Constitution. In a Nutshell The Constitution of the United States is the highest law in the land, a written statement of the core principles of the American government. It lays out the structure of the federal government, clarifies the relationship between that government and the states, explains which powers the government does (and does not!) Have, and guarantees certain rights and freedoms to the people. The Constitution is, in short, the blueprint for America's democracy. It is, in many ways, the blueprint for America itself. Four handwritten pages. That's all they produced, after 116 days of hard work.
Not too impressive, you might think. But you'd be wrong. Today the handwriting has faded badly, and the parchment itself is in danger of disintegrating into dust. But it can only stay alive as long as We the People continue to take it seriously—as long as We the People understand its principles and force our own leaders to follow them. Individual Biographies of the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention. It has often been remarked that in the journey of life, the young rely on energy to counteract the experience of the old. And vice versa. What makes this Constitutional Convention remarkable is that the delegates were both young and experienced. The average age of the delegates was 42 and four of the most influential delegates—Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouvernor Morris, and James Madison—were in their thirties.
Over half of the delegates graduated from College with nine from Princeton and six from British Universities. . * indicates delegates who did not sign the Constitution. The Constitutional Convention. Lesson Plans. The Articles of Confederation. The topic of this lesson is examining the Articles of Confederation and how they influenced the Constitution. The students will investigate several pre-determined articles to determine how they influenced the writing of the Constitution.
The students will examine Articles II, III, and VIII. This is in accordance with the state standards of VA. The learner will investigate the primary sources to understand the importance’s of the Articles of Confederation, why they failed, and how specific Articles helped shape our current form of government, the US Constitution. Historical Background During this time period, America was trying to define itself as its own government.
Themes that highlight the American Revolutionary era include conflicts with Great Britain and the independence from Great Britain; the development and implementation of founding documents; establishing a weak national government that gives major powers to individual states. Lesson Objective Materials Procedure Assessment References. Wanted: A Just Right Government. Edsitement.neh.gov/sites/edsitement.neh.gov/files/worksheets/Constitution_Activity01.pdf. The Road to the Constitutional Convention. Activity 1. The problem of Congress' lack of authority Time required for the activity: In class reading and writing assignment and one 45 minute class period for presentations. Preparing for the activity Print copies (or provide links) for students of the documents assigned as homework (listed below, included in the Text Document for Activity One).
Optional: Print the Graphic Organizer (included in Page 9 of the Text Document for Activity One) and give a copy to each student (only if you will not go on to activity 2 of this lesson). The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to the problems that resulted from the defects of the Articles of Confederation. Raising funds from the states to defray the costs of defense and the war against Great BritainManaging foreign relations for all of the states, including making treaties and alliances with foreign nationsPaying both domestic and foreign debts incurred by the United States On the day of the activity: Activity 2.
Activity 3. Digital History. Constitution Day Materials, US Constitution, Pocket Constitution Book, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights. The U.S. Constitution is one of the most influential legal documents in existence. Since its creation some two hundred years ago, over one hundred countries around the world have used it as a model for their own. And it is a living document. It is one of the world's oldest surviving constitutions. And, while the Supreme Court continually interprets the Constitution so as to reflect a rapidly changing world, its basic tenets have remained virtually unchanged since its inception, and unchallenged as well. For this very reason, great people have spent their lives studying and interpreting the Constitution. America's Founding Fathers - Delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
The Founding Fathers Delegates to the Constitutional Convention On February 21, 1787, the Continental Congress resolved that: ...it is expedient that on the second Monday in May next a Convention of delegates who shall have been appointed by the several States be held at Philladelphia for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation... The original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention, but a number did not accept or could not attend.
Those who did not attend included Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams and, John Hancock. In all, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 actually signed the Constitution. Resources | CIVICS RENEWAL NETWORK. Constitutional Rights Foundation. Foundations of Our Constitution - Constitutional Rights Foundation. National Constitution Center: Which Founder Are You? Individual Biographies of the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Delegate%20bios.