeless qualities of The U.S. Constitution, the opportunities to amend it, and how it is a pillar of the American identity, through these activities, videos, and outside resources.
A&E Television
History.com: The Patriot Financier Who Bankrolled the Revolutionary War
A brash, self-made millionaire helped fund the fight for independence, but after the war, he ended up in debtor's prison. Without Robert Morris, the American Revolution may have been crushed under a mountain of debt and disarray. The...
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Images of the American Revolution
The National Archives and Records Administration provides a lesson plan on the American Revolution. Content includes excellent historical background, as well as several primary source documents, pictures, and engravings detailing various...
Digital History
Digital History: The Tyranny of the Majority
See how the actions of state legislatures threatened the very existence of a national government during the Confederation Era.
Other
The House of Commons Heritage Collection
This comprehensive site from the Curatorial Services of the House of Commons in Ottawa collects and celebrates the architecture, fine art, and heritage spaces of Canada's Parliament. The Collection Profiles gives students web-based...
Other
Left Justified: Founding Fathers
Biographical accounts of fifty men who played a wide variety of roles in bringing about America's break with Great Britain, and in the creation of the documents and plans that created the new nation, like the Declaration of Independence,...