Explain the reasons for the adoption and subsequent failure of the Articles of Confederation.
Textbook article about the Articles of Confederation
Another article about the Articles of Confederation
Primary documents related to the Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation article at the History Channel
Why the Articles of Confederation Failed from ThoughtCo.
An excerpt from The Constitution: An Enduring Document
Identify economic, political, and cultural issues facing the nation during the period of the Articles of Confederation and the opening of the Constitutional Convention.
America Under the Articles of Confederation, written by a former history teacher/instructor
Describe the major issues debated at the Constitutional Convention including the distribution of political power among the states and within the federal government, conduct of foreign affairs, commerce with tribes, rights of individuals, election of the executive, and slavery as a regional and federal issue.
Lots of information about the Constitutional Convention
Listen: Ben Franklin's World podcast: The Making of the United States Constitution
An in-depth look at the Constitutional Convention by the National Archives
Documents of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention
The Conduct of foreign affairs under the Articles of Confederation
Government Policy Towards Native Americans; here's another article to read about relations with Native Americans under the Articles of Confederation and Constitution (starting at paragraph 5)
Major debates at the Constitutional Convention
And, finally, if you really want to geek-out on the Constitutional Convention, visit this site.
Explain how the new constitution resolved (or compromised) the major issues including sharing and separation of power, and checking of power among federal government institutions, dual sovereignty (state-federal power), rights of individuals, the Electoral College, the Three-Fifths Compromise, the Great Compromise, and relationships and affairs with indigenous nations.
The Constitution, featured on the National Archives website
The Constitution on the History Channel's site
Primary documents related to the Constitution
Five key compromises of the US Constitution
Analyze the debates over the ratification of the Constitution from the perspectives of Federalists and Anti-Federalists and describe how the states ratified the Constitution.
The Federalist-Antifederalist Debates
Ratifying the Constitution online textbook article
Differences between Federalists and Antifederalists
A good graphic organizer that discusses the differences between Federalists and Antifederalists
Positions of Federalists and Antifederalists chart
Explain how the Bill of Rights reflected the concept of limited government, protections of basic freedoms, and the fear of many Americans of a strong central government.
Short introduction to the Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights from the History Channel
The Bill of Rights: What does it say? from the National Archives
Online textbook article on the Bill of Rights
Explain how the core values are embodied in the Constitution through constitutional features such as representative government, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, bicameralism, Bill of Rights, and popular sovereignty.
The impact of social contract theory on the founding fathers
The social contract and constitutional republics
Describe the philosophical origins of constitutional government in the United States using ideas from John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, the Mayflower Compact, Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence, and Northwestern Ordinance.
Foundations of American Government
Hobbes, Locke, and social contract theory
How are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution related?
The Mayflower Compact, The Mayflower Compact from the History Channel
Common Sense sparknotes, Thomas Paine at the History Channel, Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Information on the Northwest Ordinance, Northwest Ordinance and related documents, short introduction to the Northwest Ordinance
Command terms for this unit