Other
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, South Carolina
A short but nice biographical article on the life of this delegate from South Carolina to the Constitutional Convention. Also he served in the American Revolution.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Annotation 1: Sixteenth Amendment
This article provides the background of the 16th Amendment, which established a federal income tax.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Resource Study: Charles Pinckney National Historic Site [Pdf]
A scholarly publication which examines the archaeological findings of Snee Farm, the plantation and house owned by Charles Pinckney, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from South Carolina. Click on "Table of Contents" to get a...
Mex Connect
Mex Connect: History of Mexico: The Cristero Rebellion
This is an extensive article discussing the problems of church and state in the early 20th century Mexico. It talks about the constitution, Catholicism, government, and revolutions that occured over the issue.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Powers Denied to the States
Resource explains how during the time of the Civil War the Supreme Court used Article I, Section 10, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution to show that the Confederation formed by the seceding States had no legal existence. The site also...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Article I: Habeas Corpus Suspension
This resource discusses Article I of the U.S. Constitution and the suspension of Habeas Corpus during the Civil War. The links throughout the text lead to the footnotes at the bottom of the page.
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: James Madison
The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia provides an extensive biography on the life of James Madison. Provides information about his life before and after the presidency as well as his policies on foreign and domestic...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: A Brief History of Jim Crow
Article provides an overview of the history of Jim Crow laws and questions for discussion.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: African Americans and the 15th Amendment
Article on equal rights and the series of events leading to the passage of the 15th Amendment. Includes questions for discussion and an activity in which students re-create the Voting Rights Convention.
Other
Commonwealth of Massachusetts: The Declaration of Rights
Read the original, A Declaration of Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including Articles I through XXX, complete with all parts of the adopted constitution and its amendments for governing colonial...
Council of Foreign Relations
Council of Foreign Rel.: How to Build a Democratic Iraq
A scholarly article from the Council of Foreign Relations which focuses on the issues facing the Iraqi people as they try to rebuild a new government. The authors argue that the Iraqi people do have several advantages in helping them...
Read Works
Read Works: Don't Know Much About Liberty
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in classifying and categorizing.
Library of Congress
Loc: Incorporating the Western Territory
A discussion of the process the congress went through in determining what would happen to the territory west of the original thirteen states. Read the final provisions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
Scholastic
Scholastic: u.s. Constitution Changes With the Times
Clear, concise overview of the "voting" amendments to the Constitution. Includes quotes from 20th century Justices and Presidents about Amendments they thought were needed.
Other
Hawai'i Independent & Sovereign: The Overthrow of the Monarchy
An article from the in-flight magazine of Aloha Airlines relates the history of the events that led to the annexation of Hawaii in the 1890s.
iCivics
I Civics: Trying Self Government
In this lesson, students will learn about the Articles of Confederation's strengths and weaknesses as well as how it downfalls impacted the writing and ideas in the U.S. Constitution.
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Great Compromise
A learning module on the Great Compromise and the role it played in developing the US Constitution in 1787. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance...
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress Link: Lesson Plans
The Dirksen Congressional Center provides abundant lesson plans on all aspects of the US Congress and the US Constitution. All lessons contain time frames, objectives, and links to material, and are built around Bloom's taxonomy.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Debating Democracy
By the end of this section of a chapter on "Creating Republican Governments," students will be able to explain the development of state constitutions, describe the features of the Articles of Confederation, and analyze the causes and...
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: The u.s. Constitution: Quiz (3)
10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and covers events pertaining to the U.S. Constitution.
Read Works
Read Works: American Government the Bill of Rights Part I
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text piece shares a history to the Bill of Rights. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes scaffolding...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Article Iii: Annotations
This resource discusses both the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the appellate jurisdiction of the lower federal courts. There are hypertext links to related materials.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Madison Debates
Read online from James Madison's report of William Patterson's proposal of the New Jersey Plan at the Federal Convention, 1787. Link to related document: Articles of Confederation as related specifically to each proposal in the New...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Are We Headed for a Sixth Mass Extinction
Activity in which students analyze the information on biodiversity and extinction presented in the article and answer questions for discussion, then develop policy to meet modern environmental challenges. Individual and small group work.