Show
Learning Objectives
3.1 Activity: U.S. Constitution and Shays’ Rebellion
Purpose Process
[Hint: It happened just before the Constitutional Convention.] After the discussion has concluded, complete the Activity Guide: U.S. Constitution and Shays’ Rebellion worksheet. Launch Information Ask students to review the Visual Info Brief of the image and describe what they see. If no one answers, step in and say: “This is a depiction of Shays’ Rebellion.” Then ask the following questions:
You can give additional background on Shays’ Rebellion. Additional information about what actually happened can be found in the Info Brief: Summary of Shays’ Rebellion document and the Constitution Daily article, On this day, Shays’ Rebellion starts in Massachusetts. Let students know that the picture depicts an event from 1786, outside a courthouse, in Massachusetts. After students share their observations, ask the class the following questions:
Then, have students complete the worksheet. Activity Synthesis
Activity Extension (optional) Constitution 101 Resources Constitution 101 Resources Constitution 101 Resources 3.2 Activity: The Critical Period—The Years Between the American Revolution and the Constitutional Convention
Purpose Process
Launch Ask them to reflect on why they think the founders made those changes to the system of government. The goal is for the students to develop some well-formed thoughts to help them engage in the next activities. Allow students to check their completed chart with one or two classmates. Key features: structure, powers, and the amendment process (left hand side of chart). Activity Synthesis
Activity Extension (optional) Constitution 101 Resources Constitution 101 Resources 3.3 Activity: Key Terms
Purpose Process
Use the Activity Guide: Key Terms - Road to the Convention worksheet to record your answers. Launch Activity Synthesis
Activity Extension (optional)
Constitution 101 Resources 3.4 Video Activity: Road to the Convention
Purpose
Process Then, complete the Video Reflection: Road to the Convention worksheet. Identify any areas that are unclear to you or where you would like further explanation. Be prepared to discuss your answers in a group and to ask your teacher any remaining questions. Launch Activity Synthesis
Activity
Extension (optional) Constitution 101 Resources
3.5 Activity: Fear of Factions and Mobs
Purpose Process Launch Provide students with background information on the Federalist Papers from the Info Brief: The Federalist Papers document. Introduce the authors and why they wrote them. Give students time to read the excerpts from Federalist No. 10 and 55 and answer the questions. Activity Synthesis
Activity Extension (optional) Constitution 101 Resources Constitution 101 Resources 3.6 Summary Activity: Striking the Right Balance
Purpose The Founding generation came into the Constitutional Convention in a time of turmoil and significant change. Before they arrived, they crafted a national framework of government (the Articles of Confederation), experimented in their states with the creation of state constitutions, debated one another over the proper way to structure a new government, and researched many ideas about how their new government should work. With the U.S. Constitution, they wanted to strike a balance that combined strength, restraint, and deliberation. Process
Launch Activity Synthesis
Activity Extension (optional)
Looking for a deeper dive? Share this project with students: Guardrails of Democracy. 3.7 Test Your Knowledge
Purpose Congratulations for completing the activities in this module! Now it’s time to apply what you have learned about the basic ideas and concepts covered. Process Complete the questions in the following quiz to test your knowledge. Launch This activity will help students determine their overall understanding of module concepts. It is recommended that questions are completed electronically so immediate feedback is provided, but a downloadable copy of the questions (with answer key) is also available. Knowledge Check Constitution 101 Resources When crafting the new Constitution the framers drew their ideas from where?When crafting the new Constitution, the Framers drew from their experiences with ... the governments of ancient Greece and Rome.
When creating the new Constitution the framers drew on their knowledge and experiences of?The Framers of the U.S. Constitution drew on their personal beliefs and their knowledge of political ideas from a variety of historical and contemporary sources to create a representative democracy. What country colonized the 13 colonies in North America?
What influenced the framers to write the Constitution?The amendments to the Constitution that Congress proposed in 1791 were strongly influenced by state declarations of rights, particularly the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776, which incorporated a number of the protections of the 1689 English Bill of Rights and Magna Carta.
What documents did the framers of the Constitution look to when writing the Constitution?Concern about the Articles of Confederation
Alexander Hamilton helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation.
|