Digital History
Digital History: The Age of Social Change [Pdf]
Find the text of James Madison's tenth Federalist paper in which he expresses the idea of how government can provide the need for stability that citizens require. [pdf]
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: The Constitutional Convention of 1787
One word can sum up the Constitutional Convention of 1787 - compromise. Find out which compromises were made and by which groups of people and/or states. This expansive site includes background on the convention, primary source...
Illinois Institute of Technology
The Oyez Project: John Jay
Read an informative biography, a list of facts providing an overview of Chief Justice John Jay and his political career, and the he cases that he worked on are included. To access all information on John Jay, select links from the...
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America
[Free Registration/Login Required] A marvelous look at the life of Alexander Hamilton shown through primary documents in this interactive site.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Living the Revolution: America, 1789 1820: Politics
Primary source materials from the post-Revolutionary War period in America, 1789-1820, which depict the sense of politics in a newly formed nation with a developing national identity. Includes reading guide, questions for discussion and...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Background on the Patriot Attitude Toward the Monarchy
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Background on the Patriot Attitude Toward the Monarchy." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: Age of Jefferson and Madison
[Free Registration/Login Required] After a brief description of Thomas Jefferson's and James Madison's contributions to the early ideology and government of the new United States in their authorship of the Declaration of Independence and...
US Government Publishing Office
U.s. Government Publishing Office: Core Documents of u.s.democracy
Direct online access to the basic Federal Government documents that define our democratic society, a core group of current and historical Government publications.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Supreme Court Justices: John Jay
A biography of the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and author of some of the Federalist Papers.
Other
Colonial Hall: Biography of Alexander Hamilton
Detailed biographical information on one of our founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. He was a signer of the Constitution, a General, and a co-author of The Federalist Papers.
Other
Founding Fathers
Find information about the founding fathers and what they accomplished. Presents the Federalist Papers, The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and The U.S. Constitution. Also includes images, quotes, a history of the...
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: u.s. History Module: Did Founders Want Government to Work? [Pdf]
A comprehensive learning module on the system of government established by the founders that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and primary source materials, followed by a summative performance task....
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Freedom of the Press
Check out this interactive timeline on the history of freedom of press in the United States.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Human Nature, Government and Individual Rights
Overview discussion of the views held by Madison and Hamilton that people, in general, need to have written into the law certain checks and balances to guard against abuse of power, protect individual rights and encompass a pluralistic...
The History Place
The History Place: A New Nation (1784 to 1790)
This site from The History Place provides a timeline of American history between 1784 and 1790. Mentions many famous people and events of the era. Links to John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, James Madison, the Constitution, Bill...
History Tools
History Tools: Centinel Criticizes the Proposed Constitution [Pdf]
Historical document excerpt written in opposition to federalist proposal, October, 1787. Argued against the formation of a federal government and criticized the proposed Constitution. Numbered paragraphs added and spelling modernized.
Digital History
Digital History: Ratifying the Constitution
After the Constitution was written, debated, and finally adopted by the Constitutional Convention, it was sent to the states to ratify. Read about the fears of those who did not want to ratify it and see how their fears were addressed.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Federalists
A brief look at the men who supported the new Constitution and the reasons they supported it.
Digital History
Digital History: Hamilton and Jefferson the Men and Their Philosophies [Pdf]
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton played a huge role not only in crafting important documents in U.S. history, but also by serving as secretaries in George Washington's first cabinet. Read about their diametrically opposing...
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,...
Other
The Online Library of Liberty: Alexander Hamilton
Provides brief biographical details on Alexander Hamilton with links to electronic versions of books he has authored that can be viewed in their original text.
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.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: John Jay
A brief biography of John Jay's life and political career. Discusses his role in the First Continental Congress and authoring of three articles that are now collectively known as "The Federalist."
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: Alexander Hamilton
This site is provided for by the University of Groningen. Alexander Hamilton represented the growing movement towards a strong national government. Read the beginning stages of the nationalist movement, the conflicting ideas of state...