Forming a New Government

Discover how the government of the United States was created.

About

Creating a new government isn’t easy. Just ask the group of men that we now call the “Founding Fathers.” It took them months of arguing and compromise to create not one, but two, governments for the U.S. since the first one was not successful. They wanted a constitution that would ensure freedom for every citizen. But, in the end, they didn't exactly meet that goal.

Essential Questions

Who were the Founding Fathers?
What ideas did they have about government?
How did they get it wrong before getting it right?
In what ways was the Constitution groundbreaking?
Whose rights did the Constitution not protect?

Choose a Focus

Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
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Articles of Confederation

Sometimes, it’s necessary to fail in order to succeed. The Articles of Confederation did not create the government that the U.S. hoped for.

Essential questions:

What were the Articles of Confederation?
Why didn’t they work?
In what ways were they a good first step?

Suggested Activity: Be the Teacher

Alexander Hamilton ⚒️

After a difficult childhood, Hamilton rose to fame due to his skill as a writer and speaker. His contributions to the new nation are vast and consequential.

Essential questions:

Who was Alexander Hamilton?
In what ways did he contribute to the founding of our nation?
How might he be considered a Changemaker?

Suggested Activity: Words to Live By

The U.S. Constitution 🔥 🕰

After the failure of the Articles of Confederation, a better constitution was needed. It took five months to write one.

Essential questions:

Who wrote the Constitution?
What kind of government did it set up?
What conflicts arose during its creation?

Suggested Activity: A Different Point of View

The Bill of Rights

The Constitution didn’t please everyone. So the framers created the Bill of Rights so that it could be changed, as needed.

Essential questions:

What is the Bill of Rights?
Why was it added?
Why is it important?

Suggested Activity: And the Winner Is...

The First Amendment 🚀

The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees what are called basic freedoms: freedom to speak your opinions, to practice any religion (or none at all), to publish factual news without the government's interference, and to gather in groups and protest something. It is a key part of our democracy, but what it really means is something a lot of people like to debate.

Essential questions:

Why was the First Amendment included in the Bill of Rights to the Constitution?
Why is it important to American democracy?
Why is its true meaning sometimes debated?

Suggested Activity: A Different Point of View

Thematic Connections 🚀

Select a topic and examine it through the theme lens: Envisioning Change.

When the First Amendment was written, the founding fathers envisioned a nation based on freedom - it just didn't include everyone.

Curricular Connections

Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.

Related Social Studies topics:

Timeline Challenge

Start a class timeline (or add to an existing timeline) showing important events in the beginning of America as a country.

Socratic Discussion

- Discuss: What is the most important right for a citizen to have in a free country?
- Discuss: What's the most important right for a student to have?

Create

Choose a way to show what you know!

(Not sure what to do? Write an editorial to share your thoughts on the First Amendment!)

Just for Fun

- Which Founding Father are You?
- Take the Citizenship Test.

Image Attributions

Forming a New Government banner: Bureau of Engraving and Printing:image enlarged, rendered for tone and clarity by Gwillhickers, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsArticles of Confederation: Bureau of Engraving and Printing: image enlarged, rendered for tone and clarity by Gwillhickers, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsAlexander Hamilton: John Trumbull, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsThe U. S. Constitution: Daderot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsThe Bill of Rights: The U.S. National Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsThe First Amendment: Fibonacci Blue from Minnesota, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons