Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Creating the Us Constitution
The sources in this primary set document the creation of the US Constitution. Includes teaching guide.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: U S. Constitution: Annotation 18: First Amendment
Information about the boundaries of seditious speech and the permissibility of governmental measures which are directly concerned with the content of expression.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: United States Bill of Rights
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia gives some background history to the creation of the Bill of Rights and contains a transcription of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution in their original form.
Digital History
Digital History: The Constitution [Pdf]
Find the text of the Constitution and amendments along with an explanation of each article and section. [pdf]
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Karl Marx: A Failed Vision of History
Activity-based resource in which students research, write about, and participate in a panel discussion on Marxism, comparing his vision and historical reality to that of other critical thinkers in world history.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Centralized vs Decentralized Rule: The Legacy of Alexander the Great
Resource for teachers and students. A study of government and society through a look at the legacy of Alexander the Great. Includes questions for discussion followed by activity surrounding four Hellenistic philosophies of the "good...
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: We the People: Constitution Day Pdf [Pdf]
This teachers guide has activities for Constitution Day.
Other
Center for Individual Rights
The Center "is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to the defense of individual liberties." The CIR presents their philosophy on civil rights, free expression, religious liberty, and federalism.
Library of Congress
Loc: Religion and the Founding of American Rep.: Religion and the Federal Gov
This site from the Library of Congress presents selections of articles, writings, and pictures that summarize the beliefs of the early American politicians that morality and personal independence were essential for the country. Links to...
This Nation
This nation.com: Amendments to the u.s. Constitution
This site provides the text of all the amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The first ten are the Bill of Rights.
Other
Gunston Hall Plantation: Mason Objects
In this set of activities, students learn what George Mason's objections were to the U.S. Constitution. They then evaluate them through a class discussion and divide into groups to hold a debate about the disagreement between the...
Library of Congress
Loc: Madison's Treasures
Documents presented here relate to two seminal events in which Madison played a major role: the drafting and ratification of the Constitution of the United States (1787-1788) and the introduction (1789) in the First Federal Congress of...
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: James Madison and Executive Power
James Madison has been called the "Father of the Constitution". His ideas have shaped the role of our government, the role of political parties, the Bill of Rights and more. This activity offers extensive background, critical thinking...
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: How Constitution Used to Organize the New Govt [Pdf]
This lesson describes how, using the guidelines provided in the Constitution, the First Congress in April 1789 named the new president and vice president, provided funding for the new government, organized the executive branch, organized...
Other
Aclu: Sybil Liberty About Your Right to Equality in Education
At this resource, you can find out what rights the US Constitution guarantees you in regards to obtaining equal educational opportunities.
Other
Freedom Forum: Lesson Plans for the First Amendment
These lessons address constitutional principles and contemporary issues involving the First Amendment. They intend to have explore how freedoms began and how they operate in today's world. Students will discuss just how far individual...
US National Archives
Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service
Our Documents is home to one hundred milestone documents that influenced that course of American history and American democracy. Includes full-page scans of each document, transcriptions, background information on their significance, and...
Other
Landmark Cases: Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Lesson plans, activities, and information all about this key Supreme Court decision that protected the rights of the accused. These became known as the "Miranda Warnings." Included is a background summary, excerpts and the complete text...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: First Amendment
Annenberg Classroom summary and text of the 1st Amendment to the Constitution. Links to relevant news articles, video, and timeline.
Illinois Institute of Technology
The Oyez Project: Bigelow v. Virginia (1975)
Brief overview of the Bigelow v. Virginia (1975) Supreme Court case.
SMART Technologies
Smart: Amendment Review
In this interactive activity, students match the given right to the proper amendment from the Bill of Rights.
Digital History
Digital History: Writing a Constitution [Pdf]
This site is from a unit called 'Writing the US Constitution.' It looks at the documents that preceded the Constitution, and the major issues that were debated while the Constitution was being created.
Digital History
Digital History: The Age of Constitution Writing [Pdf]
See how colonial and state constitutions differed and how the idea of a social contract between a government and its citizens is reflected in the state constitutions. The second half of this site gives an abbreviated text of the Articles...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Civil Liberties Recap: You Be the Judge
How well can you decide the balance of civil liberties? Review three case summaries as well as the laws and facts about each case and arguments, and then make a ruling.