Handout
The White House

The White House: The Judicial Branch

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the judicial branch of the federal government, how the organization of the federal judiciary is determined, the functions and responsibilities of the Supreme Court, and features of the judicial process.
Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Iii: Categories of Contempt

For Students 9th - 10th
An in-depth look at the different types of contempt of court, in the United States legal system.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: A New Government

For Teachers 6th - 9th
[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....
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The New Nation, 1783 1815

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
The links in the New Nation, which is provided for by the Library of Congress, will lead you to sets of selected primary sources on a variety of topics,such as the Constitution, governmental policy on Native Americans, and problems and...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Road to Philadelphia [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The new United States government had many problems under the Articles of Confederation. Find out what these problems were, but also discover some of the successes accomplished under that constitution. [pdf]
Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Learning Adventures: Branches of Government

For Students Pre-K - 1st Standards
Beginning page of a Learning Adventure examines what parts of the Constitution give the branches of the Federal Government their specific powers. Those three parts are Article I, Article II, and Article III.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Wanted: A Just Right Government

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Look at the tensions and differences of opinion that existed among early American states and citizens. Learn about the Articles of Confederation, why the first "constitution" didn't work, and how compromise led to the Constitution.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: A Bill of Rights? [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
There was no Bill of Rights attached to the original Constitution, but it was a topic of discussion. Read a reconstruction of speeches of delegates to the Constitutional Convention who debated for and against the inclusion of a way to...
Handout
Princeton University

Princeton University: William Paterson

For Students 9th - 10th
A magazine article devoted to Princeton University offers a biography of its distinguished alumnus, who later became Governor of New Jersey and co-authored the New Jersey Plan which was presented to the Constitutional Convention.
Handout
University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania Archives & Records: Jared Ingersoll (1749 1822)

For Students 9th - 10th
This article gives highlights on the career of this delegate from Pennsylvania to the Constitutional Convention. Ingersoll was considered one of the best lawyers in Philadelphia at that time.
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: William Few

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides background biographical information on William Few, one of the delegates from Georgia to the Constitutional Convention, and who later served as a United States Senator.
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Nicholas Gilman

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed article on the life of Nicholas Gilman, one of the delegates from New Hampshire to the Constitutional Convention. He later served as a Congressman and Senator.
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: John Langdon

For Students 9th - 10th
This article summarizes the life of John Langdon, one of the delegates from New Hampshire to the Constitutional Convention. It gives details on his personal life, military and political careers.
Handout
Other

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, South Carolina

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Handout
Curated OER

National Park Service: Resource Study: Charles Pinckney National Historic Site [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Tough Issues

For Students 5th - 8th
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.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: Continental Congress

For Students 9th - 10th
From 1774 to 1789, the Continental Congress served as the government of the 13 American colonies and later the United States. The First Continental Congress, which was comprised of delegates from the colonies, met in 1774 in reaction to...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: United States Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia gives some background history to the creation of the Bill of Rights and contains a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Political Experience

For Students 5th - 8th
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.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Federalists & Anti Federalists

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Look at the debate and eventual compromise, between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists that occurred around the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
This detailed article defines the term republic, discusses the characteristics of a republican government, examines significant republican governments throughout history, and looks at different types of republican governments in the...
Article
Other

James Grimmerlmann: Copyright, Technology, and Access to the Law

For Students 9th - 10th
Articles on technology and access to the law. The author discusses some innovative features of the Code from a legal standpoint, such as the number index system and the stele used to inscribe the laws.
Article
Other

Why the Fifth Amendment? By Howard Fast

For Students 9th - 10th
This article, written by Howard Fast in 1954, attacks the government and Senator Joseph McCarthy for leading away from the rights protected by the amendment.
Activity
Other

Fundamentals of Judicial Philosophy: Activism

For Students 9th - 10th
This short article discusses judicial restraint versus judicial activism, with constitutional and case study references.

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