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 Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention (Library of Congress)
The Library of Congress Continental Congress Broadside Collection (256 titles) and the Constitutional Convention Broadside Collection (21 titles) contain 277 documents relating to the work of Congress and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution. Items include extracts of the journals of Congress, resolutions, proclamations, committee reports, treaties, and early printed versions of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. There are two special presentations: To Form a More Perfect Union and The Work of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention.
NARA Exhibit Hall: The Charters of Freedom
The National Archives offers a copy of the U.S. Constitution and biographies of the document's fifty-five framers. The article "A More Perfect Union" is an in-depth look at the Constitutional Convention and the ratification process. "Questions and Answers Pertaining to the Constitution" presents dozens of fascinating facts about the Constitution.
The Avalon Project: The American Constitution - A Documentary Record
The Yale Law School offers documents on The Roots of the Constitution, Revolution and Independence, Credentials of the Members of the Federal Convention, The Constitutional Convention, and Ratification and Formation of the Government.
U.S. Constitution Resource Center
The TCNbP guide to the US Constitution offers three types of resources to aid in your on-line and off-line study of the US Constitution. Constitution Notebook Program (off-line study guide) is available for free download. There are also links to other sites on the web with information related to the Constitution and links to Amazon.com for book listings related to the Constitution.
Election Central
Election Central is an online resource that helps teachers and students explore the electoral process past and present, in the United States and around the world. There are lessons, readings, and activities in U.S. history, world history, and government. There is also an online lesson in Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks. These lessons are designed to help students explore documents that serve as the foundation for American democracy. Each lesson in Foundations of Our Constitution consists of three components: (1) a reading with discussion questions, (2) an interactive activity, and (3) the complete text of the document that the lesson explores.
James Madison Center
The James Madison Center at James Madison University was founded to honor the legacy of the nation's fourth President and Father of the United States Constitution. It serves as a repository for information on Madison's life and times (1751-1836) as well as that of the Federalist Era. Go to the Madison Archives for contextual information and primary sources on Confederation and Constitution and other topics related to Madison's life. Additional materials include audio files of the Bill of Rights and pictures and descriptions of materials from the James Madison Collection. The Center's online newsletter, Liberty & Learning, contains current articles, factual information, and primary source materials. Teacher's Resources include lesson plans on American history and a book length history of the United States organized by learning objectives.
Internet Modern History Sourcebook
The Internet History Sourcebooks are wonderful collections of public domain and copy-permitted historical texts for educational use by Paul Halsall at Fordham University. The site and its documents are well organized and the breadth of materials is impressive. The Internet Modern History Sourcebook contains documents of special interest in the American Independence section on The Establishment of the American State, Commentators on America, Native Americans, and Slavery.
The Federalist: A Collection of Essays
The Electronic Desk of Emory Law School has put the Federalist papers online and offers a keyword search function and an index.
Alexander Hamilton on the Web
On this site you will find biographies, Hamilton's writing - including the complete Federalist Papers, images of Hamilton, reviews and excerpts from some of the recent books about Hamilton, essays on the Hamilton/Burr duel, and more.
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
This Smithsonian site explores the history and operation of the American presidency. The exhibit displays more than 375 images of documents, paintings, photographs, buttons, posters, paraphernalia, and objects along with short texts explaining their significance.
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids
This site by the U.S. Government Printing Office teaches K-12 students how the U.S. government works. There are resources for teachers and parents as well.
American President.org
This website is geared toward teaching the history of the American presidency, primarily to high school students. The Presidency in History contains detailed biographies of each of the 43 past and present Presidents and First Ladies. The site also contains biographies of Cabinet members, staff, and advisers; timelines detailing significant events during each administration; and multimedia galleries to explore. The Presidency in Action delves into the function and responsibilities of the modern presidency. Here you will find detailed descriptions of the areas of presidential responsibility, updated organization charts, staff listings, and biographies of past and present staff and advisers. Brought to you by the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs.
Africans in America; The Terrible Transformation, 1750-1805
Part of PBS's African-American Journey site, here you'll find part one of a rich collection of resources -- images, documents, stories, biographies, commentaries -- on the experience of slavery in America. There is also a useful teacher's guide and activities for students. See Part 2: Revolution: 1750-1805.
