Website
Digital History

Digital History: Representation: By State or by Population? [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the opinions of some of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in regard to the very thorny issue of how states would be represented in the national legislature. [pdf]
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Caleb Strong 1745 1819

For Students 9th - 10th
Strong was born to Caleb and Phebe Strong on January 9, 1745 in Northampton, MA. He received his college education at Harvard, from which he graduated with highest honors in 1764. Like so many of the delegates to the Constitutional...
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Luther Martin 1748 1826

For Students 9th - 10th
Like many of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, Luther Martin attended the College of New Jersey (later Princeton), from which he graduated with honors in 1766. Though born in Brunswick, NJ., in 1748, Martin moved to...
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Religion and the Founding of American Rep.: Religion and the Federal Gov

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Primary
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: Virginia Ratifying Convention

For Students 9th - 10th
Primary source text of Patrick Henry's speech objecting to the Constitution, June, 1788.
Lesson Plan
University of California

History Project: Debate Over the California Constitutional Convention, 1878 1879

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson on immigration, conflict and nativism in which students examine primary source documents to evaluate public policy and attitudes towards Chinese immigrants in California, 1878-1879.
Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Madison Debates

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Activity
Other

Historical Scene Investigation: Hsi: I Smell a Rat: Constitution Controversy

For Students 9th - 10th
Activity in which students act as detectves to investigate an historical issue. In this activity students analyze primary source material to learn about controversy surrounding the U.S. Constitution when they are asked to find out what...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Four Founding Fathers

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The lesson plan provides varies information and links to help teach about the Constitutional Convention and learn about the Founding Fathers.
Primary
University of Chicago

The Founders' Constitution: Alexander Hamilton to James Duane

For Students 9th - 10th
The original text from the University of Chicago Press of a 1780 letter from Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, who later became a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, on the weaknesses of the existing U.S. government under the...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Ratification

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University of Groningen provides a synopsis chronologically written on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution beginning with the first states who accepted the document to pressures exerted by the Federalists to...
Primary
University of Chicago

The Founders' Constitution: Popular Basis of Political Authority

For Students 9th - 10th
This speech, "The Address and Reasons of Dissent of the Minority of the Convention of Pennsylvania to Their Constituents," contains some of the arguments for opposing the Constitution.
Website
Teaching American History

Teaching American History: "In Doors": Ratification in State Conventions

For Students 9th - 10th
Strengthen understanding of the ratification of the Constitution. Study the state ratification conventions of Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York.
Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Amendments Proposed by Hartford Convention

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text of the constitutional amendments proposed by the Hartford Convention in 1814, trying to get the federal government to give control of militias to the states and recognize other New England interests.
Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: The Federalist Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
With this resource, you can search by keyword for particular subjects within the Federalist Papers, or you can access by number each of the Papers. Also available are links to four related documents: The Annapolis Convention, Articles of...
Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Forever Free: The 1860s: 19th Century African American Legislators of Texas

For Students Pre-K - 1st
An exhibit from the Texas State Library exploring the political achievements of African-Americans in the Texas state legislature and Constitutional Convention from 1865 through the 1890s.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Challenges of the Articles of Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource from Khan Academy provides a study resource about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, Shay's Rebellion, and the needed call for a new Constitution. These questions are intended for students taking high school...
Article
Cato Institute

James Madison's Vision of Liberty [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
An article by the CATO institute about James Madison's vision for his writing and contribution for the U.S. Constitutional Convention. Includes information on his views of a limited government for citizens' rights.
Handout
Other

Charleston County Public Library: Charles Pinckney and the U. S. Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
A good biography on Pinckney and his role in the formation of the Constitution.
PPT
Tom Richey

Tom richey.net: The u.s. Constitution: Framing, Principles and Ratification [Ppt]

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents key ideas for examining how the Articles of Confederation were replaced with the Constitution and the compromises that were reached during debates.
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
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.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Writing a Constitution [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Primary
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Additional Amendments

For Students 9th - 10th
The Constitution contains within itself the process of changing it. The amendment process is described in Article 5. Amendments can be proposed in Congress when 2/3rd of both Houses agree. The states can play a role in proposing changes...