Archiving Early America
A worthwhile commercial site for links to historical documents, biographies, and even on-line books on 18th century America. These archival materials are displayed in their original formats so they can be read and examined close-up and in detail. Of special interest is the Maryland Gazette containing George Washington's Journal of his historic trip to the Ohio Valley. It is the only original copy privately held. Materials are free for personal use.
Early America's Digital Archives
The Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities has produced a searchable collection of electronic texts written in or about the Americas from 1492 to approximately 1820. The Archive also features a collection of links to early American texts on the Internet. Open to the public for research and teaching purposes.
The American Colonist's Library
A massive collection of the historical works that contributed to the formation of American politics, culture, and ideals. Arranged in chronological sequence (500 B.C.-1800 A.D.). Go to Eighteenth Century Sources Which Profoundly Impacted American History. Very helpful collection of primary sources.
George Washington Resources
This electronic collection of papers by and for George Washington contains a staggering 17,400 letters and documents. Search keyword "Constitution" and you'll find letters Washington wrote to James Madison about the Constitution.
Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture (OIEAHC)
The College of William and Mary and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation founded the Institute of Early American History and Culture in 1943 and still jointly sponsor its work. The Institute's full-time professional and support staff is responsible for a variety of valuable research and publication programs for scholars. Most services are fee-based but Uncommon Sense is a free online journal on early American history. Important site for serious scholars.
The Thomas Jefferson Digital Archive
Though not present at the Constitutional Convention, Jefferson followed the proceedings closely. The Thomas Jefferson Digital Archive provides more than 1,700 texts written by or to Thomas Jefferson. The site also includes a biography of Jefferson and The Jeffersonian Cyclopedia, which organizes more than 9,000 quotes according to theme and other categories.
 James Madison and the Great Events of His Era
Part of a James Madison University presentation on James Madison, there is a concise overview of the Constitutional Convention. Highlights include Madison's "Notes on the Confederacy" as well as his reflections on division of powers and the constitutionality of a national bank.
The Constitution Society
The Constitution Society is a private non-profit organization dedicated to research and public education on the principles of constitutional republican government. It publishes documentation, engages in litigation, and organizes local citizens groups to work for reform. It offers a Liberty Library of Constitutional Classics, a Constitutional Weblog, and a Constitutional Examination.
Biographies of the Founding Fathers
Colonial Hall provides bios of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The sketches of America's founding fathers are taken from the 1829 book, Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence, by the Rev. Charles A. Goodrich.
U.S. History.org
The Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia has produced this fun and engaging site where you can enjoy a virtual tour of Philadelphia and visit Betsy Ross' House. You can also learn why Pennsylvania is misspelled on the Liberty Bell and the story of the crack. There are several section that deal with the revolutionary war and you can learn about The President's House in Philadelphia, Executive Mansion of the United States from 1790 to 1800 during Philadelphia's tenure as the national capital.
Lesson Plans, Teacher Guides, Activities and more
Lesson Plans: Constitution
Provided by the Civic Center of Education, these lesson plan use probing questions to analyze the framing of the constitution. They offer guidelines for both teachers and students, as well as supplemental lessons regarding James Madison and George Washington.
C-Span U.S. Constitution Page
C-Span's new U.S. Constitution page provides access to video clips, related activities, and links. All content is copyright cleared for classroom use.
Bill of Rights Institute
If you haven't discovered the Bill of Rights Institute, this should be an early stop on your lesson planning journey. They have a curriculum book with videos that is very useful, as well as a new book of lesson plans (Media and American Democracy)and an abundance of great stuff on their website.
Bill of Rights in Action
This is the online archive of Bill of Rights in Action, the Constitutional Rights Foundation's curricular newsletter. The Constitutional Rights Foundation seeks to instill in American youth a deeper understanding of citizenship through values expressed in the Constitution and its Bill of Rights, and to educate them to become active and responsible participants in American society. Each edition has a lesson (reading, discussion questions, and interactive activity) on U.S. history, world history, and a current issue. Lessons are balanced to present various viewpoints. Bill of Rights in Action has been published for more than 30 years and the Constitutional Rights Foundation has archived about 10 years of the newsletter.
CQ Press: U.S. Constitution
CQ Press in Context is a free web site for information on pivotal events shaping today's world of politics. In honor of National Constitution Day CQ Press devoted a section of the CQ Press in Context web site to documents and analytical content related to the U.S. Constitution located here . This includes a ready-to-teach, downloadable lesson plan written by CQ Press author Maryam Ahranjani and designed specially for teachers who want to take advantage of Constitution Day as a classroom learning tool. The lesson plan, titled "The First Amendment and Protection of Students' Rights," is designed for instruction of 9th-12th graders and focuses on the history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the groundbreaking Supreme Court case, Tinker vs. Des Moines Independent School District, which addressed the issue of teacher and student First Amendment rights in schools. Teachers can use these tools to engage students in lively discussions of how the First Amendment relates to their own lives and their rights as students and citizens.
National Endowment for the Humanities: Constitution Day
The National Endowment for the Humanities invites you to take a few moments to read the United States Constitution carefully, to engage with its history, its content, its authors' aspirations, and its lasting legacy. NEH has assembled documents, background essays, and a bibliography to help you celebrate and deepen your understanding of the United States Constitution.
The Constitution: Our Plan for Government
Submitted by Middle School Teacher Willie Jefferson of Wichita KS, this constitution lesson plan is intended for 8th and 9th graders.
Constitution and the Idea of Compromise: Lesson Plan
In this PBS lesson plan, students analyze the various changes and compromises that went into the framing of the constitution. Written for high school students, the lesson plan also asks several follow-up questions at the end.
You and the U.S. Constitution (lesson plan)
Written by Teacher Kim-Scott Miller, this 4th grade lesson plan is very "activity oriented" and attempts to explain the rules and laws of the United States.
Teacher Lesson Plan: Created Equal?
This LOC lesson focuses on a few key concepts of the Declaration of Independence, beginning with the phrase "All men are created equal." Students gain an appreciation of Thomas Jefferson's efforts to deal with the complex issues of equality and slavery in the Declaration of Independence. Recommended for High school students.
Digital History: Legal History
Digital History features resource guides by topic and period. Reference resources include classroom handouts, chronologies, encyclopedia articles, glossaries, and an audio-visual archive including speeches, book talks and e-lectures by historians, and historical maps, music, newspaper articles, and images. The site's Ask the HyperHistorian feature allows users to pose questions to professional historians.
The Federalist Era: Multiple Choice Quiz, Fill-in-the-Blank, Flashcards, American History Glossary, and an American History Appendix
The Student Resources section of The American Nation companion web site features introductions to chapters, interactive quizzes, flashcards, web links, an American History Glossary, and an American History Appendix.
Constitutional Convention Lesson Plan
Supplied by the Utah Education Network, this is a three-day lesson plan to help students understand the structure and function of the United States government established by the Constitution.
The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation? (Lesson Plan)
This lesson plan encourages students to make critical observations on the nature of the U.S. Constitution. It is presented by the LOC and includes multiple online resources for students. Intended for grade 11.
Lesson Plan - Constitutional Issues: Separation of Powers
Presented by the NARA, this lesson plan examines FDR's attempt to add a Justice to the Supreme Court.
Teaching With Documents: Observing Constitution day
The National Archives and Records Administration celebrates the signing of the Constitution by presenting activities, lesson plans, and information.
Bill of Rights Institute: Lesson Ideas
Activities and lesson plans are free for use in the classroom.
Bill of Rights WebQuest
In this study of the Bill of Rights, students create a television news program about controversial issues today that relate to the Bill of Rights.
U.S. Constitution Web Quest
Designed by a Middle School teacher, the mission for this project is to become a member of one of the three branches of government and to investigate information about that branch of government.
U.S. Constitution Web Quest
"You are a journalist for a school newspaper. In your research you have discovered that many of your peers do not know anything about the US Constitution. Your task is to complete this WebQuest so that you may understand the US Constitution and teach your classmates about its origins, significance, and relevance to our society."
The Constitution Web Quest
"The year is 1787 and you have been elected to represent your state at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. You will be "rubbing shoulders" with the likes of James Madison, Patrick Henry, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton. Depending on your state of origin and your station in life, you may be a supporter (Federalist) or an opponent (Anti-Federalist) of the Constitution."
The Constitutional Convention WebQuest
"Pretend that you and your group are reporters in 1787 that need to let the people know about the Constitution."
CEC: Separation of Powers Between the Three Branches of Government
Recommended for grades 10-12, this little mini-lesson uses a class activity to teach students about checks and balances.
Interview With Signers of the Constitution
This Education World lesson plan is for grades 6-8. Students work in small groups to develop three questions that a newspaper reporter assigned to cover the signing of the Constitution might have asked each of the following signers of the Constitution: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
What Conflicting Opinions Did the Framers Have about the Completed Constitution?
This lesson describes some conflicting points of view of leading Framers about the Constitution. Most of the delegates argued for the adoption of the Constitution, although many had reservations about all or many parts of it. The reservations of three were so serious that they refused to sign the document. The position of one of these Framers, George Mason, is explored in detail. You also will examine Benjamin Franklin's statement in defense of the Constitution. High School level.
George Washington - Lesson Plan
Using letters from the Library of Congress collection "George Washington Papers, 1741-1799," three units are designed to allow students to examine Washington's leadership during pivotal events in early American history: the French and Indian War, the Federal Convention, and Washington's presidency. A main goal is to understand both Washington's role in early America and the reasons for his rise to prominence. Featuring pre-selected letters from LOC collections and focus questions to evaluate each document, the lesson promotes careful explication of the meaning and implications of primary sources. Designed for grades 8 to 12.
First Amendment Lesson Plans
Education for Freedom is offered by The Freedom Forum's First Amendment Center, a nonpartisan center dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of the values of the First Amendment. These lessons (beginning and advanced levels) address constitutional principles and contemporary issues involving the First Amendment.
Create a New Amendment
This Education World lesson plan is for grades 6-12. Students demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills in developing a new amendment.
The Constitution: The Foundation of American Society Practice Test
High School level quiz on U.S. Constitution from Prentice Hall.
The Constitution Tested: Nationalism and Sectionalism Practice Test
High School level quiz on Constitutional issues in American history from Prentice Hall.
The Constitution Tested: Document Based Essay Question
This Prentice Hall activity is designed to test your ability to work with historical documents and is based on the accompanying documents (1-6).
CEC: Articles of Confederation Game
By playing this simple game, students will learn first-hand why the Articles of Confederation failed. Grades 10-12.
Constitutional Examination
The Constitutional Society offers multiple choice questions on constitutional government, history, and law. There are some browser requirements in order to view the exams.
Is Everyone Protected By the Bill of Rights?
In this high school lesson plan, students explore whether gays should be entitled to serve in the military. To understand this issue, students take a look at the civil rights afforded to every US citizen. We explore how this applied to the civil rights movement, and whether it is also applicable to gays who want to serve in the military. All this is used to gather information for a final debate about the issue using skills and research found in the lesson.
On the Edge and Under the Gun
This middle school lesson will expose students to the issues of gun control, the right to bear arms, and the overwhelming seriousness of gun related violence. After exploring the complexities of this problem, students will then examine what can be done and what has been done to redress the situation using the Million Mom March as a reference point. Students will be required to synthesize web information on the topic in the form of a research paper.
Mixed Blessings: Exploring the Separation of Church and State in Patriotic Poetry
In this New York Times lesson, students will learn about the recent federal appeals court decision finding the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional. They then further investigate the notions of constitutionality and separation between church and state by researching and analyzing another patriotic American poem or song.(June 28, 2002)
Burning Hatred: Discussing the Constitutional Conflict Over Cross Burning
In this lesson, students examine the constitutionality of various forms of expression; they then take part in a mock trial on the issue of cross burning.(December 13, 2002)
Interpreting Primary Sources
Digital History provides brief excerpts from primary sources and statistics and questions to think about the Conflict Over the Ratifying of the Constitution
Digital History Resource Guides
The Digital Resource Guides provide links to American history web sites by period and provide historical overviews, readings (online textbook chapter, Reader's Companion), primary source documents (documents, maps, cartoons), teaching resources (chronologies, maps, quizzes), audio-visual resources, and additional resources. They are an excellent and comprehensive teaching resource.
HistoryTeacher.net: AP United States History Quizzes
A New York teacher has produced a great general site for history teachers that offers AP-level United States history quizzes on many different periods and topics.
AP United States History DBQs: 1775-1825
These student-created DBQs are part of the excellent Historyteacher.net site.
A New Nation Internet Scavenger Hunt
The American Nation: Internet Activities
Prentice Hall's phschool.com offers internet activities based on their The American Nation textbook chapters. Middle School grades.
A History of the United States: Internet Activities and Student Self Test Questions
Prentice Hall's phschool.com offers internet activities and interactive quizzes based on A History of the United States textbook chapters. High School level.
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